ARTICLE INFO ABSTRACTArticle history:Recently much research are has been done into the compositions of lead-free solders. As a result, there has been a rapid increase in the number of new compositions. In the past, the properties of these new compositions were determined and verified through drop-impact tests. However, these drop tests were expensive and it took a long time to obtain a result.The main goal of this study was to establish an analytical method capable of predicting the impact life-time of a new solder composition for board-level flip chips though the application of drop simulations using LS-DYNA. Based on the reaction load obtain with LS-DYNA, the drop-impact fracture cycles were predicted. The study was performed using a Sn-3.0Ag-0.5Cu solder (305 composition). To verify the reliability of the proposed analytical method, the results of the drop-impact tests and life-time analysis were compared, and were found to be in good agreement. Thus, the new analytical method was shown to be very useful and effective.

Article history:The need for drop simulations for board-leveled flip chips in micro-system packaging has been increasing. There have been many studies on flip chips with various solder ball compositions. However, studies on flip chips with Sn-1.0Ag-0.5Cu and Sn-3.0Ag-0.5Cu have rarely been attempted because of the unknown material properties. According to recent studies, drop simulations with these solder ball compositions have proven feasible. In this study, predictions of the impact lifetime by drop simulations are performed considering Cu and Cu/Ni UBMs using LS-DYNA to alter the design parameters of the flip chips, such as thickness of the flip chip and size of the solder ball. It was found that a smaller chip thickness, larger solder ball diameter, and using the Cu/Ni UBM can improve the drop lifetime of solder balls.