Solder bump transfer sheet, method for producing the same, and methods for fabricating semiconductor device and printed board

1. A method for fabricating a printed board including interconnections and a plurality of solder bumps formed on a substrate, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a substrate on which interconnections and a plurality of pads in a predetermined pattern are formed;

providing a solder bump transfer sheet having a plurality of solder bumps placed to correspond to the predetermined pattern of said plurality of pads; and

transferring said plurality of solder bumps of said solder bump transfer sheet to said plurality of pads on said substrate,

wherein said solder bump transfer sheet is produced by a method comprising the steps of: forming on the surface of a stainless steel sheet a chromium oxide layer as an outermost surface wherein the chromium oxide layer contains substantially no iron oxide formed during formation of the chromium oxide layer; and forming a plurality of solder bumps placed in a predetermined pattern on said chromium oxide layer,

wherein said stainless steel sheet has a conductive surface, said chromium oxide layer being formed on said conductive surface, and said plurality of solder bumps are formed by electroplating,

said chromium oxide layer is formed by a process including a step of thermally oxidizing the conductive surface of said stainless steel sheet, and

said step of forming a plurality of solder bumps comprises the steps of:

forming a resist layer on said chromium oxide layer, the resist layer having a plurality of openings formed in said predetermined pattern;

depositing solder on portions of said chromium oxide layer exposed in said plurality of openings of said resist layer by electroplating; and

prior to said step of depositing solder by electroplating, washing the outermost surface of said stainless steel sheet with an acid aqueous solution.

2. The method claim 1 , wherein said sheet is a sheet having a conductive surface, said chromium oxide layer being formed on said conductive surface, and said plurality of solder bumps are formed by electroplating.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein said step of washing the outermost surface is executed so that the thickness of the oxide layer composed of said chromium oxide layer and said underlying oxide layer increases by 5% or more by the acid washing.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein said step of depositing solder by electroplating is executed at a current density of 0.5 A/dm 2 to 4 A/dm 2 by a rack plating method.