Formation and Mechanical Properties of Intermetallic Compounds in Sn-Cu High-temperature Lead-free Solder Joints

High-temperature lead-free solders are important materials for electrical and electronic devices due to increasing legislative requirements that aim at reducing the use of traditional lead-based solders. For the successful use of lead-free solders, a comprehensive understanding of the formation and mechanical properties of Intermetallic Compounds (IMCs) that form in the vicinity of the solder-substrate interface is essential. In this work, the effect of nickel addition on the formation and mechanical properties of Cu6Sn5 IMCs in Sn-Cu high-temperature lead-free solder joints was investigated using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and nanoindentation. It was found that the nickel addition increased the elastic modulus and hardness of the (Cu, Ni)(6)Sn-5. The relationship between the nickel content and the mechanical properties of the IMCs was also established.