Evaluation of the Elevated Temperature Creep Strength of Three Lead-Free Solder Alloys in Soldered Joints

Published

July 1, 2001

Author(s)

D A. Shepherd, Robert C. Hagwood, Richard J. Fields

Abstract

Amendments to the Safe Drinking Water Act mandated that soldered joints used in potable water systems be free of lead. In addition to lead contents, allowable pressures used in potable water systems are directly related to the elevated temperature creep strengths of the soldered joints. The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and the Copper Development Association (CDA) investigated the stress rupture behavior of lead-free soldered joints at four temperatures and various applied stresses. An extensive statistical analysis involving maximum likelihood techniques was used to generate estimated threshold stresses (below which failure in the soldered joints did not occur) as a function of composition and temperature. The results of that study for three solder alloys are given.

Citation

Journal of Testing and Evaluation

Volume

29

Issue

No. 4

Pub Type

Journals

Keywords

creep strength, lead-free solder, maximum likelihood, stress rupture

Citation

Shepherd, D. , Hagwood, R. and Fields, R. (2001), Evaluation of the Elevated Temperature Creep Strength of Three Lead-Free Solder Alloys in Soldered Joints, Journal of Testing and Evaluation (Accessed October 14, 2025)