Effects of Current Stressing on Shear Properties of Sn-3.8Ag-0.7Cu Solder Joints

Effects of electromigration on microstructure, shear strength, and fracture behavior of solder joints were investigated by single-ball shear samples of eutectic Sn-3.8Ag-0.7Cu (SAC) joined by Cu plates at two sides. The electromigration tests were conducted at a current density of about 1.1×103 A/cm2 and a working temperature of about 83°C. The results showed that the shear strength and flow stress decreased greatly after current stressing. Such a decrease was associated with no significant loss of the fracture strain at short electromigration but a great reduction in the fracture strain after long-term current stressing. The variation of the fracture strain with the electromigration time was shown to result from the shift of the fracture surface from the center of the solder towards the intermetallic compound (IMC) interface at the cathode.