EFFECT OF GAMMA RADIATION ON MICROMECHANICAL BEHAVIOR OF SNPB SOLDER ALLOY

Abstract

Tin-lead (SNPB) alloys are widely used in microelectronic packaging industry. It serves as a connector that provide the conductive path needed to achieve the connection from one circuit element to another circuit element. In this research, the effect of gamma irradiation on the micromechanical behaviour of tin-lead (SNPB) solder alloy has been investigated using the nano-indentation testing. Gamma radiation with a Cobalt-60 source were exposed to SNPB solders with different doses from 5 Gy to 500 Gy. In this study, the nano-indentation technique was used to understand the evolution of micromechanical properties (hardness and reduced modulus) of SNPB solder joints subjected to gamma irradiation. The results showed that the hardness of the SNPB alloys was enhanced with increasing of gamma radiation. The hardness was greatest at dose of 500 Gy of sample, 25.6 MPa and had the lowest value at un-irradiated sample.  However, the reduced modulus was decreased by increasing the irradiation of gamma due to the intrinsic properties and the atomic bonding of the material.