Tensile properties of Pb-Sn bearing alloy containing small amount of Sb

In this study, tensile tests of Pb-9.5Sn-0.5wt\%Sb bearing alloy were investigated with respect to the effect of testing temperatures ranging from 393 to 473 K and strain rates ranging from 9.1 x 10(-4) to 2 x 10(-2) s(-1). The tensile tests revealed that the solder alloy exhibits high ductility at 433 K and 5 x 10(-3) s(-1). Strain rate sensitivity parameter in and activation energy were determined to clarify the deformation mechanism. The effects of Sb-addition on the tensile properties of Pb-9.5Sn-0.5wt\%Sb solder alloy were studied by comparing the tensile deformation behaviour of the two solders Pb-10wt\%Sn and Pb-10Sn-1.5wt\%Zn. Microstructural analysis confirmed that the mechanism controlling the tensile behaviour is a grain boundary sliding (GBS). This study revealed that the Pb-9.5Sn-0.5wt\%Sb alloy shows a good combination of high strength and greater ductility by grain refinement. Also, the difference in the morphology and distribution of second phase particles caused by the Sb-addition resulted in better tensile properties. (C) 2004 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH \& Co. KGaA, Weinheim.