Corrosion of Electronic Materials and Devices

Abstract

Electronic materials and devices corrode in the same ways as automobiles, bridges, and pipelines, but their typically small dimensions make them orders of magnitude more susceptible to corrosion failure. As elsewhere, the corrosion involves interactions with the environment. Under control, these interactions can be put to use, as in the formation of protective and functional oxide films for superconducting devices. Otherwise, they cause damage, as in the electrolytic dissolution of conductors, even gold, in the presence of humidity and ionic contamination from atmospheric particles and gases. Preventing corrosion entails identifying the damaging interactions and excluding species that allow them to occur.

Electrochemical migration of Sn and Sn solder alloys: a review

“…It is reported that even small amounts of weight loss, of the order of nanograms or less, can cause problems and ultimately lead to device failure. 1 Electrochemical migration (ECM) is a common reliability problem which is related to failure encountered in the electronics industry. It is dened as a process by which a metal, in contact with insulating materials and under an electrical potential, is removed ionically from its initial location and is redeposited at other location.…”

Electronic Materials, Components, and Devices

“…Fine particles (<2 mm in diameter) are more difficult to remove by filtration and hence may be found in significant concentrations in indoor environments, even those with good air-handling systems. These particles, which typically result from combustion processes, are likely to contain a high proportion of water-soluble ionic compounds that are more corrosive than the natural materials [1,[3][4][5]. The most common ions found in these particles, NH 4 þ and SO 4 2 À , are typically present in roughly equal molar proportions [1].…”

Identification of Corrosion Products on Fe and Cu Metals using Spectroscopic Methods

“…Chloride ions present in many environments are very aggressive agent which can cause extensive corrosion of many materials [2,[5][6][7]. Chloride containing corrosion products are then very often detected on iron and copper objects [5][6][7][8].…”

“…metals, alloys, concrete, glasses) that result from reaction with the corrosive environment [1]. The corrosion process depends on various factors, such as environment, pH, temperature, presence of the oxygen or aggressive ions in aqueous solution [1][2][3].…”