BONDING WIRE FOR SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICE

Abstract

Provided is a Pd coated Cu bonding wire for a semiconductor device capable of sufficiently obtaining bonding reliability of a ball bonded portion in a high temperature environment of 175 C. or more, even when the content of sulfur in the mold resin used in the semiconductor device package increases.

The bonding wire for a semiconductor device comprises a Cu alloy core material; and a Pd coating layer formed on a surface of the Cu alloy core material; and contains 0.03 to 2% by mass in total of one or more elements selected from Ni, Rh, Ir and Pd in the bonding wire and further 0.002 to 3% by mass in total of one or more elements selected from Li, Sb, Fe, Cr, Co, Zn, Ca, Mg, Pt, Sc and Y. The bonding wire can be sufficiently obtained bonding reliability of a ball bonded portion in a high temperature environment of 175 C. or more, even when the content of sulfur in the mold resin used in the semiconductor device package increases by being used.

Claims

1. A bonding wire for a semiconductor device, the bonding wire comprising: a Cu alloy core material; and a Pd coating layer formed on a surface of the Cu alloy core material, wherein the bonding wire contains at least one of one or more elements selected from Ni, Rh and Ir (hereinafter referred to as first alloy element group), and Pd: 0.05% by mass or more, and the total content of the first alloy element group and Pd is 0.03 to 2% by mass when the content of the first alloy element group is evaluated as the content in the bonding wire, and the content of Pd is evaluated in terms of the content in the bonding wire based on the content of Pd in the Cu alloy core material; and wherein the bonding wire contains 0.002 to 3% by mass in total of one or more elements selected from Li, Sb, Fe, Cr, Co, Zn, Ca, Mg, Pt, Sc and Y; the contents of Ca and Mg in the bonding wire are 0.011% by mass or more respectively when Ca or Mg is contained; the total content of the first alloy element group and Zn in the bonding wire is 2.1% by mass or more when Zn is contained.

2. The bonding wire for a semiconductor device according to claim 1, wherein a thickness of the Pd coating layer is 0.015 to 0.150 m.

3. The bonding wire for a semiconductor device according to claim 1, further comprising an alloy skin layer containing Au and Pd on the Pd coating layer.

4. The bonding wire for a semiconductor device according to claim 3, wherein a thickness of the alloy skin layer containing Au and Pd is 0.050 m or less.

5. The bonding wire for a semiconductor device according to claim 1, wherein the bonding wire further contains 0.03 to 3% by mass in total of one or more elements selected from Al, Ga, Ge and In.

6. The bonding wire for a semiconductor device according to claim 1, wherein the bonding wire further contains 0.1 to 1000 ppm by mass in total of one or more elements selected from As, Te, Sn, Bi and Se (Sn10 ppm by mass, Bi1 ppm by mass).

7. The bonding wire for a semiconductor device according to claim 1, wherein the bonding wire further contains 0.1 to 200 ppm by mass in total of one or more elements selected from B, P and La.

8. The bonding wire for a semiconductor device according to claim 1, wherein Cu is present at an outermost surface of the bonding wire.

9. The bonding wire for a semiconductor device according to claim 2, further comprising an alloy skin layer containing Au and Pd on the Pd coating layer.

Description

EMBODIMENT FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

[0026] Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail in accordance with preferred embodiments thereof. In the following, numerical values indicated in relation to a content, a thickness and a ratio represent average values, unless otherwise specified.

[0027] The bonding wire of the present invention includes a Cu alloy core material and a Pd coating layer formed on a surface of the Cu alloy core material. When a ball is formed by arc discharge using such a Pd coated Cu bonding wire, an alloy layer having a higher Pd concentration than the inside of the ball is formed on a surface of the ball in a process in which the bonding wire melts and solidifies. When bonding with an Al electrode is performed using this ball, and a high-temperature and high-humidity test is performed, Pd is concentrated in a bonding interface. A concentrated layer formed by the concentrated Pd can reduce the diffusion of Cu and Al in the bonding interface during the high-temperature and high-humidity test and reduce a growth rate of a corrodible compound. With this phenomenon, the Pd coated Cu bonding wire of the present invention can improve the bonding reliability. The alloy layer in which the concentration of Pd is high, formed on the surface of the ball, is excellent in oxidation resistance and can thereby reduce failures such as deviation of a ball forming position relative to the center of the bonding wire when the ball is formed.

[0028] Recently, in on-vehicle semiconductor devices, improvement in the reliability of the ball bonded portion in 175 C. to 200 C. has been required. As mentioned above, the mold resin (the epoxy resin) as the package of the semiconductor device contains a silane coupling agent. The silane coupling agent has a function of improving adhesiveness between organic matter (resin) and inorganic matter (silicon or metal) and can thereby improve adhesiveness with a silicon substrate or metal. Furthermore, when higher adhesiveness is required such as on-vehicle semiconductors that require reliability at higher temperatures, a sulfur-containing silane coupling agent is added. Sulfur contained in the mold resin is freed when being used on the condition of 175 C. or more (for example, 175 C. to 200 C.). When sulfur freed at a high temperature of 175 C. or more is in contact with Cu, Cu violently corrodes to produce a sulfide (Cu.sub.2S) or an oxide (CuO). When the corrosion of Cu is produced in the semiconductor device using the Cu bonding wire, the bonding reliability degrades especially of the ball bonded portion.

[0029] As means for evaluating reliability of the ball bonded portion in a high-temperature environment at 175 C. or more, a high temperature storage test (HTS) is used. For a sample to be evaluated exposed to a high-temperature environment, temporal changes in a resistance value of the ball bonded portion are measured, or temporal changes in shear strength of the ball bonded portion are measured, thereby evaluating the bonding longevity of the ball bonded portion.

[0030] A bonding wire for a semiconductor device in the present invention, the bonding wire comprising: a Cu alloy core material; and a Pd coating layer formed on a surface of the Cu alloy core material, wherein the bonding wire contains at least one of one or more elements selected from Ni, Rh and Ir (first alloy element group), and Pd: 0.05% by mass or more. The content of the first alloy element group is evaluated as the content in the bonding wire. The content of Pd is evaluated in terms of the content in the bonding wire based on the content of Pd in the Cu alloy core material. That is, the content of Pd can be calculated by analyzing the content of Pd in the Cu alloy core material and multiplying the analysis value by (Cu alloy core material mass per wire unit length)/(bonding wire mass per wire unit length). Pd in the Pd coating layer is not added to the content of Pd. The present invention is characterized in that, as the content when evaluated in these manner, the total content of the first alloy element group and Pd is 0.03 to 2% by mass. If the content of sulfur in mold resin used in semiconductor device package is comparable to that of conventional mold resin containing sulfur-containing silane coupling agent, the bonding reliability of the ball bonded portion in a high temperature environment of 175 C. or more can be improved by containing at least one of the first alloy element group and Pd (hereinafter referred to as first+alloy elements group) in the above content range. This is as described in Patent Literatures 6 to 9 as mentioned above. Furthermore, it is possible to improve the loop formability, that is, the leaning can be reduced which becomes a problem in high density mounting, by containing the first+alloy elements group in the above content range. This is because the yield strength of the bonding wire can be improved and the deformation of the bonding wire can be suppressed by containing these elements in the bonding wire.

[0031] In addition, the bonding longevity of ball bonded portion in a high-temperature and high-humidity environment of a temperature of 130 C. and a relative humidity of 85% can also be improved by containing the first+alloy elements group in the above content range. It is considered that the formation of a Cu.sub.9Al.sub.4 intermetallic compound in the bonded portion tends to be reduced when the Pd coated Cu bonding wire contains the first+alloy elements group as in the present invention. In a case where these elements are added, interfacial tension between Cu of the core material and Pd of the coating layer decreases which allows Pd to be concentrated in a ball bonded interface effectively. It can be thus estimated that an effect of reducing a mutual diffusion of Cu and Al by the Pd concentrated layer is enhanced, and as a result of that, a formation amount of Cu.sub.9Al.sub.4, which is likely to corrode through the action of Cl, is reduced, and then the reliability of the ball bonded portion in a high-temperature and high-humidity environment improves.

[0032] The lower limit of the content of the first+alloy elements group consisting of Ni, Rh, Ir and Pd shall be 0.03% by mass in total in the bonding wire as described above. More preferably, the lower limit of the content is 0.05% by mass or more, 0.1% by mass or more, 0.2% by mass or more, 0.3% by mass or more, or 0.5% by mass or more. When Pd is contained, the lower limit of the content of Pd is 0.05% by mass. More preferably, the lower limit of the content of Pd is 0.1% by mass or more, 0.2% by mass or more, 0.3% by mass or more, 0.4% by mass or more, or 0.5% by mass or more. On the other hand, the upper limit of the content of the first+alloy elements group shall be 2% by mass as described above. This is because the FAB hardens and chip cracks are easily induced at wire bonding when the content of the first+alloy elements group exceeds 2% by mass. More preferably, the upper limit of the content is 1.8% by mass or less, or 1.6% by mass or less.

[0033] On the other hand, there were cases where the bonding reliability of the ball bonded portion could not be sufficiently obtained in a high temperature environment of 175 C. or more only by containing the first+alloy elements group as described above when the content of sulfur increases in mold resin. In the present invention, this problem could be solved by containing 0.002% by mass or more in total of one or more elements selected from Li, Sb, Fe, Cr, Co, Zn, Ca, Mg, Pt, Sc and Y (second alloy element group) in addition to the first+alloy elements group in the bonding wire. When both the first+alloy elements group and the second alloy element group are contained, the second alloy element group contained therein traps (compounds) sulfur freed from the sealing resin and makes it harmless while sulfur acts on Cu.sub.9Al.sub.4 at the bonded portion to develop corrosion, in addition to realizing an effect of containing the first+alloy elements group, that is, the tendency to suppress formation of Cu.sub.9Al.sub.4 intermetallic compound susceptible to corrosion by sulfur in the bonded portion. As a result, the bonding strength after HTS can be maintained, by suppressing the developments of corrosion even if Cu.sub.9Al.sub.4 is formed. The total content of the second alloy element group is more preferably 0.005% by mass or more, further preferably 0.02% by mass or more, 0.05% by mass or more, 0.1% by mass or more, 0.2% by mass or more, 0.3% by mass or more, or 0.5% by mass or more. In the case where Ca and Mg are contained, the lower limits of the contents of the Ca and Mg are defined as 0.011% by mass respectively, since the above effect is confirmed when the content of Ca and Mg of the second alloy element group is 0.011% by mass or more. That is, in the case where the bonding wire contains Ca, the content of Ca in the bonding wire is 0.011% by mass or more, and in the case where the bonding wire contains Mg, the content of Mg in the bonding wire is 0.011% by mass or more. The lower limits of the contents of Ca and Mg are preferably 0.015% by mass or more, 0.02% by mass or more, 0.03% by mass or more, 0.05% by mass or more, 0.1% by mass or more, 0.2% by mass or more, or 0.3% by mass or more, respectively. On the other hand, the total content of the second alloy element group shall be 3% by mass or less. The FAB hardens and chip cracks are easily induced at wire bonding when the total content of the second alloy element group exceeds 3% by mass. The content of the second alloy element group is more preferably 2.5% by mass or less, 2% by mass or less, 1.8% by mass or less, or 1.6% by mass or less. In the case where Zn is contained as the second alloy element group and the total content of the first alloy element group and Zn is 2.1% by mass or more, the effect of trapping sulfur increases so that further developments of corrosion can be suppressed, in addition to the above effects being obtained. The total content of the first alloy element group and Zn is more preferably 2.5% by mass or more, further preferably 3.0% by mass or more, 3.5% by mass or more.

[0034] In one embodiment, the bonding wire of the present invention necessarily contains at least one of Sc and Y as the second alloy element group. In such an embodiment, the bonding wire of the present invention contains at least one of Sc and Y, and the total content of the second alloy element group selected from the group consisting of Li, Sb, Fe, Cr, Co, Zn, Ca, Mg, Pt, Sc and Y is 0.002 to 3% by mass. The preferred ranges of the total content of the second alloy element group, the lower limits of the contents of Ca and Mg, and the total content of the first alloy element group and Zn when Zn is contained are as described above, and the content of at least one of Sc and Y, that is, the total content of Sc and Y is preferably 0.002% by mass or more, 0.005% by mass or more, 0.02% by mass or more, 0.05% by mass or more, 0.1% by mass or more, 0.2% by mass or more, 0.3% by mass or more, or 0.5% by mass or more. In addition, in such an embodiment, the total content of Sc and Y is preferably 2.5% by mass or less, 2% by mass or less, 1.8% by mass or less, or 1.6% by mass or less.

[0035] In the bonding wire of the present invention, the thickness of the Pd coating layer is preferably 0.015 m or more, more preferably 0.02 m or more, and further preferably 0.025 m or more, 0.03 m or more, 0.035 m or more, 0.04 m or more, 0.045 m or more, or 0.05 m or more in view of further improving the bonding reliability of the ball bonded portion in the high-temperature and high-humidity environment required in on-vehicle devices, and in view of suppressing eccentricity of FAB to obtain more favorable FAB shape. On the other hand, the thickness of the Pd coating layer is preferably 0.150 m or less and more preferably 0.140 m or less, 0.130 m or less, 0.120 m or less, 0.110 m or less, or 0.100 m or less in view of suppressing shrinkage cavities of FAB to obtain favorable FAB shape.

[0036] There will be described the definition of the Cu alloy core material and the Pd coating layer of the bonding wire. A boundary between the Cu alloy core material and the Pd coating layer was determined based on a concentration of Pd. The boundary was set to be a position at which a concentration of Pd was 50 at %, and a region in which a concentration of Pd was 50 at % or more was determined to be the Pd coating layer, and a region in which a concentration of Pd was less than 50 at % was determined to be the Cu alloy core material. This is because if a concentration of Pd is 50 at % or more in the Pd coating layer, there can be expected an effect of improving characteristics from the structure of the Pd coating layer. The Pd coating layer may contain a Pd single region and a region having concentration gradients of Pd and Cu in a wire depth direction. The reason why the region having the concentration gradients is formed in the Pd coating layer is that atoms of Pd and Cu may diffuse through heat treatment or the like in a manufacturing process. In the present invention, the concentration gradient refers to the fact that a degree of a change in concentration in the depth direction is 10 mol % or more per 0.1 m. Furthermore, the Pd coating layer may contain inevitable impurities.

[0037] The bonding wire of the present invention may further include an alloy skin layer containing Au and Pd on the Pd coating layer. With this configuration, the bonding wire of the present invention can further improve the wedge bondability.

[0038] There will be described the definition of the alloy skin layer containing Au and Pd of the bonding wire. A boundary between the alloy skin layer containing Au and Pd and the Pd coating layer was determined based on a concentration of Au. The boundary was set to be a position at which a concentration of Au was 10 at %, and a region in which a concentration of Au was 10 at % or more was determined to be the alloy skin layer containing Au and Pd, and a region in which a concentration of Au was less than 10 at % was determined to be the Pd coating layer. Even in the region in which a concentration of Pd was 50 at % or more, a region in which Au was present at 10 at % or more was determined to be the alloy skin layer containing Au and Pd. These determinations are because if a concentration of Au falls within the range mentioned above, there can be expected an effect of improving characteristics from the structure of the Au skin layer. The alloy skin layer containing Au and Pd is an Au-Pd alloy and contains a region having concentration gradients of Au and Pd in the wire depth direction. The reason why the region having the concentration gradients is formed in the alloy skin layer containing Au and Pd is that atoms of Au and Pd diffuse through heat treatment or the like in the manufacturing process. Furthermore, the alloy skin layer containing Au and Pd may contain inevitable impurities and Cu.

[0039] In the bonding wire of the present invention, the alloy skin layer containing Au and Pd reacts with the Pd coating layer to improve adhesive strength among the alloy skin layer containing Au and Pd, the Pd coating layer and the Cu alloy core material and to prevent the Pd coating layer and the alloy skin layer containing Au and Pd from peeling at wedge bonding. Accordingly, the bonding wire of the present invention can further improve the wedge bondability. If the thickness of the alloy skin layer containing Au and Pd is less than 0.0005 m, the above effect is not obtained sufficiently, and if the thickness is larger than 0.050 m, the FAB shape may be eccentric. In view of obtaining favorable wedge bondability, a thickness of the alloy skin layer containing Au and Pd is preferably 0.0005 m or more, and more preferably 0.001 m or more, 0.002 m or more, or 0.003 m or more. In view of reducing eccentricity to obtain favorable FAB shape, a thickness of the alloy skin layer containing Au and Pd is preferably 0.050 m or less, and more preferably 0.045 m or less, 0.040 m or less, 0.035 m or less, or 0.030 m or less. The alloy skin layer containing Au and Pd can be formed by a method similar to that of the Pd coating layer.

[0040] The bonding wire of the present invention may further contain 0.03 to 3% by mass in total of one or more elements selected from Al, Ga, Ge and In (third alloy element group). This is preferable because the bonding reliability can be improved in a high-temperature and high-humidity environment of a 130 C. and a relative humidity of 85% which is the HAST evaluation condition. It is thought that the formation of the Cu.sub.9Al.sub.4 intermetallic compound at the bonded portion tends to be further suppressed when the Pd coated Cu bonding wire contains the third alloy element group in the above content range. At forming the FAB at the ball bonded portion, the third alloy element group in the wire also diffuses into the Pd coating layer. It seems that the third alloy element group present in the Pd concentrated layer at the interface between Cu and Al in the ball bonded portion further enhances the effect of reducing a mutual diffusion between Cu and Al due to the Pd concentrated layer, and as a result of that, it suppresses the formation of Cu.sub.9Al.sub.4 which is likely to corrode in a high-temperature and high-humidity environment. The third alloy element group contained in the wire may also have an effect of directly inhibiting the formation of Cu.sub.9Al.sub.4. The total content of the third alloy element group is preferably 0.05% by mass or more, 0.1% by mass or more, 0.2% by mass or more, 0.3% by mass or more, 0.4% by mass or more, or 0.5% by mass or more.

[0041] Furthermore, when forming a ball using a Pd coated Cu bonding wire containing third alloy element group in certain amount and observing a resultant FAB with a scanning electron microscope (SEM), many precipitates with a diameter of about a few tens of nanometers are found on a surface of the FAB. From an analysis on the precipitates by energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), it is revealed that third alloy element group was concentrated. Although a detailed mechanism is unclear, it is considered from the above situation that these precipitates observed on the FAB become to be present at the bonding interface between the ball and the electrode, whereby significantly improving a bonding reliability of a ball bonded portion in a high-temperature and high-humidity environment of a temperature of 130 C. and a relative humidity of 85%.

[0042] On the other hand, in view of obtaining favorable FAB shape and in view of reducing the hardening of the bonding wire to obtain favorable wedge bondability, the concentration of third alloy element group in total relative to the entire wire is 3% by mass or less, preferably 2% by mass or less, and more preferably 1.5% by mass or less or 1.2% by mass or less.

[0043] The bonding wire of the present invention may further contain 0.1 to 1000 ppm by mass in total of one or more elements selected from As, Te, Sn, Bi and Se (Sn10 ppm by mass, Bi1 ppm by mass) (fourth alloy element group). This is preferable because the bonding reliability can be improved in a high-temperature and high-humidity environment of a temperature of 130 C. and a relative humidity of 85% which is the HAST evaluation condition. It is considered that the formation of the Cu.sub.9Al.sub.4 intermetallic compound at the bonded portion tends to be further reduced when the fourth alloy element group is contained in the above content range. In a case where these elements are contained in a certain amount, when a ball is formed, interfacial tension between Cu of the core material and Pd of the coating layer decreases and then interfacial wettability improves, which allows Pd to be concentrated in a ball bonded interface more remarkably. It can be thus estimated that an effect of reducing a mutual diffusion of Cu and Al by the Pd concentrated layer is further enhanced in a high-temperature and high-humidity environment which is the HAST evaluation condition, and as a result of that, a formation amount of Cu.sub.9Al.sub.4, which is likely to corrode through the action of Cl, is reduced, and then the bonding reliability of the ball bonded portion in a high-temperature and high-humidity environment significantly improves.

[0044] In view of increasing the bonding longevity of ball bonded portion in a high-temperature and high-humidity environment of a temperature of 130 C. and a relative humidity of 85% to improve the bonding reliability, the concentration of the fourth alloy element group in total relative to the entire bonding wire is 0.1 ppm by mass or more, preferably 0.5 ppm by mass or more, more preferably 1 ppm by mass or more, and further preferably 1.5 ppm by mass or more, 2 ppm by mass or more, 2.5 ppm by mass or more, or 3 ppm by mass or more.

[0045] On the other hand, in view of obtaining a favorable FAB shape and consequently favorable ball bendability, the concentration of the fourth alloy element group in the wire in total is 1000 ppm by mass or less, preferably 950 ppm by mass or less, 900 ppm by mass or less, 850 ppm by mass or less, or 800 ppm by mass or less. If a concentration of Sn exceeds 10 ppm by mass or if a concentration of Bi exceeds 1 ppm by mass, an FAB shape becomes faulty. It is therefore preferable for further improving an FAB shape that Sn10 ppm by mass; and Bi1 ppm by mass. Further, the concentration of Se is more preferable 4.9 ppm by mass or less since the FAB shape and wedge bondability can be further improved.

[0046] The bonding wire of the present invention may further contain 0.1 to 200 ppm by mass of one or more elements selected from B, P and La (fifth alloy element group). This is preferable because it is possible to improve a crushed shape of a ball bonded portion required for high-density mounting, that is, improve a circularity of shape of a ball bonded portion.

[0047] When the Pd coated Cu bonding wire contains a certain amount of the first+alloy elements group as in the present invention, if Cu is further present at an outermost surface of the bonding wire, the formation of a Cu.sub.9Al.sub.4 intermetallic compound in the bonded portion tends to be further reduced. In this case, interaction between the first+alloy elements group and Cu contained in the bonding wire facilitates Pd concentration on a FAB surface during the formation of the FAB, whereby the Pd concentration on a ball bonded interface appears more remarkably. It can be estimated that with this phenomenon an effect of reducing mutual diffusion between Cu and Al by a Pd concentrated layer is further enhanced, a formation amount of Cu.sub.9Al.sub.4, which is likely to corrode through the action of Cl, is reduced, and thereby the bonding reliability of ball bonded portion in a high-temperature and high-humidity environment can be further improved. The outermost surface herein refers to a region measured by the Auger electron spectroscopic device on the surface of the bonding wire without sputtering or the like.

[0048] When Cu is present at an outermost surface of the Pd skin layer, if the concentration of Cu at the outermost surface is 35 at % or more, the bonding wire may be not suitable for practical use because a sulfur resistance of wire surface degrades and a service life of the bonding wire degrades. Consequently, when Cu is present at an outermost surface of the Pd skin layer, the concentration of Cu at the outermost surface is preferably less than 35 at %. The concentration of Cu at an outermost surface is more preferably less than 30 at %.

[0049] As for addition of the first to fifth alloy element groups into the bonding wire, the effect of the invention can be exhibited by employing either of a method of adding these element into a Cu alloy core material or a method of depositing the element onto a Cu alloy core material or a surface of wire to add the element therein. An added amount of these elements is a minute amount and allows a wide variety of methods of addition, and the effect is exhibited by any method of addition so long as the element is contained within the specified concentration range. The content of Pd in the first+alloy elements group is defined in terms of the content in the bonding wire based on the analysis value of the content of Pd in the Cu alloy core material, since it is necessary to distinguish it from the Pd coating layer of the bonding wire. That is, the content of Pd can be calculated by analyzing the content of Pd in the Cu alloy core material and multiplying the analysis value by (Cu alloy core material mass per wire unit length)/(bonding wire mass per wire unit length). Pd in the Pd coating layer is not added to the content of Pd.

[0050] For a concentration analysis of the Pd coating layer and the alloy skin layer containing Au and Pd, and for a concentration analysis of Pd in the Cu alloy core material, a method of performing analysis while trimming the bonding wire from its surface in the depth direction by sputtering or the like, or a method of exposing a cross-section of the wire and performing a line analysis, a point analysis, or the like thereon is effective. For an analyzer used for such concentration analysis, an Auger electron spectroscopic apparatus installed in a scanning electron microscope or a transmission electron microscope, an energy dispersive X-ray analyzer, and an electron probe micro analyzer, etc., can be applied. As a method for exposing a cross-section of wire, a mechanical polishing, an ion etching, etc., can be applied. For example, when the Cu alloy core material includes a region having a concentration gradient of Pd, the cross section of the bonding wire may be subjected to a line analysis and a point analysis, and a concentration analysis may be performed on a region having no concentration gradient of Pd in the cross section of the Cu alloy core material (for example, the center part of the cross section of the wire (the range of of the wire diameter)). For a microanalysis of the first to fifth alloy element groups other than Pd in the bonding wire, a solution obtained by dissolving the bonding wire with a strong acid is analyzed using an ICP emission spectrometer or an ICP mass spectrometer, thereby enabling detection as the concentrations of elements contained in the entire bonding wire.

[0051] (Method of Manufacture)

[0052] Next, there will be described a method for manufacturing the bonding wire according to the embodiment of the present invention. The bonding wire is obtained by manufacturing a Cu alloy used for a core material, working it into a thin wire, forming a Pd coating layer and an Au layer, and performing heat treatment. After forming the Pd coating layer and the Au layer, additional wire drawing and heat treatment may be performed. There will be described in detail a method for manufacturing the Cu alloy core material, a method for forming the Pd coating layer and an alloy skin layer containing Au and Pd, and a method of heat treatment.

[0053] The Cu core alloy used for a core material is obtained by melting Cu as a raw material and additive elements together and solidifying them. An arc heating furnace, a high-frequency heating furnace, a resistance heating furnace, or the like can be used for the melting. In order to prevent gases such as O.sub.2 and H.sub.2 being mixed therein from air, the melting is preferably performed in a vacuum atmosphere or an inert atmosphere such as Ar or N.sub.2.

[0054] Examples of a method for forming the Pd coating layer and the Au layer on a surface of the Cu alloy core material include a plating method, a vapor deposition method, and a melting method. Both of an electroplating method and an electroless plating method can be used as the plating method. The electroplating called a strike plating or a flash plating is high in plating speed and is favorable in adhesiveness with a substrate. A solution used for the electroless plating is classified into a substitutional type and a reduction type. Although performing the substitutional type plating alone is sufficient for a smaller thickness, it is effective for a larger thickness to perform the reduction type plating after the substitutional type plating in a step-by-step manner.

[0055] For a vapor deposition method, there can be used a physical adsorption such as a sputtering method, an ion plating method and a vacuum vapor deposition, and a chemical adsorption such as plasma CVD. They are all dry processes, and are free from the necessity of cleaning after forming the Pd coating layer and the Au layer and from any concern about surface contamination and the like during cleaning.

[0056] When heat treatment is performed after forming the Pd coating layer and the Au layer, Pd in the Pd coating layer diffuses into the Au layer to form the alloy skin layer containing Au and Pd. Instead of forming the alloy skin layer containing Au and Pd through the heat treatment after forming the Au layer, the alloy skin layer containing Au and Pd may be deposited from the beginning.

[0057] For a formation of the Pd coating layer and the alloy skin layer containing Au and Pd, both a method of forming these layers after performing wire drawing to a final wire diameter and a method of forming these layers on a Cu alloy core material of large diameter and then performing wire drawing several times until obtaining a target wire diameter are effective. In the former in which the Pd coating layer and the alloy skin layer containing Au and Pd are formed at the final wire diameter, manufacture, quality control, and the like are simple. In the latter in which the wire drawing is performed in combination with the formed Pd coating layer and alloy skin layer containing Au and Pd, there is the advantage that adhesiveness with the Cu alloy core material improves. Specific examples of the respective formation methods include a method of forming the Pd coating layer and the alloy skin layer containing Au and Pd on a Cu alloy core material with a final diameter while successively sweeping the wire through an electroplating solution and a method of forming the Pd coating layer and the alloy skin layer containing Au and Pd by immersing a Cu alloy core material of large diameter into an electro or electroless plating solution and then drawing the wire to achieve a final diameter of wire.

[0058] After forming the Pd coating layer and the alloy skin layer containing Au and Pd, heat treatment may be performed. By performing the heat treatment, diffusion of atoms occurs among the alloy skin layer containing Au and Pd, the Pd coating layer and the Cu alloy core material, which improves adhesive strength therebetween and is effective in that the alloy skin layer containing Au and Pd and the Pd coating layer are prevented from peeling during working, and thus, improving productivity. In order to prevent O.sub.2 being mixed therein from air, it is preferable to perform the heat treatment in a vacuum atmosphere or an inert atmosphere such as Ar or N.sub.2.

[0059] As described above, when a condition of diffusion heat treatment or annealing heat treatment performed on the bonding wire are adjusted, Cu of the core material diffuses through the Pd coating layer and the alloy skin layer containing Au and Pd enabling Cu to reach an outermost surface of the bonding wire and allows Cu to be present at an outermost surface. For a heat treatment of allowing Cu to be present at an outermost surface, there can be used a heat treatment for forming the alloy skin layer containing Au and Pd as described above. When performing the heat treatment for forming the alloy skin layer, the temperature and time for heat treatment can be selected to allow Cu to be present at an outermost surface, or allow Cu to be not present at an outermost surface. Furthermore, it is also able to adjust a concentration of Cu at an outermost surface to a certain range, e.g., a range of 1 to 50 at %. Alternatively, Cu may be diffused to an outermost surface by heat treatment performed at other than the formation of the alloy skin layer.

[0060] As described above, as for addition of the first to fifth alloy element groups into the bonding wire, the effect of the invention can be exhibited by either of the method of adding these elements into the Cu alloy core material or the method of adding these elements therein by depositing these elements onto the Cu alloy core material or the wire surface.

[0061] The simplest method for adding the components is a method of adding them to starting materials of the Cu alloy core material. For example, high-purity copper and raw materials of the above component element are weighed as starting raw materials and are then heated and melted in a high vacuum or in an inert atmosphere such as nitrogen and argon to produce an ingot in which the components have been added at the concentration of the intended range, thus obtaining the starting materials containing the component elements at the intended concentrations. Consequently, in a preferable embodiment, the Cu alloy core material of the bonding wire of the present invention contains the elements of the first to fifth alloy element groups so that a concentration of the elements relative to the entire wire will be respective specified concentrations. The preferable numerical range of the concentration in total is as described above.

[0062] The above components can also be contained by depositing them on a surface of wire during a manufacturing process of wire. In this case, the deposition may be incorporated into any part of the manufacturing process of wire and may be repeated several times. The deposition may also be incorporated into a plurality of processes. The components may be added to a Cu surface before Pd coating, or may be added to a Pd surface after Pd coating, or may be added to an Au surface after Au coating, or may be incorporated into each coating process. A method of deposition can be selected from application of an aqueous solution, followed by drying and heat treatment, plating (wet), and vapor deposition (dry).

EXAMPLES

[0063] The bonding wires according to embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to examples.

[0064] (Sample)

[0065] First, the following describes a method for manufacturing a sample. For Cu as a raw material of a core material, Cu with a purity of 99.99% by mass or more and containing inevitable impurities as the remainder was used. For the first to fifth alloy element groups, the ones with a purity of 99% by mass or more and containing inevitable impurities as the remainder were used. Additive elements to the core material such as the first to fifth alloy element groups are mixed so that the wire or the core material will have a desired composition. Regarding the addition of the first to fifth alloy element groups, they can be mixed singly. Alternatively, they may be mixed so as to be a desired amount using a Cu master alloy containing the additive elements manufactured in advance if the element has a high melting point as a single body or if the element is added in an infinitesimal amount.

[0066] The Cu alloy as the core material was manufactured by charging raw materials into a carbon crucible worked into a cylindrical shape with a diameter of 3 to 6 mm, heating and melting the raw materials at 1,090 to 1,300 C. in vacuum or in an inert atmosphere such as an N.sub.2 or Ar gas using a high-frequency furnace, and performing furnace cooling. The obtained alloy with a diameter of 3 to 6 mm was drawn to be worked into a diameter of 0.9 to 1.2 mm, and a wire with a diameter of 300 to 600 m was manufactured by successively performing wire drawing using dies. A commercially available lubricant was used for the wire drawing, and a wire drawing speed was 20 to 150 m/min. In order to remove an oxide film on a surface of wire, pickling treatment with hydrochloric acid was performed, and a Pd coating layer was formed by 1 to 15 m so as to cover the entire surface of the Cu alloy as the core material. Furthermore, for some wires, an alloy skin layer containing Au and Pd was formed by 0.05 to 1.5 m on the Pd coating layer. For the formation of the Pd coating layer and the alloy skin layer containing Au and Pd, electroplating was used. A commercially available semiconductor plating solution was used for a plating solution. Heat treatment at 200 to 500 C. and wire drawing were then repeatedly performed to be worked into a diameter of 20 m. After working, heat treatment was performed while flowing an N.sub.2 or Ar gas so that breaking elongation will finally be about 5 to 15%. A method of heat treatment was performed while successively sweeping the wire and was performed while flowing an N.sub.2 or Ar gas. A wire feeding speed was 20 to 200 m/min, a heat treatment temperature was 200 to 600 C., and a heat treatment time was 0.2 to 1.0 second.

[0067] For the concentration analysis of the Pd coating layer and the alloy skin layer containing Au and Pd, the analysis was performed using an Auger electron spectroscopic apparatus while sputtering the bonding wire from its surface in the depth direction with Ar ions. The thicknesses of the coating layer and the alloy skin layer were determined from an obtained concentration profile (the unit of the depth was in terms of SiO.sub.2) in the depth direction. A region in which a concentration of Pd was 50 at % or more and a concentration of Au was less than 10 at % was determined to be the Pd coating layer, and a region in which a concentration of Au was in a range of 10 at % or more on a surface of the Pd coating layer was determined to be the alloy skin layer. The thicknesses and the composition of the coating layer and the alloy skin layer are listed in Tables 1 to 6. The concentration of Pd in the Cu alloy core material was measured by a method that exposes a cross section of the wire and performs line analysis, point analysis, or the like on the center part of the cross section of the wire (the range of of the wire diameter) by an electron probe micro analyzer installed in a scanning electron microscope. For the method for exposing the cross section of the wire, mechanical polishing, ion etching, or the like was used. The content of Pd in the bonding wire was calculated by multiplying the analysis value of the content of Pd in the analyzed Cu alloy core material by (Cu alloy core material mass per wire unit length)/(bonding wire mass per wire unit length). For the concentrations of the first to fifth alloy element groups other than Pd in the bonding wire, a solution obtained by dissolving the bonding wire with a strong acid was analyzed using an ICP emission spectrometer or an ICP mass spectrometer, and they were detected as the concentrations of the elements contained in the entire bonding wire.

[0068] (Method of Evaluation)

[0069] The bonding reliability of the ball bonded portion in a high-temperature and high humidity environment or a high-temperature environment was determined by manufacturing a sample for bonding reliability evaluation, performing HAST and HTS evaluation, and by evaluating the bonding longevity of the ball bonded portion in each test. The sample for evaluating the bonding reliability was ball bonded onto an electrode, which has been formed by forming an alloy of Al-1.0% Si-0.5% Cu as a film with a thickness of 0.8 m on a Si substrate on a general metallic frame, using a commercially available wire bonder. A ball was formed while flowing an N.sub.2+5% H.sub.2 gas at a flow rate of 0.4 to 0.6 L/min, and its size was a diameter of a range from 33 to 34 m. After bonding the bonding wires, samples were prepared by sealing with two types of epoxy resin with different sulfur contents. As the low concentration of the sulfur-containing resin, a sulfur content of 2 ppm by mass was used, and as the high concentration of the sulfur-containing resin, a sulfur content of 16 ppm by mass was used. For the evaluation of the content of sulfur in the epoxy resin, the resin was crushed and heated in a flow of nitrogen gas at 200 C. for 10 hours, the outgas from the resin contained in the carrier nitrogen gas was collected with hydrogen peroxide water, and the content of sulfur was evaluated by an ion chromatography.

[0070] For the HAST evaluation, the sample prepared for evaluating the bonding reliability was exposed to a high-temperature and high-humidity environment with a temperature of 130 C. and a relative humidity of 85% using an unsaturated type pressure cooker tester and was biased with 7 V. A shear test on the ball bonded portion was performed every 48 hours, and a time until a value of shear strength became half of the initial shear strength was determined to be the bonding longevity of the ball bonded portion. The shear test after the high-temperature and high-humidity test was performed after removing the resin by acid treatment and exposing the ball bonded portion.

[0071] A tester manufactured by DAGE was used for a shear tester for the HAST evaluation. An average value of measurement values of 10 ball bonded portions randomly selected was used for the value of the shear strength. In the above evaluation, the bonding longevity being less than 96 hours was determined to be practically problematic to be marked with a symbol of cross, being 96 hours or more and less than 144 hours was determined to be practicable but somewhat problematic to be marked with a symbol of triangle, being 144 hours or more and less than 288 hours was determined to be practically no problem to be marked with a symbol of circle, being 288 hours or more and less than 384 hours was determined to be excellent to be marked with a symbol of double circle, and being 384 hours or more was determined to be particularly excellent to be marked with a symbol of two double circles, in the column HAST in Tables 1 to 6.

[0072] For the HTS evaluation, the sample prepared for evaluating the bonding reliability was exposed to a high-temperature environment with a temperature of 200 C. using a high-temperature thermostatic device. A shear test on the ball bonded portion was performed every 500 hours, and a time until a value of shear strength became half of the initial shear strength was determined to be the bonding longevity of the ball bonded portion. The shear test after the high-temperature test was performed after removing the resin by acid treatment and exposing the ball bonded portion.

[0073] A tester manufactured by DAGE was used for a shear tester for the HTS evaluation. An average value of measurement values of 10 ball bonded portions randomly selected was used for the value of the shear strength. In the above evaluation, the bonding longevity being less than 250 hours was determined to be practically problematic to be marked with a symbol of cross, being 250 hours or more and less than 500 hours was determined to be practicable but with request for improvement to be marked with a symbol of triangle, being 500 hours or more and less than 1000 hours was determined to be practically no problem to be marked with a symbol of circle, being 1000 hours or more and less than 2000 hours was determined to be excellent to be marked with a symbol of double circle, and being 2000 hours or more and less than 3000 hours was determined to be particularly excellent to be marked with a symbol of two double circles, in the column HTS in Tables 1 to 6.

[0074] For the evaluation of ball formability (FAB shape), a ball before performing bonding was collected and observed, and the presence or absence of voids on the ball surface and the presence or absence of deformation of the ball, which is primarily a perfect sphere, were determined. The occurrence of any of the above was determined to be faulty. The formation of the ball was performed while blowing an N.sub.2 gas at a flow rate of 0.5 L/min in order to reduce oxidation in a melting process. The size of the ball was 34 m. For one condition, 50 balls were observed. An SEM was used for the observation. In the evaluation of the ball formability, a case in which five or more failures occurred was determined to be problematic to be marked with a symbol of cross, a case of three or four failures was determined to be practicable but somewhat problematic to be marked with a symbol of triangle, a case of one or two failures was determined to be no problem to be marked with a symbol of circle, and a case in which no failure occurred was determined to be excellent to be marked with a symbol of double circle in the column FAB shape in Tables 1 to 6.

[0075] The evaluation of wedge bondability on the wire bonded portion was determined by performing 1,000 pieces of bonding on leads of a lead frame and by the occurrence frequency of peeling of the bonded portion. An Fe-42 at % Ni alloy lead frame plated with 1 to 3 m Ag was used for the lead frame. In this evaluation, assuming bonding conditions more rigorous than normal, a stage temperature was set to 150 C., which was lower than a general set temperature range. In the evaluation, a case in which 11 or more failures occurred was determined to be problematic to be marked with a symbol of cross, a case of 6 to 10 failures was determined to be practicable but somewhat problematic to be marked with a symbol of triangle, a case of 1 to 5 failures was determined to be no problem to be marked with a symbol of circle, and a case in which no failure occurred was determined to be excellent to be marked with a symbol of double circle in the column wedge bondability in Tables 1 to 6.

[0076] The evaluation of a crushed shape of the ball bonded portion was determined by observing the ball bonded portion from immediately above after bonding and evaluating by its circularity. For a bonding counterpart, an electrode in which an Al-0.5% Cu alloy was formed as a film with a thickness of 1.0 m on a Si substrate was used. The observation was performed using an optical microscope, and 200 sites were observed for one condition. Being elliptic with large deviation from a perfect circle and being anisotropic in deformation were determined to be faulty in the crushed shape of the ball bonded portion. In the above evaluation, a case in which six or more failures occurred was determined to be problematic to be marked with a symbol of cross, a case of four or five failures was determined to be practicable but somewhat problematic to be marked with a symbol of triangle, being one to three was determined to be no problem to be marked with a symbol of circle, and a case in which a favorable perfect circle was obtained for all was determined to be especially excellent to be marked with a symbol of double circle in the column crushed shape in Tables 1 to 6.

[0077] The evaluation of the chip damage was determined by performing ball bonding at 200 points on an electrode in which an Al-0.5% Cu alloy was formed as a film with a thickness of 1.0 m on a Si substrate, dissolving the wire and the Al electrode with a chemical solution to expose the Si substrate, and observing whether the Si substrate was damaged or not. A case in which two or more damages occurred was determined to be failure to be marked with a symbol of cross, a case of one damage occurred was determined to be no problem to be marked with a symbol of circle, and observing no damage was determined to be good to be marked with a symbol of double circle in the column chip damage in Tables 1 to 6. Symbols of circle and double circle are passing.

TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1-1 Component Content (Pd is in the core material, otherwise in the wire) M : First + Alloy Elements Group (% by mass) M : First Alloy Element Group M : Second Alloy Element Group (% by mass) M (% by mass) M M + No. Ni Rh Ir Pd Total Li Sb Fe Cr Co Zn Ca Mg Pt Sc Y Total Zn In- 1 1.20 1.20 1.3 1.3 ven- 2 0.80 0.80 1.3 1.3 tive 3 1.20 1.20 1.3 1.3 Ex- 4 1.20 1.20 1.3 1.3 am- 5 1.20 1.20 1.3 1.3 ple 6 0.60 0.50 0.6 0.6 7 0.80 0.80 1.8 1.8 8 0.50 0.50 1.9 1.9 2.40 9 0.50 0.50 1.1 1.1 10 0.50 0.50 0.4 0.4 11 0.30 0.30 0.8 0.8 12 0.30 0.30 1.2 1.2 13 0.05 0.05 0.002 0.002 14 0.08 0.08 0.002 0.002 15 0.05 0.05 0.002 0.002 16 0.05 0.05 0.002 0.002 17 0.05 0.05 0.002 0.002 18 0.10 0.60 0.70 0.002 0.002 19 0.10 0.90 1.00 0.002 0.002 20 0.10 0.90 1.00 0.002 0.002 21 0.10 0.90 1.00 0.002 0.002 22 1.20 0.50 1.70 0.002 0.002 23 1.20 0.50 1.70 0.002 0.002 24 1.20 0.50 1.70 0.011 0.011 25 0.03 0.03 0.002 0.002 26 0.06 0.06 0.002 0.002 27 0.03 0.03 0.002 0.002 28 0.03 0.03 0.011 0.011 indicates data missing or illegible when filed

TABLE-US-00002 TABLE 1-3 Component Core (in the wire) Fifth Third Fourth Alloy Alloy Alloy Element Element Element Group Group Group (ppm by (% by mass) Third (ppm by mass) Fourth mass) Fifth No. Al Ga Ge In Total As Te Sn Bi Se Total B P La Total Inventive 1 Example 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 0.1 0.1 1 1 14 1.1 1.1 15 0.7 0.7 16 2.1 2.1 50 50 17 0.2 0.2 18 0.05 0.05 19 20 0.8 0.8 100 100 21 0.05 0.05 22 0.03 0.03 23 1.1 1.1 24 0.2 0.2 25 1.2 1.2 26 0.05 0.05 27 0.08 0.08 28 0.3 0.3

TABLE-US-00003 TABLE 2-1 Wire Properties Film Thickness of the Quality Evaluation Results Film Alloy HTS Thickness Skin Low High of the Pd Layer Concentration Concentration Coating Containing Sulfur- Sulfur- Wedge Layer Au and Pd Containing Containing FAB Bond- Crushed Chip No. (m) (m) HAST Resin Resin Shape ability Shape Damage Inventive 1 0.150 0.01 Example 2 0.100 0.001 3 0.015 0.003 4 0.015 0.08 5 0.150 0.01 6 0.015 0.001 7 0.150 0.001 8 0.100 0.0005 9 0.015 0.01 10 0.015 0.01 11 0.015 0.08 12 0.060 0.001 13 0.060 0.01 14 0.015 0.01 15 0.150 0.003 16 0.050 0.01 17 0.015 0.001 18 0.015 0.08 19 0.100 0.0005 20 0.050 0.0005 21 0.100 0.01 22 0.160 0.01 23 0.100 0.01 24 0.100 0.01 25 0.150 0.08 26 0.160 0.06 27 0.015 0.08 28 0.150 0.001

TABLE-US-00004 TABLE 2-1 Component Content (Pd is in the core material, otherwise in the wire) M : First + Alloy Elements Group (% by mass) M : First Alloy Element Group M : Second Alloy Element Group (% by mass) M (% by mass) M M + No. Ni Rh Ir Pd Total Li Sb Fe Cr Co Zn Ca Mg Pt Sc Y Total Zn In- 29 1.10 0.20 0.30 1.60 0.015 0.015 ven- 30 1.10 0.20 0.30 1.60 0.05 0.05 tive 31 0.60 0.60 1.8 1.8 Ex- 32 0.80 0.80 0.015 0.015 am- 33 0.60 0.60 0.05 0.05 ple 34 0.60 0.60 1.8 1.8 35 0.60 0.60 0.015 0.015 36 0.05 1.10 1.15 0.05 0.05 37 1.10 0.05 1.15 1.8 1.8 38 0.05 1.10 1.15 0.015 0.015 39 0.05 1.10 1.15 0.06 0.06 40 1.10 1.10 1.8 1.8 41 0.70 0.70 0.015 0.015 42 1.20 1.20 0.05 0.05 43 0.80 0.80 1.8 1.8 44 0.80 0.80 1.4 1.4 2.2 45 0.80 0.80 1.8 1.8 2.6 46 0.80 0.80 2.8 2.8 3.6 47 0.80 0.80 0.015 0.015 48 0.80 0.80 0.05 0.05 49 0.80 0.80 1.8 1.8 50 0.80 0.80 0.015 0.015 51 0.80 0.80 0.05 0.05 52 0.80 0.80 1.8 1.8 53 1.50 1.50 0.7 0.7 2.2 54 1.90 1.90 1.2 1.2 3.1 55 0.80 0.80 0.8 0.8 56 0.80 0.80 1.2 1.2 indicates data missing or illegible when filed

TABLE-US-00005 TABLE 2-2 Component Core (in the wire) Fifth Third Fourth Alloy Alloy Alloy Element Element Element Group Group Group (ppm by (% by mass) Third (ppm by mass) Fourth mass) Fifth No. Al Ga Ge In Total As Te Sn Bi Se Total B P La Total Inventive 29 0.05 0.05 0.3 0.3 Example 30 0.5 0.5 1.1 1.1 1 1 31 1.1 1.1 21 21 50 50 32 0.5 0.5 68 68 100 100 33 1.3 1.3 600 600 34 0.2 0.2 0.5 0.5 35 1.1 1.1 92 92 36 223 223 37 555 555 38 0.15 0.15 39 0.2 0.2 40 0.8 0.8 41 10 10 42 0.15 0.15 43 0.15 5 5.15 50 50 44 0.8 0.8 45 1 1 100 100 46 0.5 0.5 50 50 47 1.2 1.2 48 3 3 1 1 49 4.5 4.5 50 35 65 100 100 100 51 587 80 667 52 87 0.2 87.2 100 100 53 90 0.6 90.6 54 1 0.9 1.9 1 1 55 0.9 0.9 56 0.5 0.5 50 50

TABLE-US-00006 TABLE 2-3 Wire Properties Film Thickness of the Quality Evaluation Results Film Alloy HTS Thickness Skin Low High of the Pd Layer Concentration Concentration Coating Containing Sulfur- Sulfur- Wedge Layer Au and Pd Containing Containing FAB Bond- Crushed Chip No. (m) (m) HAST Resin Resin Shape ability Shape Damage Inventive 29 0.050 0.01 Example 30 0.100 0.003 31 0.015 0.001 32 0.060 0.001 33 0.015 0.01 34 0.100 0.0005 35 0.050 0.003 36 0.100 0.08 37 0.150 0.01 38 0.015 0.05 39 0.050 0.003 40 0.050 0.01 41 0.150 0.08 42 0.050 0.05 43 0.050 0.06 44 0.100 0.01 45 0.050 0.01 46 0.100 0.003 47 0.015 0.08 48 0.150 0.01 49 0.050 0.001 50 0.060 0.08 51 0.050 52 0.015 0.003 53 0.150 0.003 54 0.150 0.08 55 0.100 0.001 56 0.050 0.01

TABLE-US-00007 TABLE 3-1 Component Content (Pd is in the core material, otherwise in the wire) M : First + Alloy Elements Group (% by mass) M : First Alloy Element Group M : Second Alloy Element Group (% by mass) M (% by mass) M M + No. Ni Rh Ir Pd Total Li Sb Fe Cr Co Zn Ca Mg Pt Sc Y Total Zn Inven- 57 0.80 0.80 0.8 0.8 tive 58 0.80 0.80 1.2 1.2 Exam- 59 0.80 0.80 0.8 0.8 ple 60 0.80 0.80 1.2 1.2 61 0.80 0.80 0.8 0.8 62 0.80 0.80 1.2 1.2 63 0.80 0.80 0.8 0.8 64 0.80 0.80 1.2 1.2 65 0.80 0.80 0.8 0.8 66 0.80 0.80 1.2 1.2 67 0.80 0.80 1.3 1.3 68 0.80 0.80 1.3 1.3 69 0.80 0.80 1.3 1.3 70 0.80 0.80 1.3 1.3 71 0.80 0.80 1.3 1.3 72 0.80 0.80 1.3 1.3 73 0.80 0.80 1.3 1.3 74 0.80 0.80 0.6 0.6 75 0.80 0.80 1.8 1.8 76 0.80 0.80 1.5 1.5 77 0.80 0.80 1.1 1.1 78 0.80 0.80 0.4 0.4 79 0.80 0.80 0.8 0.8 80 0.80 0.80 1.2 1.2 81 0.80 0.80 0.8 0.8 82 0.80 0.80 2.4 2.4 3.2 83 0.80 0.80 1.8 1.8 84 0.80 0.80 0.8 0.8 85 0.80 0.80 0.02 0.02 indicates data missing or illegible when filed

TABLE-US-00008 TABLE 3-2 Component Core (in the wire) Fifth Third Fourth Alloy Alloy Alloy Element Element Element Group Group Group (ppm by (% by mass) Third (ppm by mass) Fourth mass) Fifth No. Al Ga Ge In Total As Te Sn Bi Se Total B P La Total Inventive 57 0.05 0.05 50 50 Example 58 0.3 0.3 100 100 59 0.1 0.1 1 1 60 0.2 0.2 50 50 61 0.8 0.8 100 100 62 1.2 1.2 1 1 63 2 2 50 50 64 0.1 0.1 100 100 65 0.3 0.3 1 1 66 0.4 0.4 67 1.2 1.2 68 12 12 1 1 69 75 75 50 50 70 0.2 0.2 1 1 71 1.3 1.3 50 50 72 10 10 100 100 73 0.1 0.1 1 1 74 1.2 1.2 75 9.9 9.9 76 0.1 0.1 77 1.2 1.2 78 4.9 4.9 79 0.9 0.9 99 99 50 50 80 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 100 100 81 0.03 0.03 3.2 3.2 1 1 82 1 1 8.9 8.9 83 0.3 0.3 76 76 84 0.1 0.1 8.6 8.6 85 0.8 0.8 8.5 8.5

TABLE-US-00009 TABLE 3-3 Wire Properties Film Thickness of the Quality Evaluation Results Film Alloy HTS Thickness Skin Low High of the Pd Layer Concentration Concentration Coating Containing Sulfur- Sulfur- Wedge Layer Au and Pd Containing Containing FAB Bond- Crushed Chip No. (m) (m) HAST Resin Resin Shape ability Shape Damage Inventive 57 0.100 0.01 Example 58 0.015 0.08 59 0.015 0.01 60 0.050 0.01 61 0.150 0.001 62 0.100 0.003 63 0.100 0.001 64 0.100 0.001 65 0.100 0.01 66 0.050 0.0005 67 0.150 0.05 68 0.015 0.08 69 0.150 0.01 70 0.100 0.001 71 0.015 0.003 72 0.015 0.08 73 0.150 0.01 74 0.015 0.001 75 0.150 0.001 76 0.100 0.0005 77 0.015 0.01 78 0.015 0.01 79 0.015 0.08 80 0.050 0.001 81 0.015 0.001 82 0.015 0.0005 83 0.150 0.05 84 0.100 0.05 85 0.150 0.001

TABLE-US-00010 TABLE 4-1 Component Content (Pd is in the core material, otherwise in the wire) M : First + Alloy Elements Group (% by mass) M : First Alloy Element Group M : Second Alloy Element Group (% by mass) M (% by mass) M M + No. Ni Rh Ir Pd Total Li Sb Fe Cr Co Zn Ca Mg Pt Sc Y Total Zn Inven- 86 0.80 0.80 0.08 0.08 tive 87 0.80 0.80 0.5 0.5 Exam- 88 0.80 0.80 1.6 1.6 ple 89 0.80 0.80 0.3 0.3 90 0.80 0.80 1.8 1.8 91 0.80 0.80 0.5 1.6 2.1 92 0.80 0.80 0.5 1.6 2.1 93 0.80 0.80 0.5 1.6 2.1 94 0.80 0.80 0.5 1.6 2.1 95 0.80 0.80 0.5 1.6 2.1 96 0.80 0.80 0.5 1.6 2.1 97 0.80 0.80 0.5 1.6 2.1 98 0.80 0.80 0.5 1.6 2.1 99 0.80 0.80 0.5 1.6 2.1 100 0.80 0.80 0.5 1.6 2.1 101 0.80 0.80 0.5 1.6 2.1 102 0.80 0.80 0.5 1.6 2.1 103 1.20 0.50 1.70 0.3 0.3 0.6 104 1.20 0.50 1.70 0.3 0.3 0.6 105 1.20 0.50 1.70 0.3 0.3 0.6 106 1.20 0.50 1.70 0.3 0.3 0.6 107 1.20 0.50 1.70 0.3 0.3 0.6 108 1.20 0.50 1.70 0.3 0.3 0.6 109 1.20 0.50 1.70 0.3 0.3 0.6 110 1.20 0.50 1.70 0.3 0.3 0.6 111 1.20 0.50 1.70 0.3 0.3 0.6 112 1.20 0.50 1.70 0.3 0.3 0.6 113 1.20 0.50 1.70 0.3 0.3 0.6 114 1.20 0.50 1.70 0.3 0.3 0.6 indicates data missing or illegible when filed

TABLE-US-00011 TABLE 4-2 Component Core (in the wire) Fifth Third Fourth Alloy Alloy Alloy Element Element Element Group Group Group (ppm by (% by mass) Third (ppm by mass) Fourth mass) Fifth No. Al Ga Ge In Total As Te Sn Bi Se Total B P La Total Inventive 86 0.03 0.03 2.3 2.3 Example 87 0.5 0.5 2.5 2.5 88 1 1 3.6 3.6 50 89 1.5 1.5 7.5 7.5 100 100 90 0.2 0.2 6.8 6.8 1 1 91 5 5 92 18 18 93 123 123 94 254 254 95 612 612 96 87 87 97 158 158 98 356 356 99 888 888 100 0.3 0.3 101 1 1 102 5 5 103 0.2 1 1.2 8 8 104 0.2 1 1.2 0.15 0.15 105 0.2 1 1.2 0.8 0.8 106 1 1 0.9 0.9 107 1 1 0.9 0.8 1.7 108 4.2 4.2 109 55 55 110 89 89 111 100 100 112 5 20 4.2 29.2 113 25 8 4.4 37.4 114 57 57

TABLE-US-00012 TABLE 4-3 Wire Properties Film Thickness of the Quality Evaluation Results Film Alloy HTS Thickness Skin Low High of the Pd Layer Concentration Concentration Coating Containing Sulfur- Sulfur- Wedge Layer Au and Pd Containing Containing FAB Bond- Crushed Chip No. (m) (m) HAST Resin Resin Shape ability Shape Damage Inventive 86 0.050 Example 87 0.150 0.003 88 0.015 0.01 89 0.100 0.003 90 0.050 0.001 91 0.150 0.08 92 0.050 0.003 93 0.015 0.08 94 0.150 0.01 95 0.100 0.01 96 0.100 97 0.015 0.05 98 0.150 0.05 99 0.100 100 0.015 0.01 101 0.150 0.01 102 0.050 0.01 103 0.105 0.0005 104 0.050 0.001 105 0.015 0.0005 106 0.100 0.01 107 0.150 0.05 108 0.100 0.05 109 0.100 0.01 110 0.150 0.003 111 0.015 0.05 112 0.015 0.01 113 0.050 0.08 114 0.150 0.001

TABLE-US-00013 TABLE 5-1 Component Content (Pd is in the core material, otherwise in the wire) M : First + Alloy Elements Group (% by mass) M : First Alloy Element Group M : Second Alloy Element Group (% by mass) M (% by mass) M M + No. Ni Rh Ir Pd Total Li Sb Fe Cr Co Zn Ca Mg Pt Sc Y Total Zn Inven- 115 1.20 1.20 0.015 0.015 tive 116 0.80 0.80 0.05 0.05 Exam- 117 1.20 1.20 1.8 1.8 ple 118 1.20 1.20 0.015 0.015 119 1.20 1.20 0.08 0.08 120 0.80 0.80 1.8 1.8 121 1.20 0.50 1.70 0.3 0.3 0.6 122 1.20 0.50 1.70 0.3 0.3 0.6 123 1.20 0.50 1.70 0.3 0.3 0.6 124 1.20 0.50 1.70 0.3 0.3 0.6 2.00 125 0.80 0.80 0.5 1.6 0.80 126 0.80 0.80 0.5 1.6 2.1 127 0.80 0.80 0.5 1.6 2.1 indicates data missing or illegible when filed

TABLE-US-00014 TABLE 5-2 Component Core (in the wire) Fifth Third Fourth Alloy Alloy Alloy Element Element Element Group Group Group (ppm by (% by mass) Third (ppm by mass) Fourth mass) Fifth No. Al Ga Ge In Total As Te Sn Bi Se Total B P La Total Inventive 115 0.1 0.1 2.1 2.1 Example 116 0.8 0.8 2.5 2.5 117 0.2 0.2 3.6 3.6 50 50 118 0.08 0.08 1 1 100 100 119 0 6.8 6.8 1 1 120 0 20 20 50 50 121 0 25 25 100 100 122 0.05 0.05 35 35 1 1 123 0.8 0.8 0.2 0.2 124 0.3 0.3 700 700 125 2.1 2.1 0 50 50 126 1.8 1.8 0 100 100 127 1.3 1.3 0 1 1

TABLE-US-00015 TABLE 5-3 Wire Properties Film Thickness of the Quality Evaluation Results Film Alloy HTS Thickness Skin Low High of the Pd Layer Concentration Concentration Coating Containing Sulfur- Sulfur- Wedge Layer Au and Pd Containing Containing FAB Bond- Crushed Chip No. (m) (m) HAST Resin Resin Shape ability Shape Damage Inventive 115 0.050 Example 116 0.015 0.003 117 0.150 0.01 118 0.100 0.003 119 0.100 0.001 120 0.015 0.08 121 0.150 0.003 122 0.015 0.08 123 0.050 0.01 124 0.150 0.01 125 0.015 126 0.100 0.05 127 0.050 0.005

TABLE-US-00016 TABLE 6-1 Component Content (Pd is in the core material, otherwise in the wire) M.sub.1.sup.*: First + Alloy Elements Group (% by mass) M.sub.1: First Alloy Element Group M.sub.2: Second Alloy (% by mass) M.sub.1.sup.* Element Group (% by mass) No. Ni Rh Ir Pd Total Li Sb Fe Cr Compar- 1 0.01 0.01 0.001 ative 2 0.02 0.02 0.001 Example 3 0.01 0.01 0.001 4 0.01 0.01 0.001 5 0.02 0.02 6 0.05 0.05 7 0.05 0.05 8 0.05 0.05 9 0.05 0.05 10 2.30 2.30 11 1.10 1.10 12 0.01 0.01 13 2.40 2.40 14 0.05 0.05 3.2 15 1.50 1.50 3.1 M.sub.2: Second Alloy Element Group (% by mass) M.sub.2 M.sub.1.sup.* + No. Co Zn Ca Mg Pt Sc Y Total Zn Compar- 1 0.001 ative 2 0.001 Example 3 0.001 4 0.001 5 0.001 0.001 6 0.001 0.001 7 0.005 0.005 8 0.005 0.005 9 1.8 1.8 1.85 10 11 12 13 14 0.001 3.201 15 3.1

TABLE-US-00017 TABLE 6-2 Component Core (in the wire) Fifth Third Fourth Alloy Alloy Alloy Element Element Element Group Group Group (ppm by (% by mass) Third (ppm by mass) Fourth mass) Fifth No. Al Ga Ge In Total As Te Sn Bi Se Total B P La Total Comparative 1 Example 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15

TABLE-US-00018 TABLE 6-3 Wire Properties Film Thickness of the Quality Evaluation Results Film Alloy HTS Thickness Skin Low High of the Pd Layer Concentration Concentration Coating Containing Sulfur- Sulfur- Wedge Layer Au and Pd Containing Containing FAB Bond- Crushed Chip No. (m) (m) HAST Resin Resin Shape ability Shape Damage Comparative 1 0.015 0.05 X X X Example 2 0.050 0.003 X X X 3 0.050 0.01 X X X 4 0.150 0.08 X X X 5 0.050 0.05 X X X 6 0.050 0.05 X 7 0.100 0.01 X 8 0.050 0.01 X 9 0.100 0.003 X 10 0.015 0.08 X X X 11 0.150 0.01 X 12 0.050 0.001 X X 13 0.050 0.08 X X 14 0.050 X 15 0.015 0.003 X

[0078] The results are shown in Tables 1-1 to 6-3. Inventive example Nos. 1 to 127 in Tables 1-1 to 5-3 are examples of the present invention, and Comparative Example Nos. 1 to 15 in Tables 6-1 to 6-3 are comparative examples. Numerical values outside the scope of the present invention are underlined.

[0079] Inventive example Nos. 1 to 127 in Tables 1-1 to 5-3 are bonding wires for a semiconductor device having a Cu alloy core material and a Pd coating layer formed on the surface of the Cu alloy core material, wherein the component composition of the wire falls within the scope of the present invention, in which good results were obtained in all evaluation items of the results of HAST, the results of HST (in both the low concentration of the sulfur-containing resin and the high concentration of the sulfur-containing resin), the FAB shape, the wedge bondability, the crushed shape of the ball bonded portion and the chip damage.

[0080] Comparative example Nos. 1 to 15 in Tables 6-1 to 6-3 will be explained. In comparative Example Nos. 1 to 5 and 12, the content of the first+alloy elements group was out of the lower limit of the range of the present invention, and both HAST and HTS (including the low concentration of the sulfur-containing resin) were failure.

[0081] In comparative Example Nos. 6 to 8 and 11, although the content of the first+alloy elements group is within the range of the present invention, the content of the second alloy element group is out of the lower limit of the range of the present invention, and in comparative Example No. 9, Zn is contained and the total content of the first alloy element group and Zn is out of the range of the present invention, and the results of HTS in using the high concentration of the sulfur-containing resin were failure in all cases.

[0082] In Comparative Example Nos. 10 and 13 to 15, the content of either the first alloy elements group or the second alloy element group was out of the upper limit of the range of the present invention, and chip damage was failure.