Characterization of the Effect of Shape Memory Alloy on Solder Joint Strength Through Modeling and Testing

Abstract

Currently some of the most common problems that surface mount technology encounters are warpage, delamination, and inelastic strain concentration accumulated in the solder joint during thermal cycling because of mismatch of thermal expansion coefficient between the package and chip side. Material as well as package structure are the critical issues with respect to these problems. The objective of this research is to investigate how shape memory alloy (SMA) applied in the under bump metallization (UBM) can affect solder joint reliability under thermal mechanical stress. Joint strength tests revealed the better strength of solder joints with SMA UBM after accelerated thermal cycling test. Finite element modeling as well as multilayer stress calculations revealed less strain accumulated in the solder and more stress concentrated in Si in the solder joint with SMA UBM. A mechanism by which the SMA accommodates most of the stress and strain caused by the mismatch of the thermal expansion coefficients was proposed to explain the reinforcement of the solder joint by the SMA UBM.