Influence of the Porous Microstructure on the Elastic Properties of Sintered Ag Paste as Replacement Material for Die Attachment

摘要

Silver pastes are good candidates as alternative materials to lead solder alloys. However, little is known about the relationship between their microstructure and their mechanical properties. This issue is addressed by developing a specific route to obtain standalone sintered bulk specimens representative of the real sintered joints. The relationship between the density and the pore surface fraction is established, allowing the density of the material to be obtained independently from its size and geometry. The elastic constants of both sintered joints and sintered bulk specimens are investigated using dynamic resonant testing. A strong correlation between the elastic constants and the density is established. In contrast to the sintered bulk specimens, for which the Young's modulus remains constant after annealing, Young's modulus of the sintered joints evolves significantly towards a stabilized value. This is derived from thermal stresses relaxation within the sintered joint.