A reliability study of the lead-free solder connections of miniature chip components on hybrid circuits

The results of the influence of lead-free solder paste, design and process parameters on the attachment reliability of chip surface-mounted components (SMCs) on thick-film conductor pads are presented. The purpose of the investigation was to compare the quality of the soldered joints made with new solder pastes that do not contain lead with joints soldered with standard SnPb solders. The miniature zero-ohm chip resistors were soldered with selected lead-free solder pastes. The visual appearance of the solder joint according to the standards of lead-free soldered components was compared with components soldered with SnPb solders. On the test sample with soldered chip resistors connected in series, the solder-joint resistance was measured before and after temperature cycling. On the same test sample the solder-joint resistance changes were measured with impedance spectroscopy. After temperature cycling the damaged samples were analysed with SEM and EDS. The reliability test results after temperature cycling indicate two lead-free solder pastes that are the most convenient for chip-component soldering on thick-film conductor pads with the reliability of the joints being equal or better than solder joints with Pb-containing solder paste.