Mechanical Properties of Solder-Jointed Copper Rods with Electrodeposited Sn-Zn Alloy Films

Enforced solid solution type Sn-Zn alloy films were electrochemically synthesized on Cu substrate from an aqueous solution containing citric acid complexes. The electrodeposition behavior of Sn-Zn alloys was classified to a normal co-deposition type, in which electrochemically nobler Sn deposits preferentially compared to Zn. Electrodeposited Sn-Zn alloy films were composed of a non-equilibrium phase, like an enforced solid solution, which was not observed in an equilibrium phase diagram of an Sn-Zn binary alloy system. By applying a thermal annealing process at 150 °C for 10 minutes, a pure Zn phase was precipitated from an electrodeposited Sn-based solid solution phase with excessively dissolved Zn atoms. During the soldering process, intermetallic phases such as Cu₃Sn and Cu₅Zn₈ were formed at the interface between an Sn-Zn alloy and Cu substrate. Tensile strength and fracture elongation of solder-jointed Cu rods with Sn-8 at.%Zn alloy films reached ca. 40 MPa and 12%, respectively.