Effect of Sn grain orientation on microstructure and mechanical properties of pure Sn solder joints under thermoelectric coupling
摘要
This paper investigates the microstructure and mechanical properties of Sn/Cu micro solder joints with varying β-Sn orientations under thermoelectric coupling conditions. The findings indicate that in single-crystal Sn/Cu solder joints, when the angle θ between the current direction and the c-axis of the β-Sn grain is ≤ 43.5°, significant dissolution occurs in the cathode Cu6Sn5 intermetallic compound (IMC) layer and the Cu substrate; large-sized Cu6Sn5 IMC forms at the anode. Conversely, for a solder joint with θ = 78.1°, only slight dissolution of the cathode Cu6Sn5 IMC occurs at the grain boundaries of Cu6Sn5, and small-sized Cu6Sn5 IMC forms at the anode. Thus, the smaller the θ angle, the more pronounced the asymmetric growth trend of IMC at the cathode and anode interfaces of the electromigration-affected solder joint. In contrast, no significant changes are observed in the growth of IMC at the interface of isothermal aging solder joints. Shear fractures in electromigration-affected solder joints consistently occur at the cathode interface. The dissolution of the cathode Cu6Sn5 IMC reduces the interfacial bonding strength, which is the primary cause of cathode fracture in the solder joint. A larger θ angle results in a smaller reduction in the shear strength of electromigration solder joints. The presence of large θ angle β-Sn grains suppresses the dissolution of the cathode interface Cu6Sn5 IMC, shifting the shear fracture location from the cathode Cu6Sn5/Cu interface to the brazing seam region. Consequently, the fracture mechanism transitions from brittle fracture, characterized by cleavage facets and tearing edges, to ductile fracture, dominated by parabolic dimples.