Binghamton University

Effects of Flux and Reflow Parameters on Lead-Free Flip Chip Assembly

Jun 23, 2024 | Sandeep Tonapi, Peter Borgesen, Ph.D. K. Srihari, Ph.D

The melting temperatures of most lead-free solder alloys are somewhat higher than that of eutectic Sn/Pb solder, and many of the alloys tend to wet typical contact pads less readily. This tends to narrow down the fluxing and mass reflow process windows for assembly onto typical organic substrates and may enhance requirements on placement accuracy. Flip chip assembly here poses some unique challenges. The small dimensions provide for particular sensitivities to wetting and solder joint collapse, and underfilling does not reduce the demands on the intermetallic bond strength. Rather, the need to underfill lead to additional concerns in terms of underfill process control and reliability. Relatively little can here be learned from work on regular SMT components, BGAs or CSPs....

EFFECT OF PROCESS THERMAL HISTORY ON THE MICROSTRUCTURE OF COPPER PILLAR SnAg SOLDER JOINTS

Jun 23, 2024 | Mohammed Genanu, Jim Wilcox , Eric Cotts, Jae Joon Choi, Ki Seok Kim

Two extremes of reflow time scale for copper pillar flip chip solder joints were explored in this study. Sn-2.5Ag solder capped pillars were joined to laminate substrates using either conventional forced convection reflow or the controlled impingement of a defocused infrared laser. The laser reflow joining process was accomplished with an order of magnitude reduction in time above liquidus and a similar increase in solidification cooling rate. The brief reflow time and rapid cooling of a laser impingement reflow necessarily affects all time and temperature dependent phenomena characteristic of reflowed molten solder. These include second phase precipitate dissolution, base metal (copper) dissolution, and the extent of surface wetting. This study examines the reflow dependent microstructural aspects of flip chip Sn-Ag joints on samples of two different size scales, the first with copper pillars of 70μm diameter on 120μm pitch and the second with 23μm diameter pillars on a 40μm pitch. The length scale of Pb-free solder joints is known to affect the Sn grain solidification structure; Sn grain morphology will be noted across both reflow time and joint length scales. Sn grain morphology was further found to be dependent on the extent of surface wetting when such wetting circumvented the copper diffusion barrier layer. Microstructural analysis also will include a comparison of intermetallic structures formed; including the size and number density of second phase Ag3Sn precipitates in the joint and the morphology and thickness of the interfacial intermetallics formed on the pillar and substrate surfaces....

DPBO – A New Control Chart For Electronics Assembly

Aug 02, 2023 | Daryl L. Santos, Ph.D.

As six sigma (6) and better processes are demanded for higher yields and as organizations move from measuring defects in terms of parts-per-million (ppm) towards parts-per-billion (ppb), the resolution of extant control charts is becoming insufficient to monitor process quality. This work describes the development of a new statistical process control (SPC) chart that is used to monitor processes in terms of defects-per-billion-opportunities (dpbo). A logical extension of the defects-per-million-opportunities (dpmo) control chart, calculations used to derive the dpbo control limits will be presented and examples of in-control and out-of-control processes will be offered....

Recurrent Neural Network-Based Stencil Cleaning Cycle Predictive Modeling

Jun 12, 2023 | Haifeng Wang, Tian He, and Sang Won Yoon

This paper presents a real-time predictive approach to improve solder paste stencil printing cycle decision making process in surface mount assembly lines. Stencil cleaning is a critical process that influences the quality and efficiency of printing circuit board. Stencil cleaning operation depends on various process variables, such as printing speed, printing pressure, and aperture shape. The objective of this research is to help efficiently decide stencil printing cleaning cycle by applying data-driven predictive methods. To predict the printed circuit board quality level, a recurrent neural network (RNN) is applied to obtain the printing performance for the different cleaning aging. In the prediction model, not only the previous printing performance statuses are included, but also the printing settings are used to enhance the RNN learning. The model is tested using data collected from an actual solder paste stencil printing line. Based on the predicted printing performance level, the model can help automatically identify the possible cleaning cycle in practice. The results indicate that the proposed model architecture can predictively provide accurate solder paste printing process information to decision makers and increase the quality of the stencil printing process....