Effects of bonding pressure on the thermo-mechanical reliability of ACF interconnection

Abstract

Effects of reflow process on the thermo-mechanical reliability of the anisotropic conductive film (ACF) joints were investigated. Cross-sectional studies were carried out to investigate the effects using a scanning electron microscope (SEM). Swelling of ACF matrix in z-direction and formation of a conduction gap were observed in the reflowed ACF joints which were bonded in lower flip chip bonding pressures than 60 N. However, a delamination as well as the formation of a conduction gap was occurred between the ACF and Cu pad on flexible printed circuits (FPC) when ACF joints bonded in higher bonding pressures than 70 N were reflowed. This difference of failure mode was mainly due to the divergence of adhesive matrix thickness between the Au bump on Si chip and Cu pad on FPC. Finite element analyses were also conducted to interpret the failure behaviors of the ACF joints.