1. QSS Group/Goddard Operations
Moisture Characteristics of Molding Compounds and Environmental Effects in PEMs
Alexander Teverovsky
QSS Group/Goddard Operations

2. Moisture effects in PEMs
Die level:
Corrosion;
Dendrites between metallization lines;
Leakage current;
Charge instability (lateral, ion drift, hot electron).
Package level
Corrosion of leads;
Popcorning;
Dendrite formation (on the surface and inside packages);
Swelling/shrinkage:
underfills in PBGA and flip-chip technology;
warpage of large packages;
parametric shifts in linear devices.
11/21/02
web presentation

3. No humidity in space. Why moisture concerns?
An obvious reason: We need to assure that no moisture related failures and no degradation occur during ground phase integration and testing period (2 to 5 years maximum).
Not so obvious: We need to be aware of possible effects caused by moisture desorption in space.
11/21/02
web presentation

4. Quality assurance strategy for PEMs
Moisture prevention
Adequate qualification testing (do we need to use the same environmental testing as for Navy applications?)
Moisture prevention strategy.
Military applications: Wafer Applied Seal for PEM Protection (WASPP);
Space applications: monitoring of the moisture level and baking of component and assemblies.
11/21/02
web presentation

5. Purpose and Outline To discuss: Outline of today’s presentation:
Moisture diffusion characteristics of MCs: how they can be measured and used for implementation of the the moisture prevention strategy.
Outline of today’s presentation:
Bake-out conditions for PEMs;
Diffusion characteristics of MCs;
In-situ technique and results of D(T) measurements.
11/21/02
web presentation

6. Future presentations Do we need HAST?
(Is HAST adequate to normal conditions? What are the acceleration factors? What are failure mechanisms and modes? What are possible alternatives to HAST)
Environmentally induced swelling and shrinkage of molding compounds in PEMs.
(Technique for swelling and shrinkage measurements; swelling characteristics of different MCs; sorption isotherms; effects of high temperature baking conditions; mechanisms of swelling and shrinkage.)
Environmental hysteresis in precision voltage reference PEMs.
(Effect of external mechanical stresses; effects of moisture induced swelling and bake induced shrinkage; hysteresis due to low and high temperature exposure; relaxation of parametric shifts.)
Effect of moisture on characteristics, qualification testing, and reliability of chip solid tantalum capacitors.
11/21/02
web presentation

7. Master curve for moisture diffusion
At t = t C/Co=0.1, M/Mo=0.06
The first step in any MC or PEM degradation process is moisture diffusion => the characteristic times of diffusion are important for implementing the moisture prevention strategy. t
Bake-out time: t(T) = h2/D(T)
Kinetics of water molecules concentration at the die surface and mass losses during baking of a flat package saturated with moisture.
11/21/02
web presentation

8. Diffusion characteristics of epoxy encapsulating materials
Data reported in literature
D85 varies ~ 10 times
Averaged characteristics of MC:
Do = 7.3510-6 m2/sec
U = 0.43 eV
11/21/02
web presentation

9. Calculated moisture bake-out times for packages of different shapes and sizes
11/21/02
web presentation

10. *Data in brackets are J-STD-033 ‘02 recommendations
Comparison of the calculated bake-out conditions with JEDEC recommendations
Package
Thickness
Bake
Temperatu re
Type mm
40 C
90 C
125 C
DIP-24
3.8
1996 ( )
206 ( )
59 (48-48)
DIP-8
3.2
1416 ( )
146 ( )
41 (48-48)
PQFP-44 2
553 ( )
57 (48-144)
16 (16-40)
PLCC-32 3
1244 ( )
128 ( )
36 (48-48)
TSOP-32 1
138 ( )
14 (11-24)
4 (3-10)
*Data in brackets are J-STD-033 ‘02 recommendations
11/21/02
web presentation

11. Calculated bake times at 125 oC and JEDEC recommendations
Three body thickness groups per IPC/JEDEC J-STD-033A, July 2002: <1.4 mm; <2 mm;< 4.5 mm
Ignoring real size of the parts might cause significant errors.
JEDEC bake recommendations are focused on SMT solder reflow process and might be not adequate for moisture control purposes.
Note:
2a and 5a are levels of moisture sensitivity.
part saturated at 30 oC/85% RH
11/21/02
web presentation

12. D(T) technique. Conventional (isothermal) measurements: Time domain
T = Ti +
dMsat is necessary for calculations duration of test
Next i
11/21/02
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13. Non-isothermal technique: Temperature domain
Preconditioning:
85oC/85%RH/168hrs
Equipment:
TGA or T - chamber and balance.
Linear temperature increase
11/21/02
web presentation

14. Weighting is performed after fast cooling to RT.
Example: QFP-144 package
Weighting is performed after fast cooling to RT.
11/21/02
web presentation

15. Diffusion coefficients calculated using different techniques
Sorption/desorption kinetics at 85 oC
D85 (cm2/s) at 85 oC
Pack. Mater.
Isotherm. sorption
Isot. desorp.
Non-isot. desorp.
Variation, %
QFP144
7.1E-08
6.3E-08
7.7E-08 10 MC
4.4E-08
4.6E-08
6.8E-08
25.3
DIP28
5.8E-08
6.2E-08
8.8E-08
23.5
Different techniques agree within 30% error
11/21/02
web presentation

16. D(T) measurement results
Mfr.:
Actel
V3Semi
AMD
XILINX
Package:
QFP144
QFP160
PLCC32
QFP240
D0, cm2/s
2.09
0.253
0.011
0.081
U, eV
0.5
0.45
0.32
0.41
D20, cm2/s
3E-9
2.4E-9
3.2E-8
4.5E-9
D85, cm2/s
1.2E-7
6.9E-8
3.2E-7
9.4E-8
D130, cm2/s
7.8E-7
3.7E-7
1E-6
4.3E-7
Literature data: 0.32 < U < 0.52; 8E-9 < D85 < 2E-7
11/21/02
web presentation

17. Effect of Lead Frame Delamination
CSAM resolution: ~ 100 nm Water molecule ~ 0.3 nm
- delamination coefficient; k = SLF/SP, LF size factor. k ~ 0.5; 0<  < 1 at  = 1 Dpac = 2.25DMC
An increase in Deff indicates severe delaminations.
11/21/02
web presentation

18. Moisture uptake is a linear function of relative humidity
Sorption isotherm
dM = F(RH, T)
Henry’s law:
 - sorption coefficient;
P -water vapor pressure;
Ps -saturated water pressure;
f - relative humidity
Moisture uptake is a linear function of relative humidity
Test conditions:
168 hrs at 85 oC at each RH
11/21/02
web presentation

19. Sorption at 85 % RH and T from 70 oC to 130 oC
dM = F(RH, T)
Sorption coefficient :
 =oexp(H/kT)
H - the heat of moisture solution.
Ps=Poexp(-Q/kT)
Q - the heat of water vaporization (~0.42 eV).
Moisture uptake does not depend significantly on temperature
Test conditions: 168 hr to 72 hr at 85% RH at each temperature
11/21/02
web presentation

20. Do we really need the moisture prevention strategy?
Burn-in testing at 85 oC.
1 month storage at 25 oC and 70% RH
Will storage of the parts at normal laboratory conditions affect BI testing results?
Note: C/Co = 1 corresponds to the equilibrium moisture saturation at 100% RH.
C(t) calculations for an initially dry part (2 mm) stored one month at laboratory conditions
11/21/02
web presentation

21. Summary
A moisture prevention strategy, which includes monitoring of moisture content and adequate baking of plastic parts and assemblies, is suggested.
This strategy can be implemented by calculations of the characteristic times of moisture diffusion and bake-out conditions. Software for simulation of the evolution of moisture content and recommendations for baking can be developed.
JEDEC recommendations for baking are in agreement with calculations based on the averaged D(T) characteristics. However, the calculation provides much more flexibility and accuracy.
A technique for in-situ measurements of temperature dependence of moisture diffusion characteristics has been demonstrated.
11/21/02
web presentation