Strengthening mechanism of Al/Sn interfaces: Study from experiments and first-principles calculation

Han Yan; Weibing Guo; Tianmin Luan; Xinran Ma; Guojing Xu; Xuesong Leng; Weiwei Zhao; Jiuchun Yan

Materials & Design (Dec 2021)

Strengthening mechanism of Al/Sn interfaces: Study from experiments and first-principles calculation

Han Yan,
Weibing Guo,
Tianmin Luan,
Xinran Ma,
Guojing Xu,
Xuesong Leng,
Weiwei Zhao,
Jiuchun Yan

Affiliations

Han Yan: State Key Laboratory of Advanced Welding and Joining, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150001, PR China; Department of Mechanical Engineering, The University of Sheffield, Sheffield S10 2TN, UK
Weibing Guo: State Key Laboratory of Advanced Welding and Joining, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150001, PR China; School of Materials Science and Engineering, Hebei University of Technology, Tianjin 300401, PR China; Corresponding authors at: State Key Laboratory of Advanced Welding and Joining, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150001, PR China (W. Guo).
Tianmin Luan: State Key Laboratory of Advanced Welding and Joining, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150001, PR China
Xinran Ma: State Key Laboratory of Advanced Welding and Joining, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150001, PR China
Guojing Xu: State Key Laboratory of Advanced Welding and Joining, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150001, PR China
Xuesong Leng: Flexible Printed Electronics Technology Center, Harbin Institute of Technology, Shenzhen 518055, PR China; Corresponding authors at: State Key Laboratory of Advanced Welding and Joining, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150001, PR China (W. Guo).
Weiwei Zhao: State Key Laboratory of Advanced Welding and Joining, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150001, PR China; Flexible Printed Electronics Technology Center, Harbin Institute of Technology, Shenzhen 518055, PR China
Jiuchun Yan: State Key Laboratory of Advanced Welding and Joining, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150001, PR China; Corresponding authors at: State Key Laboratory of Advanced Welding and Joining, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150001, PR China (W. Guo).

Journal volume & issue: Vol. 212
p. 110292

Abstract

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The joining of aluminum using a metal of pure Sn as an interlayer or solder was investigated by reactive air soldering and vacuum diffusion bonding. The interfacial structure and mechanical property of the joints were examined. A nanometer-scale interlayer of amorphous Al2O3 dotted with nanocrystalline γ-Al2O3 was observed and identified at the Al/Sn interface by reactive air soldering. The shear strength of the joints (∼40 MPa) by reactive air soldering was higher than that (∼20 MPa) by vacuum diffusion bonding. The reaction and diffusion behaviors of oxygen dopants at the Al/Sn interface were studied through geometry optimization and a transition state search, respectively. The work of separation values of these two interfaces between Al/O-terminated or Sn/O-terminated was 6.46 and 2.83 J/m2, respectively, which were both larger than that of a Al/Sn interface (1.06 J/m2). The results indicated that oxygen atoms could strengthen the interfacial adhesion of Al/Sn. In addition, the interfacial reaction of Al and O and the formation process of Al2O3 were discussed. It has the potential to be used to realize a high-strength joint in other weak bonding systems such as solder/ceramics, through O doping in air.

Published in Materials & Design

ISSN: 0264-1275 (Print); 1873-4197 (Online)
Publisher: Elsevier
Country of publisher: United Kingdom
LCC subjects: Technology: Electrical engineering. Electronics. Nuclear engineering: Materials of engineering and construction. Mechanics of materials
Website: https://www.journals.elsevier.com/materials-and-design

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