Papers by Author: Hideaki Tsukamoto

Abstract: High-temperature lead-free solders are important materials for electrical and electronic devices due to increasing legislative requirements that aim at reducing the use of traditional lead-based solders. For the successful use of lead-free solders, a comprehensive understanding of the formation and mechanical properties of Intermetallic Compounds (IMCs) that form in the vicinity of the solder-substrate interface is essential. In this work, the effect of nickel addition on the formation and mechanical properties of Cu6Sn5 IMCs in Sn-Cu high-temperature lead-free solder joints was investigated using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and nanoindentation. It was found that the nickel addition increased the elastic modulus and hardness of the (Cu, Ni)6Sn5. The relationship between the nickel content and the mechanical properties of the IMCs was also established.

Abstract: The intermetallics of Cu6Sn5 that are formed at the Sn-based solder/ Cu substrate interface play a significant role in solder joint reliability. The characterization of the mechanical properties of the interface Cu6Sn5 is essential to understand the mechanical performance and structural integrity of the solder joints. In this study, the interface Cu6Sn5 and (Cu,Ni)6Sn5 formed in Sn-Cu and Sn-Cu-Ni ball grid array (BGA) joints were investigated using nanoindentation. The results demonstrated that the strain rate sensitivity and the activation volume of these intermetallics were affected by the reflow times and load conditions. The strain rate sensitivity of Cu6Sn5 and (Cu,Ni)6Sn5 were estimated from 0.023 to 0.105, and the activation volume of Cu6Sn5 and (Cu,Ni)6Sn5 were estimated from 0.128 b3 to 0.624 b3 (b=4.2062x10-9 m) for 1, 2 and 4-reflowed Sn-Cu (-Ni) samples.

Abstract: This paper aims to investigate high temperature behavior of ZrO2 particle-dispersed Ni composites. The tension-compression tests under constant stress rates as well as creep tests including stress-dip tests were performed using a high-temperature material testing set up, which consists of an electric-hydraulic fatigue testing machine, electric furnace and extensometer with a laser sensor. ZrO2 particle-dispersed Ni composites were fabricated by using the powder metallurgical methods. The results obtained from the experimental study show that ZrO2 particles remarkably strengthen the composite and there exists a reasonable correlation between the tensioncompression stress-strain relation and the creep behavior. In addition, the creep behavior has been examined based on the micromechanical concept, which takes into account the diffusional mass flow at the interface between the particles and matrix. Some numerical analysis based on this concept demonstrates that even a little amount of ZrO2 particles can effectively increase the creep resistance of the composites