A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal
Effects of humidity, ionic contaminations and temperature on the degradation of silicone-based sealing materials used in microelectronics
Authors: Mehr, M. Yazdan; Hajipour, P.; Karampoor, M.R.; van Zeijl, H.; van Driel, W.D.; Cooremans, T.; De Buyl, F.; Zhang, G.Q.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Publication year: 2025
Journal: Microelectronics Reliability
Article number: 115554
Volume: 164
ISSN: 0026-2714
eISSN: 1872-941X
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.microrel.2024.115554
Publication's open availability at the time of reporting: No Open Access
Publication channel's open availability : Partially Open Access publication channel
Web address : https://doi.org/10.1016/j.microrel.2024.115554
Abstract
This paper investigates the effects of three ageing factors (chemical, humidity, and temperature) and their interactions on the physical properties and degradation of silicone sealant used in microelectronic applications. The thermal degradation of silicone sealants was investigated by exposing samples to temperatures in the range of 150 up to 175 °C. Also, a set of samples were aged at 40 °C in a salt spray set-up with 100 % humidity in a salty atmosphere. Results showed detectable changes in the FTIR spectra of aged specimen as compared with the as-received sample. In all accelerated testing conditions, peak intensities decreased with ageing time, inferring that that the surface characteristics of the sealant is affected by ageing. Shear test results showed that with increasing the ageing time, the maximum shear stress in most cases has decreased in all ageing conditions. Also, it appears that samples with longer ageing times have experienced more elongation before failure. Results also show that salt spraying of specimens is associated with a decrease in the mechanical properties of the sealant, indicating the deleterious implications of ionic contaminations for the mechanical properties of samples.
This paper investigates the effects of three ageing factors (chemical, humidity, and temperature) and their interactions on the physical properties and degradation of silicone sealant used in microelectronic applications. The thermal degradation of silicone sealants was investigated by exposing samples to temperatures in the range of 150 up to 175 °C. Also, a set of samples were aged at 40 °C in a salt spray set-up with 100 % humidity in a salty atmosphere. Results showed detectable changes in the FTIR spectra of aged specimen as compared with the as-received sample. In all accelerated testing conditions, peak intensities decreased with ageing time, inferring that that the surface characteristics of the sealant is affected by ageing. Shear test results showed that with increasing the ageing time, the maximum shear stress in most cases has decreased in all ageing conditions. Also, it appears that samples with longer ageing times have experienced more elongation before failure. Results also show that salt spraying of specimens is associated with a decrease in the mechanical properties of the sealant, indicating the deleterious implications of ionic contaminations for the mechanical properties of samples.
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