Properties enhancement of SnAgCu solders containing rare earth Yb

•New lead-free solders were designed with different Yb.•The enhancement of properties of solders were analyzed.•Rare earth Yb can refine the microstructure of solders.

In order to enhance the properties of SnAgCu lead-free solders in microelectronic packaging, various contents of rare earth Yb were incorporated into the alloys. Results indicated that the addition of Yb can improve the wettability, tensile strength, thermal fatigue behavior of lead-free alloys. The lead-free solder with 0.05%Yb addition exhibited the best comprehensive properties as compared to the alloys with other Yb weight fractions. And found that after soldering, the initial interfacial IMC thickness of SnAgCuYb solder joint was smaller than that of SnAgCu solder joints, and this signified that the addition of Yb was effective in retarding the growth of the IMC layer. In addition, the Yb can refine the microstructures of SnAgCu solder, excessive Yb added can form bulk Sn–Yb phase and deteriorate the properties.