Analytical electron microscopy of lead-free nanopowder solders

During the last decade, the EU legislative regulations enforced lead-free solders and hence initiated an extensive search for the best replacement of lead-containing solders. Parallel to new binary and ternary bulk solders, metal nanoparticles are also considered as potential candidates for solder materials. It is known that physical, electric and thermodynamic properties of nanoobjects are significantly different from those of the bulk materials. The oxidation, high reactivity of the surfaces and aggregation are frequent problems of nanotechnology applications. The nanoparticles of pure metals and alloys exhibit the depression of the melting point compared to bulk material, hence they are able to aggregate and to form firm interlayer joints at low temperatures. Exploiting this effect can save energy, work and materials