Lead-free process development and microstructural analysis of capacitor filter assemblies using solder preforms

The goal of this research is process development of Pb-free capacitor filter assemblies of various sizes that use solder preforms in the shape of a washer and also to address the reliability issues during the transition from Pb-bearing solders to Pb-free solders in a unique type of SMT assembly. Components considered for this research are three different sizes of circular filter capacitors (large, medium, and small) that have pins inserted into a ferrite core. The Pb-free alloys considered in this research are near eutectic Sn-Ag-Cu (SAC) and Sn-Ag alloys. The results obtained from the Pb-free test samples are compared to eutectic tin-lead samples to study the reliability of Pb-free and tin-lead components. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)...