scholarly journals Improving the Solder Joint Reliability Prediction Accuracy for Quad Flat No Lead Packages

Author(s):  
Jefferson Talledo

This paper discusses the modeling approach used in improving the solder joint reliability prediction for Quad Flat No Lead (QFN) packages. A new power equation fatigue prediction model was developed based on the accumulated creep strain energy density from FEA (finite element analysis) simulation and the corresponding actual experimental result in terms of solder characteristic life of different QFN packages. The new curve fitted fatigue life correlation equation was then used in the solder joint reliability modeling together with the use of a hyperbolic sine constitutive model for lead-free solder. The model prediction using the new curve fitted equation was compared with the result from using the equation previously published. Based on the results, the new curve-fitted life prediction equation was able to improve the accuracy of solder life prediction. This study shows that solder joint reliability prediction could be improved by developing a prediction model based on actual data and consistent FEA modeling considerations in terms of methodology, material model and properties.

Author(s):  
Jefferson Talledo

Leadframe-based packages are commonly used for semiconductor power devices. With these packages, heat dissipation is much better compared with laminate substrated-based packages. However, the solder joint reliability requirement under thermal cycling condition is also higher and this is what makes the development of a power package challenging. One of the usual requirements from customers is that there should be no solder joint failure up to 2,000 thermal cycles. This paper presents the thermomechanical simulation of a power leadframe package that was conducted to improve its solder joint reliability. Board level solder joint cycle life was predicted using finite element analysis and the result was validated with actual solder life result from board level reliability evaluation. Since available solder prediction equation was for the characteristic life (63.2% accumulative failure), using the normalized characteristic life was implemented for predicting the number of cycles to first failure of the solder joint connection and the approach showed good agreement with the actual result. Results also indicated that the choice of epoxy mold material and the type of PCB (printed circuit board) have a significant contribution to the solder joint reliability performance.


Author(s):  
Jefferson Talledo

Solder joint reliability is very important to ensure that an integrated circuit (IC) semiconductor package is functional within its intended life span as the solder joint establishes electrical connection between the IC and the printed circuit board (PCB). Solder fatigue failure or crack under thermal cycling is one of the common problems with board-mounted packages. There are several factors or package characteristics that have impact on solder fatigue life like package size and material properties of the package components. This paper presents a thermo-mechanical modeling of a leadframe-based semiconductor package to study the impact of lead sidewall solder coverage and corner lead size on the solder joint reliability. Finite element analysis (FEA) technique was used to calculate the solder life considering 50% and 100% package lead sidewall solder coverage as well as smaller and larger critical corner leads of the package. The results of the analysis showed that higher lead sidewall solder coverage and larger lead could significantly increase solder life. Therefore, ensuring lead sidewall solder wettability to have higher solder coverage is beneficial. The study also reveals that packages with side wettable flanks are not only enabling high speed automated optical inspection required for the automotive industry, but they are also providing improved solder joint reliability.


Author(s):  
Chang-Chun Lee ◽  
Kuo-Ning Chiang

In order to enhance the wafer level package (WLP, Figure 1) reliability for larger chip size, many different kinds of WLP have been adopted, all have a compliant layer under the pads have to relieve the thermal stress of the solder joint. Usually, the solder joint reliability is enhanced with the increase of the thickness of the compliant layer. However, the fabrication processes of the WLP restrict the thickness of the compliant layer. With that in mind this research proposed a novel WLP package with bubble-like buffer layer (Figure 2) which is composed of a bubble-like plate and a buffer layer between the chip and the solder joint. The main goal of this research was to study the effects of the geometric dimensions and material properties of the bubble-like layer on the reliability of the WLP. For the parametric analysis purpose, a 2-D nonlinear finite element analysis for the proposed WLP was conducted. The results revealed that both the bubble-like plate and the buffer layer provide excellent compliant effects. However, the buffer layer has a more significant effect on enhancing the solder joint reliability. Also, for a WLP with buffer structure, the effect of the chip thickness on the reliability could be significantly reduced. In addition, the difference between the filled and non-filled buffer layers also affected the reliability of the solder joint. The results revealed that the WLP with the buffer layer and the no-fill bubble-like plate had the better reliability.


Author(s):  
Jefferson Talledo

This paper aims to present a thermo-mechanical modeling approach to predict the solder joint reliability of a leadframe-based package under powered thermal cycling (PTC) test from -40oC to 105oC. The study involves modeling the PTC condition as a standard thermal cycling with a modified temperature boundary to account for the temperature increase due to the applied power to the device package mounted on board. The temperature ramp and dwell times were maintained. Based on the finite element analysis (FEA) results and comparison with actual data, modeling a PTC as a modified thermal cycling process provides a good prediction of the solder joint life. The analysis is simpler and would be beneficial for getting quick assessments of new leadframe package designs.


Author(s):  
Chang-Chun Lee ◽  
Kuo-Ning Chiang

For the purpose of enhancing the solder joint reliability of a wafer level chip scaling package (WLCSP), the WLCSP adopted the familiar design structure where both the stress compliant layer with low elastic modulus and the dummy solder joints are considered as structural supports. However, the predicted fatigue life of the solder joints at the internal part of the packaging structure using the conventional procedures of finite element simulation are higher than under actual conditions as a result of the perfect bonding assumption in the modeling. In this research, in order to improve the thermo-mechanical reliability of the solder joints, a node tie-release crack prediction technique, based on non-linear finite element analysis (FEA), is developed and compared with the estimation of the solder joint reliability using conventional methodology. The predicted results of reliability, using the novel prediction technique, show a lower fatigue life of the solder joint than that when using conventional one when the fracture regions in the dummy solder joints are simulated under quasi-steady state. At the same time, the result of the thermal cycling test also shows good agreement with the simulated result when using the proposed node tie-release crack prediction analysis.


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