Silver Sinter Paste Composition to Reduce Squeeze-Out

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing silver sintering pastes exhibit undesirable squeeze-out behavior during the sintering process, particularly when the layer thickness is high or the contact surfaces of components are large, leading to an unstable connection.

Innovation Solution

A silver sintering paste composition comprising 5-40% silver flakes with specific particle size ranges and 50-85% silver particles, along with organic solvents and cellulose derivatives, is developed to minimize squeeze-out and enhance connection stability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If a large amount of metal sintering paste is used between components with large contact areas, then the connection strength is improved, but squeeze-out behavior increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconnection strengthVSAvoidsqueeze-out behavior
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The invention changes the particle size parameters of the sintering paste, specifically using silver particles with D90 between 300-1000 nm and silver flakes with D90 between 5-20 μm. This parameter optimization allows the paste to maintain adequate connection strength while significantly reducing squeeze-out behavior during pressure sintering of components with large contact areas (>100 mm²).

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The invention uses a composite material system combining two distinct silver forms: spherical silver particles (50-85 wt.%) and flake-shaped silver flakes (5-40 wt.%). This composite structure leverages the flowability of spherical particles to reduce squeeze-out while maintaining connection strength through the combined sintering behavior of both particle types.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Stability of the object's composition

If the layer thickness of metal sintering paste is increased, then the connection stability is improved, but squeeze-out behavior is exacerbated

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconnection stabilityVSAvoidsqueeze-out behavior
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The invention optimizes the particle size parameters, specifically using silver particles with D90 between 300-1000 nm and silver flakes with D90 between 5-20 μm. This parameter optimization enables the paste to achieve adequate connection stability with reduced layer thickness while minimizing squeeze-out behavior during pressure sintering.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The invention creates local quality differences within the paste layer through the bimodal particle distribution. The spherical particles (300-1000 nm D90) provide local flowability and stress distribution to prevent squeeze-out, while the flake particles (5-20 μm D90) contribute to structural integrity and connection stability, allowing thin layers to perform optimally.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The optimized paste composition significantly reduces squeeze-out behavior and achieves a strong, electrically and thermally conductive connection between components, maintaining stability even under pressure sintering conditions.

Implementation Method 1

Sintering the joining of electronic components is a common process... a sintering joining material, such as sintering paste, is applied between them. The sandwich configuration created using sintering paste is then subjected to a drying and sintering step, during which a mechanically strong, electrically and thermally conductive bond between the components is formed.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSintering: Sintering

Implementation Method 2

The sandwich configuration created using sintering paste is then subjected to a drying and sintering step...

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectEvaporation: Evaporation

Data Source

PatentEP4324578B1Silver sinter paste and its use for joining components
Publication Date: 2024.10.09 HERAEUS ELECTRONICS GMBH & CO KG

AI summary

Silver sintering paste consisting of: (A) 5 to 40 wt.% silver flakes with a particle size D90 in the range of 5 to 20 µm, (B) 50 to 85 wt.% silver particles with a particle size D90 in the range of 300 to 1000 nm, (C) 10 to 25 wt.% at least one organic solvent, (D) 0 to 2 wt.% at least one cellulose derivative, and (E) 0 to 10 wt.% at least one additive different from components (A) to (D).