INTERMETALLIC COMPOUNDS FORMATION OF SOLDER ALLOYS ON Ni/Au SURFACE FINISH COPPER

Intermetallic compounds (IMCs) formation between lead-free solder alloys (Sn-9Zn and Sn-8Zn-3Bi) and Ni/Au surface finish copper substrate were studied. Reaction between the solder and the substrate was carried out at regular soldering temperature, approx. 50 °C above the melting temperature of the solder alloys. Results indicated that Au-Zn was the IMC formed at the interface and the Au layer which is electro-plated on the substrate has completely dissolved into the solder alloys. The amount of Au available at the interface is an important factor that influent the morphology of the IMC with thicker Au layer on the substrate resulted in thicker layer of IMC at the interface. Although Bi does not taken part in the composition of IMC, it influent the formation of IMC, the IMC formed in the Sn9Zn/substrate interface was Au5Zn3, meanwhile it was g2-AuZn3 in the Sn-8Zn-3Bi/substrate interface.