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Mechanical properties of interfacial phases between Sn-3.5 Ag solder and Ni-18 at. % W barrier film by nanoindentation

C.S. Chew (Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering, Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia)
R. Durairaj (Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering, University Tunku Abdul Rahman, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia)
A. S. M. A. Haseeb (Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia)
B. Beake (Micro Materials Ltd., , Wrexham, UK)

Soldering & Surface Mount Technology

ISSN: 0954-0911

Article publication date: 7 April 2015

237

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the hardness and elastic modulus on interfacial phases formed between Sn-3.5Ag solder and Ni-18 at. % W alloy film by nanoindentation. It has been found that a ternary amorphous Sn-Ni-W layer formed below Ni3Sn4 IMC at the interface. In this study, mechanical properties of the IMC formed between SA solder and Ni-18 at. % W film after six times reflows were performed by nanoindentation.

Design/methodology/approach

The characterization was carried at 25°C, and 100 indents were generated. The elastic modulus and hardness were investigated.

Findings

The results showed that hardness of Ni3Sn4 IMC was higher than amorphous Sn-Ni-W phase. A slight bigger indent was observed on the Sn-Ni-W layer compared with that on the Ni3Sn4 IMC. Lower topographical height in the Sn-Ni-W layer indicated that the Sn-Ni-W phase was softer compared with the Ni3Sn4 IMC. The lower hardness and soft Sn-Ni-W phase is significantly related to the amorphous structure that formed through solid-state amorphization.

Originality/value

There are no publications about the indentation on the interfacial between the Ni-W layer and the Sn-Ag solder.

Keywords

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to acknowledge the financial support from Research University Grant, University of Malaya (Project no. RG 068/09AET) and Institute of Research Management and Consultancy (IPPP), University of Malaya (Project no. PS354-2009B). Special thanks to Micro Materials Ltd., UK.

Citation

Chew, C.S., Durairaj, R., Haseeb, A.S.M.A. and Beake, B. (2015), "Mechanical properties of interfacial phases between Sn-3.5 Ag solder and Ni-18 at. % W barrier film by nanoindentation", Soldering & Surface Mount Technology, Vol. 27 No. 2, pp. 90-94. https://doi.org/10.1108/SSMT-01-2015-0001

Publisher

:

Emerald Group Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2015, Emerald Group Publishing Limited

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