Electronic and microelectronic materials are composed of a wide variety of materials, ranging from Pb-Sn solders to ceramic packages which have both soft and very hard materials.
Typical Material | Package Component | Physical Properties |
---|---|---|
Alumina, Aluminum Nitride, Beryllium oxide |
Packing body | Hard, brittle |
Au / Si | Die attach | Soft |
Ni/Fe/Co | Leads/lids | Tough, ductile |
Au and/or Ni | Plating | Soft, ductile |
Silicon |
IC chip |
Brittle |
Ag/Cu | Lead braze | Soft, ductile |
Pb/Sn | Solder | Soft |
Tungsten | Coating refractory | Hard, tough |
Aluminum | Bonded Wires | Soft |
These materials require minimizing the amount of damaged produced during sectioning as well as polishing process which maintain the integrity of the specimens different hardness components.