Using Lead-Free BGAs in a Tin/Lead Soldering Process

Estimated reading time: 3 minutes

Several electronic market segments remain exempt from lead-free material restrictions such as Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS) legislation. These market segments tend to be electronics used in harsh environments and/or that have life/system critical functionality. While these market segments, which include avionics, can use solder containing lead, it is increasingly difficult to procure advanced components in non-ROHS compliant configurations. Product design teams that continue to use tin/lead soldering processes are faced with the dilemma of how to use ball grid array (BGA) components that are only available with lead-free solder spheres in their assembly processes. This paper discusses several aspects of having lead-free BGA components in a tin/lead soldering process: (1) mixed metallurgy; (2) solidification; (3) tin whiskers. The possible methodologies of utilization without compromising product integrity will be discussed.

The Mixed Metallurgy Concern

Environmental legislation has caused significant impact to the electronic industry in terms of the material sets used in electronic products. The prohibition of materials such as cadmium, hexavalent chromium, mercury and lead has eliminated a number of electronic components and material processes that were historically used in producing electronic products. The removal of lead for solder alloys has arguably the greatest impact on electronic products due to its role as the primary mechanical and electrical functionality material. Figure 1 illustrates how global solder usage trends show the replacement of tin/lead solder alloys with lead-free solder alloys since 2004 as tracked by the IPC Global Solder Statistical Program.

Product design teams that continue to use tin/lead soldering processes are faced with the dilemma of how to use BGA components that are only available with lead-free solder balls. The combination of a tin/lead solder paste alloy with a BGA component with lead-free solder balls results in a “mixed metallurgy” solder joint microstructure that has poor solder joint integrity in many product use environments. Three industry solutions have emerged as acceptable methodologies to address the potential solder joint integrity issue of a mixed metallurgy (i.e., lead-free parts used on a tin/lead assembly, condition). The first solution is to send the lead-free BGA component to an external service provide to be “reballed” (i.e., the lead-free solderballs are removed and replaced with tin/lead alloy solderballs). The reballing process has been shown to be reliable, provided that strictly controlled process procedures are followed. The advantage of a reballed BGA component is that it is transparent to a tin/lead soldering process; the disadvantages are the cost and time required to reball the BGA component.

Figure 1: Global solder usage trends. (IPC Global Solder Statistical Program)

The reballing of a BGA component requires the control of several key process parameters: moisture sensitivity level, solderball removal/attachment temperature/time and cleanliness of the reballed BGA component. Functional component testing is necessary to ensure that no process or component defects result from the reballing process. The following example illustrates how conducting functional assessment due diligence prevents the introduction of defective reballed BGAs into products.

A BGA component was found to have functional errors during engineering prototype testing. The BGA component in question had been procured from the component supplier as a lead-free BGA and was subsequently reballed using a eutectic tin/lead solder alloy. An X-ray of the suspect BGA revealed excessive solder joint voiding.

Figure 2: X-ray image of suspect BGA.

Industry investigations have shown that BGA voiding, in general, is not a solder joint integrity issue but is a clear indicator of a pad design or soldering process problem. The BGA pads did not contain any microvia technology so it was initially believed that an issue relating to a solder paste deposit or reflow profile was the voiding root cause. Figure 2 shows the excessive voiding observed in the BGA solder joints during X-ray assessment.

Metallographic cross-sectional analysis was conducted to verify that the observed solder joint voiding was a solder process issue. The cross-sectional analysis revealed component copper pad thicknesses so thin that, during the assembly reflow process, the molten solderball made contact with the BGA laminate material, which resulted in outgassing that created the void. Measurement of the copper pad plating revealed a nonexistent nickel plating barrier, which allowed 50%–100% copper plating dissolution of the BGA pad.

To read this entire article, which appeared in the July 2017 issue of SMT Magazine, click here.