Reliability of SnPbSb/Cu Solder Joint in the High-Temperature Application

With the continuous miniaturization and increase in functionality of the electronic devices used in the aerospace and national defense industries, the requirements for reliability of the solder joints in these devices keep increasing. In this study, a SnPbSb solder with excellent wettability was used as the research object, and the effects of high-temperature aging at 150 degrees C on the microstructure and mechanical properties of SnPbSb/Cu solder joints were investigated according to the relevant industry standards. It was found that high-temperature aging does not change the eutectic structure of the SnPbSb solder, but it does significantly coarsen the Sn-rich phase and the Pb-rich phase in the solder. In addition, the interfacial intermetallic compound (IMC) layer in the SnPbSb/Cu solder joint changes from a Cu6Sn5 single layer to a Cu6Sn5/Cu3Sn double layer after the aging, and the thickness of the IMC layer increases greatly. High-temperature aging significantly deteriorates the mechanical properties of the solder joints. After aging at 150 degrees C for 1000 h, the shear strength of the SnPbSb/Cu solder joints decreased by 45.39%, while the ductile fracture mode did not change.

Automated summary

This study investigated the effects of high-temperature aging on the microstructure and mechanical properties of SnPbSb/Cu solder joints. It was found that high-temperature aging led to coarsening of the Sn-rich phase and Pb-rich phase in the solder, as well as changes in the structure of the interfacial intermetallic compound layer. High-temperature aging also significantly deteriorated the mechanical properties of the solder joints.