With the dramatic advances that have taken place in microelectronics over the past three decades, ball-grid array (BGA) packages are increasingly being used in microsystems applications. BGA packages with area-array configuration have several advantages: smaller footprint, faster signal transmission, testability, reworkability, handling easiness, etc. Although ceramic ball grid array (CBGA) packages have been used extensively in the microsystems industry, the use of plastic ball grid array (PBGA) packages is relatively new, especially for automotive and aerospace applications where harsh thermal conditions prevail. This thesis work has developed an experimental and a theoretical modeling program to study the reliability of two PBGA packages. The physics-based theoretical models take into consideration the time-dependent creep behavior through power law creep and time-independent plastic behavior through multi-linear kinematic hardening. In addition, unified viscoplastic constitutive models are also taken into consideration. The models employ two damage-metrics, namely inelastic strain and inelastic strain energy density, to predict the solder joint fatigue life. The theoretical predictions have been validated through air-to-air in-house thermal cycling tests carried out between 55 and #61616;C and 125 and #61616;C. In addition, laser-moir interferometry has been used to determine the displacement contours in a cross-section of the package at various temperatures. These contours measured through moir interferometry have also been used to validate the thermally-induced displacement contours, predicted by the models. Excellent agreement is seen between the experimental data and the theoretical predictions. In addition to life prediction, the models have been extended to map the field-use conditions with the accelerated thermal cycling conditions. Both linear and non-linear mapping techniques have been developed employing inelastic strain and strain energy density as the damage metric. It is shown through this research that the symmetric MIL-STD accelerated thermal cycles, currently in practice in industry, have to be modified to account for the higher percentage of creep deformation experienced by the solder joints in the field-use conditions. Design guidelines have been developed for such modifications in the accelerated thermal cycles.

This research aims to understand the reliability of Sn-Ag-Cu solder interconnects used in plastic ball grid array (PBGA) packages using microstructure evolution, laser moiré interferometry and finite-element modeling. A particle coarsening based microstructure evolution of the solder joint material during thermal excursions was studied for extended periods of time lasting for several months. The microstructure evolution and particle coarsening was quantified, and acceleration factors were determined between benign field-use conditions and accelerated thermal cycling (ATC) conditions for PBGA packages with different form factors and for two different lead-free solder alloys. A new technique using laser moiré interferometry was developed to assess the deformation behavior of Sn-Ag-Cu based solder joints during thermal excursions. This technique can used to estimate the fatigue life of solder joints quickly in a matter of few days instead of months and can be extended to cover a wide range of temperature regimes. Finite-element analysis (FEA) in conjunction with experimental data from the ATC for different lead-free PBGA packages was used to develop a fatigue life model that can be used to predict solder joint fatigue life for any PBGA package. The proposed model will be able to predict the mean number of cycles required for crack initiation and crack growth rate in a solder joint.

Abstract Electronic devices are subjected to various usage environments, wherein stresses are induced to components and their interconnections. The level of stress affects the interval of failure occurrences. When the stress level and aging characteristics of sub-material parts are known, the failure occurrence can be predicted. However, the predictions are based on uncertainties and a practical method to help to assess the component interconnection reliability is needed. In this thesis a novel method to utilize the accelerated stress test data for the hazard rate estimates is introduced. The hazard rate expectations of the interconnection elements are presented as interconnection failures in time (i-FIT) figures that can be used as a part of the conventional product reliability estimates. The method utilizes second level reliability test results for a packaging type specific failure occurrence estimates. Furthermore, the results can be used as such in the component packaging reliability estimates. Moreover, a novel method to estimate the interconnection failures in terms of costs is presented. In this novel method the interconnection elements are dealt as cost elements. It is also shown that the costs of the interconnection failures could be very high, if the stress-strength characteristics of the interconnection system are wrongly chosen. The lead-free manufacturing has emphasized the thermal compatibility of the materials of the component, the solder and the Printed Wiring Board. Improper materials for Area Array components will result as excessive component warping during the reflow, as is shown in this thesis. A novel method for estimating the amount of component warping during the lead-free reflow is introduced. In this thesis, a method to predict the second level interconnection hazard rate is introduced. The method utilizes the second level reliability test data in the life time predictions of the component solder joints. The resulted hazard rates can be used as a part of product field performance estimates. Also, the effect of the process variation and the material properties on the lead-free solder joint reliability is introduced. / Tiivistelmä Elektronisen laitteen materiaalien yhteensopivuus ja käyttöympäristö määrittävät sen kokemat rasitukset. Laitteen komponentteihin tai niiden liitoksiin kohdistuvat rasitukset aiheuttavat lopulta laitteen vikaantumisen. Vikaantumisten taajuuteen vaikuttavat paitsi rasituksen taso ja tyyppi, myös laitteen materiaalien ominaisuudet. Todellinen vikaantumistaajuus perustuu kuitenkin muihinkin parametreihin, mistä johtuen vikaantumisennusteet voivat olla epätarkkoja. Tästä syystä käytännölliselle liitosten vikaantumisen arviointimenetelmälle on tarve. Tässä väitöskirjassa esitellään uusi komponenttien juotosliitosten arviointimenetelmä, jonka avulla voidaan muuntaa kiihdytetyn rasitustestauksen tulos vikaantumistaajuusarvioksi laitteen todellisessa käyttöympäristössä. Menelmässä hyödynnetään levytason rasitustestauksen tuloksia komponenttien kotelotyyppikohtaisiin vikaantumisennusteisiin. Menetelmää voidaan käyttää sellaisenaan arvioitaessa komponenttikoteloiden luotettavuutta todellisissa rasitus- tai tuoteympäristöissä. Väitöskirjassa esitellään myös uusi menetelmä vikaantuneiden liitosten kustannusten määrittämiseen, mikä auttaa myös uuden liitosteknologian kokonaiskustannusten arvioimisessa. Lisäksi väitöskirjatyössä osoitetaan, että liitosvikojen aiheuttamat kustannukset voivat olla erittäin korkeita, mikäli juotosliitoksiin kohdistuvat rasitukset ylittävät liitosten suunnitellun kestävyyden. Elektroniikan lyijyttömän valmistamisen myötä komponenttien, juotteen ja piirilevyn materiaalien yhteensopivuus korostuu. Väitöskirjatyössä osoitetaan, että yhteensopimattomien materiaalien käyttäminen komponenteissa voi johtaa komponentin liialliseen taipumaan kuumakonvektiojuottamisen aikana. Lisäksi esitellään menetelmä komponentin taipuman arvioimiseksi lämpötilan funktiona. Tässä väitöskirjassa esitellään uusi menetelmä, jolla voidaan arvioida komponenttien juotosliitosten vikaantumista ja vikaantumisen vaikutusta tuotteiden kokonaiskustannuksiin. Menetelmä perustuu kiihdytetyn rasitustestauksen tuloksiin, joita voidaan käyttää juotosliitosten vikaantumisten arvioimiseen tuotteen todellisissa käyttöolosuhteissa. Lisäksi väitöskirjatyössä on arvioitu juotosmateriaalin ja juotosaluemitoituksen vaikutusta juotosliitosten luotettavuuteen.