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An investigation of microstructure and properties of Sn3.0Ag0.5Cu-XAl2O3 composite solder

Guang Chen (State Key Laboratory of Materials Processing and Die & Mould Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China)
Bomin Huang (State Key Laboratory of Materials Processing and Die & Mould Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China)
Hui Liu (State Key Laboratory of Materials Processing and Die & Mould Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China)
Y.C. Chan (Department of Electronic Engineering, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China)
Zirong Tang (State Key Laboratory of Materials Processing and Die & Mould Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan China)
Fengshun Wu (State Key Laboratory of Materials Processing and Die & Mould Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan China)

Soldering & Surface Mount Technology

ISSN: 0954-0911

Article publication date: 4 April 2016

239

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate microstructure and properties of Sn3.0Ag0.5Cu-XAl2O3 composite solder which were prepared through powder metallurgy route.

Design/methodology/approach

Sn3.0Ag0.5Cu (SAC305)-XAl2O3 (X = 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8 Wt. %) composite solders were prepared through the powder metallurgy route. The morphology of composite solder powders which consists of Al2O3 particles and SAC solder powders after ball milling was observed. The retained ratio of Al2O3 nanoparticles in composite solder billets and solder joints were also quantitatively measured. Furthermore, the as-prepared composite solder alloys were studied extensively with regard to their microstructures, thermal property, wettability and mechanical properties.

Findings

After ball milling, the Al2O3 nanoparticles added were observed embedded into the surface of SAC solder powders. Only about 5-10 per cent of the initial Al2O3 nanoparticles added were detected in the composite solder joints after reflow. In addition, finer ß-Sn grains were achieved with addition of Al2O3 nanoparticles; the Al2O3 nanoparticles were found retained in the composite solder matrix. Besides, negligible changes in melting temperature and the considerably reduced undercooling were obtained in composite solder alloys. Wettability was improved by appropriate addition of Al2O3 nanoparticles. Microhardness and shear strength of composite solders were both improved after Al2O3 nanoparticles addition.

Originality/value

This paper indicated that powder metallurgy route offered a feasible approach to produce nanoparticle reinforced composite solder. In addition, the quantitative analysis of the actual retained ratio of the Al2O3 nanoparticles in solder joints provided practical implications for the manufacture of composite solders.

Keywords

Acknowledgements

The authors acknowledge the financial support provided by National Nature Science Foundation of China for the NSFC–RGC project (No. 61261160498). Thanks are also given to the Analytical and Testing Center of Huazhong University of Science and Technology for the analytical and testing services.

Citation

Chen, G., Huang, B., Liu, H., Chan, Y.C., Tang, Z. and Wu, F. (2016), "An investigation of microstructure and properties of Sn3.0Ag0.5Cu-XAl2O3 composite solder", Soldering & Surface Mount Technology, Vol. 28 No. 2, pp. 84-92. https://doi.org/10.1108/SSMT-08-2015-0027

Publisher

:

Emerald Group Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2016, Emerald Group Publishing Limited

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