Patent · US Expired

Process for chemically and mechanically enhancing solder surface properties

US6056831A · kind A · utility

10Cited by
6References
19Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJul 10, 1998
Grant dateMay 2, 2000
Priority date
Expiry dateJul 10, 2018

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY10T428/12896
  • WIPO fieldSurface technology, coating
  • WIPO sectorChemistry

Abstract

A process for altering surface properties of a mass of metal alloy solder comprising a first metal and a second metal. The process comprises exposing the mass to energized ions to preferentially sputter atoms of the first metal to form a surface layer ratio of first metal to second metal atoms that is less than the bulk ratio. The solder may be located on the surface of a substrate, wherein the process may further comprise masking the substrate to shield all but a selected area from the ion beam. The sputtering gas may comprises a reactive gas such as oxygen and the substrate may be an organic substrate. The process may further comprise simultaneously exposing the organic substrate to energized ions of the reactive gas to roughen the organic substrate surface.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.