Investigation of intermetallic compounds (IMCs) in electrochemically stripped solder joints with SEM

In this work we compare the microstructures of intermetallic compounds (IMCs) in electrochemically stripped solder joints created by two different soldering methods (vapor phase soldering (VPS), and selective laser soldering with a CO₂ laser). After the selective removal of the Sn phase with amperometry, the microstructure and structural composition of the IMC can be revealed in a detailed way, which is unlike any other previously published methods. The differences between the IMC microstructures of the technologically different solder joints were analyzed with optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) measurements were utilized to identify the different intermetallic phases (Ag₃Sn, Cu₆Sn₅). Significant differences were observed in the IMC structures of solder joints prepared by different technologies.