Measuring intrinsic elastic modulus of Pb/Sn solder alloys

Young's modulus (E) values published in the literature for the eutectic Pb37/Sn63 and near eutectic Pb40/Sn60 solder alloy vary significantly. One reason for this discrepancy is different testing methods for highly rate sensitive heterogeneous materials, like Pb/Sn alloys, yield different results. In this paper, we study different procedures used to obtain the elastic modulus; analytically, by single crystal elasticity and experimentally by ultrasonic testing and nano-indentation. We compare these procedures and propose a procedure for elastic modulus determination. The deformation kinetics of the Pb/Sn solder alloys is discussed at the grain size level. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.