Modeling and analysis of crack growth in SnPb and SnAgCu solder joints in PBG packages: Part II - Crack propagation

Part II of this paper describes an experimental and analytical study of crack propagation in SnPb and SnAgCu solder joints in 357-PBGA packages exposed to 30-minute thermal cycles of 0 to 100degreesC. Experimental results show that cracks propagate faster at the package interface than at the board interface; secondary cracks form at the package interface, but grow much slower than the primary cracks; and crack growth rates in SnPb joints are about 50% larger than in SnAgCu joints. A crack propagation model, developed using the fracture mechanics approach, calculates the energy release rate at the crack tip. Using this rate and experimental crack length data, crack propagation rates were computed. Simulation results show the effects of solder type and aging conditions on crack propagation rates and the effects of the number of cracks in a joint on crack propagation life.