Characterization of the corrosion behavior of Al-X bond wires

Humidity is one of the critical conditions regarding the lifetime of power electronic components. It can cause electrochemical reactions that degrade the components and lead to failures in the field. Especially for the use in harsh environments, components must have corrosion-resistant properties. Therefore, reliable bond wires with a long lifetime are essential too. The most commonly used heavy bond wires are made of aluminum. This paper deals with the characterization of Al-X bond wires in terms of its corrosion resistance compared to other typical aluminum heavy bond wires. The objective of this study is to determine whether the Al-X bond wire is suitable for use in harsh environmental conditions. The electrochemical measurements show that the Al-X bond wire in deionized water has the lowest corrosion affinity compared to the other bond wires examined. It also shows good results in saline solutions. These are comparable to the results of the corrosion-resistant optimized common Al wire.