Technical Library | 2020-01-28 00:23:58.0
This paper explores new advances in the reflow soldering process including vacuum technology and warpage mitigation systems. The first topic for discussion will be the implementation of a vacuum process directly in a conventional inline soldering system. The second topic presented is the mitigation of warpage on substrates or wafers.
Technical Library | 2016-10-03 08:28:47.0
With the miniaturization of electronic device, Land Grid Array (LGA) or QFN has been widely used in consumer electronic products. However there is only 20-30 microns gap left between LGA and the substrate, it is very difficult for capillary underfill to flow into the large LGA component at room temperature. Insufficient underfilling will lead to the loss of quality control and the poor reliability issue. In order to resolve these issues, a room temperature fast flow reworkable underfill has been successfully developed with excellent flowability. The underfill can flow into 20 microns gap and complete the flow of 15mm distance for about 30 seconds at room temperature. The curing behavior, storage, thermal cycling performance and reworkability will be discussed in details in this paper.
Technical Library | 2016-04-28 14:43:23.0
Underfilling is a long-standing process issued from the micro-electronics that can enhance the robustness and the reliability of first or second-level interconnects for a variety of electronic applications. Its usage is currently spreading across the industry fueled by the decreasing reliability margins induced by the miniaturization and interconnect pitch reduction. (...) This paper will address the control of surface mount under filled assemblies, focusing on applicable inspection techniques and possible options to overcome their limitations.
Technical Library | 2007-09-06 11:03:33.0
EFD Inc. and Leister USA have collaborated to bust the myth that you cannot perform laser reflow with solder paste. Using Leister diode lasers, EFD has formulated solder pastes that survive the rapid reflow cycle typical of laser heating. These solder pastes reflow and wet well, without spatter, even when heating is accomplished in less than half a second. The flux core in wire solders cannot boast such flux spatter resistance in such an aggressive heating environment.
Technical Library | 2024-06-23 22:03:59.0
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.
Technical Library | 2024-06-23 21:57:16.0
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.
Technical Library | 2016-02-11 18:26:43.0
Although reflow ovens may not have been dramatically changed during the last decade the reflow process changes step by step. With the introduction of lead-free soldering not only operation temperatures increased, but also the chemistry of the solder paste was modified to meet the higher thermal requirements. Miniaturization is a second factor that impacts the reflow process. The density on the assembly is increasing where solder paste deposit volumes decreases due to smaller pad and component dimensions. Pick and place machines can handle more components and to meet this high through put some SMD lines are equipped with dual lane conveyors, doubling solder paste consumption. With the introduction of pin in paste to solder through hole components contamination of the oven increased due to dripping of the paste.
Technical Library | 2019-05-15 22:26:02.0
As the demand for higher routing density and transfer speed increases, Via-In-Pad Plated Over (VIPPO) has become more common on high-end telecommunications products. The interactions of VIPPO with other features used on a PCB such as the traditional dog-bone pad design could induce solder joints to separate during the second and thereafter reflows. The failure has been successfully reproduced, and the typical failure signature of a joint separation has been summarized.To better understand the solder separation mechanism, this study focuses on designing a test vehicle to address the following three perspectives: PCB material properties, specifically the Z-direction or out-of-plane Coefficient of Thermal Expansion (CTE); PCB thickness and back drill depth; and quantification of the driving force magnitude beyond which the separation is due to occur.
Technical Library | 2015-08-18 18:39:13.0
Jetting Valve Technology Superior to Needle Dispensing Compared to traditional needle dispensing technology, jetting valve technology is the most effective method for quick and accurate fluid dispensing. Injection technology has many advantages, it provides a combination of high-speed, high quality and low cost production for fluid dispensing processes. Instead of putting focus on getting the application done, jet dispense technology focuses on performance, providing applications like underfill, potting and encapsulation with more precision than ever before. Improved Fluid Dispensing Speed and Accuracy Non-contact jetting valves offer a significant advantage over traditional needle dispense valves. Jetting Valve Dispenser precision reaches to 200µm with dot diameter or line width as small as 250µm and volumetric dispensing down to .0036µl. Minimum space between lines is 180µm and maximum fluid dispense speed is 200 dots/second. The following video illustrates quick, accurate fluid dispensing for an LED packaging application.
Technical Library | 2014-08-19 16:04:28.0
SMT assembly planning and failure analysis of surface mount assembly defects often include component warpage evaluation. Coplanarity values of Integrated Circuit packages have traditionally been used to establish pass/fail limits. As surface mount components become smaller, with denser interconnect arrays, and processes such package-on-package assembly become prevalent, advanced methods using dual surface full-field data become critical for effective Assembly Planning, Quality Assurance, and Failure Analysis. A more complete approach than just measuring the coplanarity of the package is needed. Analyzing the gap between two surfaces that are constantly changing during the reflow thermal cycle is required, to effectively address the challenges of modern SMT assembly.
