Influence of TiO₂ nanoparticles on thermal property, wettability and interfacial reaction in Sn–3.0Ag–0.5Cu–xTiO₂ composite solder

The influence of TiO₂ nanoparticles on thermal property, wettability, and interfacial reaction in Sn–3.0Ag–0.5Cu–xTiO₂ (x = 0, 0.05, 0.1, and 0.6) lead-free composite solder was investigated in this study. Results show that the solidus temperatures of the TiO₂-containing composite solder have no obvious change compared with TiO₂-free solder. However, the liquidus temperatures of the TiO₂-containing composite solders increase by 4.4 °C with an increase in amounts of TiO₂ nanoparticles. The wetting angle of the composite solder decreases with the addition of TiO₂ nanoparticles ranging from 0.05 to 0.1 wt%, while the spreading area increases. Based on the spherical cap model, the mathematical relation between the wetting angle and spreading area is analyzed. Scanning electron microscopy was used to observe the interfacial microstructure evolution of solder joints and to estimate the thickness of the intermetallic layer. Energy dispersive x-ray and x-ray diffractometry were used to identify the intermetallic compound (IMC) phases. Results reveal that both the thickness of IMCs and the size of Cu₆Sn₅ grains formed in the solder matrix decrease when TiO₂ nanoparticles were added. It was also observed that some of the TiO₂ nanoparticles are adsorbed on the surfaces of the scallop-like Cu₆Sn₅ grains. According to the adsorption theory, the surface energy of the Cu₆Sn₅ grains decreases with adsorption of TiO₂ nanoparticles. Therefore, the diffusion of Sn and Cu atoms might be retarded, resulting in suppressing the growth of the IMCs layer.