Lead-Free Solder Bumping Technologies
Electroplated pure tin and tin alloys such as Sn99.3Cu0.7%,Sn98%Bi2% and Sn96.5%Ag3.5% have been identified as
viable drop-in replacements to tin-lead solder. High melting point tin alloys such as Pb97%Sn3% and Au80%Sn20% are also
required by the electronics industry for flip chip applications. Capabilities of the commercial pure tin bumping chemistries
will be discussed and demonstrated.
However,commercially feasible plating systems for lead-free tin alloys have yet to be developed. The major difficulty in
plating tin alloys comes from the large difference in standard deposition potential of tin and the alloying metals that result in
poor alloy control and immersion of alloying metals on tin parts and anodes. Enthone Inc. has developed new processes that
allow robust and reliable electroplating of these alloys. We also studied the effect of plating parameters (current density,
agitation,temperature,etc.) and alloy composition on the materials properties of deposited alloys such as voiding,bump
height uniformity across a wafer,reflowability,phase composition,structure,hardness and melting temperature. A few defect
types specific to bump plating and ways to overcome them will be discussed. Recommendation will be made on utilization of
specific finishes for different electronic applications.