Effect of laser parameter on the bond characteristics of Sn-3.5%Ag solder ball

Pulsed Nd;YAG laser was applied to investigate the bond characteristics of Sn-3.5wt%Ag (hereafter, Sn-3.5Ag) solder ball. The ball diameter is 500 mu m, and the UBM (Under Bump Metallurgy) on a FR4-PCB consisted of Cu/Ni/Au from bottom to top with thickness of 50 mu m/25 mu m/0.05 mu m, respectively. A RMA (rosin mildly activated) flux for BGA (Ball Grid Array) was applied before laser soldering to set up the solder ball on the UBM. Laser power was 250W, and its beam diameter at the focal point was around 250 mu m. Experimental results reveal that the solder ball showed a good bonded state when the laser energy was in the range between 0.8 and 1.0 J. Laser energy lower than 0.8J caused non-wetting of the solder ball, and energy higher than 1.2J showed crack along the UBM. Microstructure of the laser soldered Sn-3.5Ag was examined with the number Of pulse.. when the frequency, pulse width and laser energy were fixed at 5 Hz, 20 ins and 0.8 J, respectively. The IMC (Intermetallic Compound) of Ag3Sn in the solder changed from acicular to rod type with increasing laser pulses. Ni3Sn4 was produced between the solder and the UBM, and its thickness increased from 0.65 to 1.80 mu m with increasing number of pulse from 2 to 4. These are thinner than those of general air reflow. Shear strength of the laser soldered ball with output energy of 1 J showed 652.3 gf, and it was similar value compared to the result from hot plate soldering, 654.5 gf.