Physical properties and reliability of various alloy components of solder paste

At present, SAC305 is the main alloy component of solder paste, its melting point is 217℃, has good wettability and thermal fatigue strength and solder joint reliability, is the first choice of lead-free welding alloy. The disadvantage of SAC305 alloy is that the price of silver is higher, which increases the welding cost, and the thermal expansion coefficient of SAC305 is higher, which may lead to thermal cycle fatigue and cracking of the solder joint. As a result, some researchers have proposed ways to reduce silver content or substitute silver to reduce costs and improve reliability. For example, SAC0307 alloy is a low silver content (0.3%wt) tin-silver-copper alloy with a melting point of 217 to 226 ° C, slightly lower wettability and heat resistance fatigue than SAC305, but better creep and lower cost.

The silver-free tin-copper series alloys are mainly used in the production of wave soldering strips and tin wires, as well as the production of lead-free tin-spray plates. The melting point of tin-copper alloy varies with the copper content, generally between 217~227℃, the higher the copper content, the higher the melting point. The wettability of tin-copper alloy is poor, the heat resistance fatigue is low, but the cost is low and the creep is good. The wettability and heat resistance fatigue of tin-copper alloys can be improved by adding other elements such as antimony, bismuth, nickel, zinc, etc., and can also be improved by adjusting the welding process and using highly active flux. For example, SnCu0.7Ni0.05 alloy is the addition of 0.05% nickel in tin-copper alloy, and its melting point is 217~226 ° C, and the wettability and heat resistance fatigue are significantly improved, and the solder joint brightness is also improved.

Antimony alloys are used in the manufacturing of alloy materials in batteries, plain bearings and other fields, as well as high temperature, high pressure, high frequency and other special environment welding. Antimony can increase the mechanical strength and resistance of the solder, but also increase the hardness and brittleness of the solder.

As a traditional solder, lead alloy has good wettability, heat resistance fatigue and solder joint reliability, and the common alloy is Sn63Pb37. Lead alloys are widely used in Class3 products and special low-end markets, such as IC packaging, aerospace and military industries. The disadvantage of lead alloy solder is that lead is more toxic and harmful to the human body and the environment, so it is restricted or banned in the European Union and other countries and regions.

In summary, the physical characteristics and reliability of various alloy components of solder paste have significant differences, which need to be selected and optimized according to different application situations and product requirements to achieve the best welding results.