Pb-Free Solder: New Materials Considerations for Microelectronics Processing

MRS Bulletin ◽  
2007 ◽  
Vol 32 (4) ◽  
pp. 360-365 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter Borgesen ◽  
Thomas Bieler ◽  
L. P. Lehman ◽  
E. J. Cotts

AbstractA single printed circuit board includes thousands, sometimes even hundreds of thousands, of solder joints. The failure of even a single solder joint is usually enough to compromise the functionality of an electronic device or system. PbSn solder had been the standard ma te rial for these joints until various regulations around the world began to limit Pb use. SnAgCu and related alloys are quickly replacing PbSn, but much still needs to be understood and controlled. None of the paradigms for understanding the mechanical response of PbSn alloys is applicable to lead-free alloys. Much of the surprising behavior of SnAgCu solder arises from the complex and fascinating nature of its solidification behavior. In this ar ticle, the impact of solidification on the microstruc ture and therefore the mechanical properties of these solder joints will be addressed in the context of microelectronics proc essing. The need for better simulations of SnAgCu solder behavior will also be examined. Notably, modelers will have to account for a variety of new parameter dependencies not previously considered.

2009 ◽  
Vol 419-420 ◽  
pp. 37-40
Author(s):  
Shiuh Chuan Her ◽  
Shien Chin Lan ◽  
Chun Yen Liu ◽  
Bo Ren Yao

Drop test is one of the common methods for determining the reliability of electronic products under actual transportation conditions. The aim of this study is to develop a reliable drop impact simulation technique. The test specimen of a printed circuit board is clamped at two edges on a test fixture and mounted on the drop test machine platform. The drop table is raised at the height of 50mm and dropped with free fall to impinge four half-spheres of Teflon. One accelerometer is mounted on the center of the specimen to measure the impact pulse. The commercial finite element software ANSYS/LS-DYNA is applied to compute the impact acceleration and dynamic strain on the test specimen during the drop impact. The finite element results are compared to the experimental measurement of acceleration with good correlation between simulation and drop testing. With the accurate simulation technique, one is capable of predicting the impact response and characterizing the failure mode prior to real reliability test.


Circuit World ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 42 (1) ◽  
pp. 32-36 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michal Baszynski ◽  
Edward Ramotowski ◽  
Dariusz Ostaszewski ◽  
Tomasz Klej ◽  
Mariusz Wojcik ◽  
...  

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to evaluate thermal properties of printed circuit board (PCB) made with use of new materials and technologies. Design/methodology/approach – Four PCBs with the same layout but made with use of different materials and technologies have been investigated using thermal camera to compare their thermal properties. Findings – The results show how important the thermal properties of PCBs are for providing effective heat dissipation, and how a simple alteration to the design can help to improve the thermal performance of electronic device. Proper layout, new materials and technologies of PCB manufacturing can significantly reduce the temperature of electronic components resulting in higher reliability of electronic and power electronic devices. Originality/value – This paper shows the advantages of new technologies and materials in PCB thermal management.


Circuit World ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 43 (2) ◽  
pp. 45-55 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vadimas Verdingovas ◽  
Salil Joshy ◽  
Morten Stendahl Jellesen ◽  
Rajan Ambat

Purpose The purpose of this study is to show that the humidity levels for surface insulation resistance (SIR)-related failures are dependent on the type of activators used in no-clean flux systems and to demonstrate the possibility of simulating the effects of humidity and contamination on printed circuit board components and sensitive parts if typical SIR data connected to a particular climatic condition are available. This is shown on representative components and typical circuits. Design/methodology/approach A range of SIR values obtained on SIR patterns with 1,476 squares was used as input data for the circuit analysis. The SIR data were compared to the surface resistance values observable on a real device printed circuit board assembly. SIR issues at the component and circuit levels were analysed on the basis of parasitic circuit effects owing to the formation of a water layer as an electrical conduction medium. Findings This paper provides a summary of the effects of contamination with various weak organic acids representing the active components in no-clean solder flux residue, and demonstrates the effect of humidity and contamination on the possible malfunctions and errors in electronic circuits. The effect of contamination and humidity is expressed as drift from the nominal resistance values of the resistors, self-discharge of the capacitors and the errors in the circuits due to parasitic leakage currents (reduction of SIR). Practical/implications The methodology of the analysis of the circuits using a range of empirical leakage resistance values combined with the knowledge of the humidity and contamination profile of the electronics can be used for the robust design of a device, which is also important for electronic products relying on low current consumption for long battery lifetime. Originality/value Examples provide a basic link between the combined effect of humidity and contamination and the performance of electronic circuits. The methodology shown provides the possibility of addressing the climatic reliability of an electronic device at the early stage of device design by using typical SIR data representing the possible climate exposure.


2010 ◽  
Vol 113-116 ◽  
pp. 730-734 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chen Long Duan ◽  
Yue Min Zhao ◽  
Jing Feng He ◽  
Nian Xin Zhou

The reutilization of waste Printed Circuit Boards (PCB) is a focused topic in the field of environment protection and resource recycling, and the crushing is the crucial process for recycling waste PCB. A hamper impacting crusher was used to achieve metals crushing liberation from non-metals, the liberation mechanism of PCB can be explained by dispersion liberation accompanied disengaging liberation. The Rosin-Rammler distribution model of crushed PCB particle was put forward. The evaluation indexes show that Rosin-Rammler function can accurately describe size distribution of PCB particles because the convergence property R2 is 0.99694 and fitting error E is 4.80658. The selective crushing is appearance with metals concentrated in coarser fraction and non-metals in finer size during comminution processing. The impact crushing is an effective method to metals liberation of PCB particles.


2017 ◽  
Vol 27 (6) ◽  
pp. 1304-1310 ◽  
Author(s):  
Abderrahmane Baïri ◽  
Clara Ortega Hermoso ◽  
David San Martén Ortega ◽  
Iken Baïri ◽  
Zsolt Peter

Purpose This work deals with the case of the quad flat non-lead 64 (QFN64) electronic package generating a low power range ranging from 0.01 to 0.1W. It is installed on one side of a printed circuit board (PCB) that can be inclined relative to the horizontal plane with an angle varying between 0° and 90° (horizontal and vertical positions, respectively). The surface temperature of the electronic assembly is subjected to air natural convection. Design/methodology/approach Calculations are done by means of the finite volume method for many configurations obtained by varying the generated power and the inclination angle. Findings The distribution of the surface temperature is determined on all the assembly areas (QFN and PCB). The study shows that the thermal behaviour of the electronic device is influenced by the generated power and the inclination angle. The 3D numerical survey leads to correlations allowing calculation of the average surface temperature in any part of the assembly, according to the power generated by the QFN64 and the inclination angle. Originality/value The proposed accurate correlations are original and unpublished. They optimize the thermal design of the electronic QFN64 package, which is increasingly used in many engineering fields.


2012 ◽  
Vol 134 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Hung-Jen Chang ◽  
Chau-Jie Zhan ◽  
Tao-Chih Chang ◽  
Jung-Hua Chou

In this study, a lead-free dummy plastic ball grid array component with daisy-chains and Sn4.0Ag0.5Cu Pb-free solder balls was assembled on an halogen-free high density interconnection printed circuit board (PCB) by using Sn1.0Ag0.5Cu solder paste on the Cu pad surfaces of either organic solderable preservative (OSP) or electroless nickel immersion gold (ENIG). The assembly was tested for the effect of the formation extent of Ag3Sn intermetallic compound. Afterward a board-level pulse-controlled drop test was conducted on the as-reflowed assemblies according to the JESD22-B110 and JESD22-B111 standards, the impact performance of various surface finished halogen-free printed circuit board assembly was evaluated. The test results showed that most of the fractures occurred around the pad on the test board first. Then cracks propagated across the outer build-up layer. Finally, the inner copper trace was fractured due to the propagated cracks, resulting in the failure of the PCB side. Interfacial stresses numerically obtained by the transient stress responses supported the test observation as the simulated initial crack position was the same as that observed.


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