Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

The oxidation of lead-free Sn alloys by electrochemical reduction analysis

  • Research Summary
  • Lead-Free Solder
  • Published:
JOM Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The oxidation of pure tin and Sn-0.7Cu, Sn-3.5Ag, Sn-1Zn, and Sn-9Zn alloys at 150°C was investigated. Both the chemical nature and the amount of oxides were characterized using electrochemical reduction analysis by measuring the electrolytic reduction potential and total transferred electrical charges. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy was also conducted to support the results of reduction analysis. The effect of copper, silver, and zinc addition on surface oxidation of tin alloys is reported. For tin, Sn-0.7Cu, and Sn-3.5Ag, SnO grew first and then the mixture of SnO and SnO2 was found. SnO2 grew predominantly during long-time aging. For zinc-containing tin alloys, both ZnO and SnO2 were formed. Zinc promotes the formation of SnO2.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. A.T. Fromhold, Jr., Theory of Metal Oxidation, Vol. 1 Fundamentals (Burlington, MA: Elsevier [North-Holland Publishing Company], 1976).

    Google Scholar 

  2. Marcel Pourbaix, Atlas of Electrochemical Equilibria in Aqueous Solutions (Burlington, MA: Elsevier [Pergamon Press], 1966).

    Google Scholar 

  3. Frederick G. Yost, F. Michael Hosking, and Darrel R. Frear, The Mechanics of Solder Alloy, Wetting & Spreading (New York: Van Nostrand Reinhold, 1993), Chapter 6 (pp. 155–189).

    Google Scholar 

  4. D. Morgan Tench, D.P. Anderson, and P. Kim, “Solderability Assessment via Sequential Electrochemical Reduction Analysis,” J. Appl. Electrochem., 24 (1994), p. 18.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Rao R. Tummala et al., Fundamentals of Microsystems Packaging (New York: McGraw-Hill, 2001).

    Google Scholar 

  6. D.A. Sluzewski, Y.A. Chang, and V.C. Marcotte, “Oxidation of Pb-Sn and Pb-Sn-In Alloys: Bulk vs. Grain Boundary Regions,” Mat. Res. Soc. Symp. Proc., 167 (1990), p. 353.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. R.J. Bird, “Corrosion-Resistant Lead-Indium and Lead-Tin Alloys: Surface Studies by Photoelectron Spectroscopy,” J. Met. Sci., 7 (1973), p. 109.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. T. Farrell, “Surface Oxides on Al, Cu, Sn, Pb, and Some of Their Alloys: An ESCA Study,” Met. Sci., 10 (March 1976), p. 87.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. R.A. Konetzki and Y.A. Chang, “Oxidation of Pb-2.9at.% Sn Alloys,” J. Mater. Res., 3 (3) (1988), p. 466.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. A.J. Bevolo, J.D. Verhoeven, and M. Noack, “A LEELS and Auger Study of the Oxidation of Liquid and Solid Tin,” Surf. Sci., 134 (1983), p. 499.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. S.N. Shah and D. Eurof Davies, “The Anodic Behaviour of Tin in Alkaline Solutions-1. 0.1M Sodium Borate Solution,” Electrochim. Acta, 8 (1963), p. 663.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. R.L. Opila, “The Role of Grain Boundaries in the Surface Segregation of Tin in Tin-Lead Alloys,” J. Vac. Sci. Technol. A, 4 (2) (Mar./Apr. 1986), p. 173.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Sungil Cho et al., “Oxidation Study of Pure Tin and its Alloys via Electrochemical Reduction Analysis,” J. Electron. Mater., 34 (5) (2005).

  14. E.E. de Kluizenaar, “Surface Oxidation of Molten Soft Solder: An Auger Study,” J. Vac. Sci. Technol. A, 1 (3) (1983), p. 1480.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. M.L. Varsányi et al., “Electrochemical and In Situ Mössbauer Studies of Tin Passivation,” Electrochim. Acta, 30 (4) (1985), p. 529.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. David R. Lide, Handbook of Chemistry and Physics, 73rd edition (Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press, 1993), pp. 75–78.

    Google Scholar 

  17. Frederick G. Yost et al., The Mechanics of Solder Alloy “Wetting & Spreading” (New York: Van Nostrand Reinhold, 1993), Chap. 6 (pp. 155–189).

    Google Scholar 

  18. D.M. Tench and D.P. Anderson, “Method of Assessing Solderability,” U.S. patent 5,262,022 (19 November 1993).

  19. S.E.S. El Wakkad et al., “The Anodic Oxidation of Metals at Very Low Current Density,” J. Chem. Soc. Lond., (1954), p. 3103.

  20. J.F. Moulder et al., Handbook of X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (Wellesley, MA: Perkin-Elmer, 1992).

    Google Scholar 

  21. K.L. Lin and T.P. Liu, “High-Temperature Oxidation of Sn-Zn-Al Solder,” Oxidation of Metals, 50 (1998), p. 255.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. the Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Daejon, Republic of Korea

    Sungil Cho & Jin Yu

  2. the IBM T.J. Watson Research Center, Yorktown Heights, New York

    Sung K. Kang & DaYuan Shih

Authors
  1. Sungil Cho
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Jin Yu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Sung K. Kang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. DaYuan Shih
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Additional information

For more information, contact Sungil Cho, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, 373-1 Kusung-dong, Yusung-gu, Daejon 305-701, Republic of Korea; +82-17-394-1026; e-mail sicho@kaist.ac.kr.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Cho, S., Yu, J., Kang, S.K. et al. The oxidation of lead-free Sn alloys by electrochemical reduction analysis. JOM 57, 50–52 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11837-005-0136-8

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11837-005-0136-8

Keywords

Search

Navigation