Reworkable Edgebond Adhesive Enhances Board Level Reliability of Low Temperature Solder Assemblies

EAST HANOVER, NJ – At the SMTA International 2018 technical conference, Portland State University, Zymet, Inc., and MK Electron Co, Ltd., will present their investigation on the board level reliability of low temperature solder (LTS) assemblies and the efficacy of a reworkable edgebond adhesive to enhance reliability.  LTS assembly results in less warpage and, hence, fewer assembly defects.  It also offers a path to board level assembly of modules, without subjecting them to their first-level reflow conditions.  One disadvantage of low temperature solders is poorer board level reliability, particularly for harsher environments.

The -40°C to +125°C thermal cycle performance of BGA’s assembled with LTS is compared with those assembled with conventional SAC solder.  Non-edgebonded LTS assemblies (Figure 1a) are compared with those bonded with a reworkable edgebond adhesive (Figures 1b & 1c).  The expected lower performance of LTS, relative to SAC solder, is confirmed.  The reworkable edgebond adhesive, when applied to LTS-assembled BGA’s, is found to improve performance to levels well beyond that of SAC-assembled non-edgebonded BGA’s.  With appropriate  adhesive selection and configuration, LTS-assembled BGA’s can meet more difficult board level reliability requirements, even those of a harsh environment application.

The paper, “Low Melting Temperature Interconnect Thermal Cycle Performance Enhancement Using Elemental Tuning and Edgebond Application”, will be presented at Session APT7: Reliability of Low Temperature Solder (LTS) Interconnects, October 18, 2018.  For more information about edgebond adhesives, visit Zymet at Booth #828, SMTAi 2018, Rosemont Convention Center, Rosemont, IL, October 14 -18, 2018.  Or, email the company at info@zymet.com.  Zymet is a global supplier of adhesives and encapsulants, focused on the development and manufacture of enabling materials for the electronics industry.