Inhibiting the Growth of Cu3Sn and Kirkendall Voids in the Cu/Sn-Ag-Cu System by Minor Pd Alloying

In this study, the metallurgical reaction between Cu substrates (electrolytic type) and a Sn3Ag0.5Cu-xPd alloy at 180 degrees C was examined using a scanning electron microscope (SEM), electron probe microanalyzer (EPMA), focused ion beam (FIB) microscope, and transmission electron microscope (TEM). The results showed that the growth of Cu3Sn in the Cu/Sn-Ag-Cu solder joints was substantially suppressed by doping with a minor quantity of Pd (0.1-0.7 wt. %) in the solder alloy. The sluggish growth of Cu3Sn reduced the formation of Kirkendall voids at the Cu/Cu3Sn interface and significantly improved the mechanical reliability of the joint interface. It was argued that a minor addition of Pd into the solder stabilized the Cu6Sn5 phase and enlarged the interdiffusion coefficient of Cu6Sn5 but diminished that of the neighboring phase (Cu3Sn), thereby decreasing the Kirkendall effect in the Cu/Sn-Ag-Cu reactive system.