Effects of Au and Pd Additions on Joint Strength, Electrical Resistivity, and Ion-Migration Tolerance in Low-Temperature Sintering Bonding Using Ag2O Paste

A new bonding process using an Ag₂O paste consisting of Ag₂O particles mixed with a triethylene glycol reducing agent has been proposed as an alternative joining approach for microsoldering in electronics assembly, which currently uses Pb-rich, high-temperature solders. Ag nanoparticles were formed at approximately 130°C to 160°C through a reduction process, sintered to one another immediately, and bonded to a metal substrate. An Au-coated Cu specimen was successfully bonded using the Ag₂O paste. The resulting joint exhibited superior strength compared with joints fabricated using conventional Pb-rich solders. To improve ion-migration tolerance, the Ag₂O paste was mixed with Au and Pd microparticles to form sintered Ag-Au and Ag-Pd layers, respectively. The additions of Au and Pd improved the ion-migration tolerance of the joint. Regarding the mechanical properties of the joints, addition of secondary Au and Pd both resulted in decreased joint strength. To match the joint strength of conventional Pb-10Sn solder, the mixing ratios of Au and Pd were estimated to be limited to 16?vol.% and 7?vol.%, respectively. The electrical resistivities of the sintered layers consisting of 16?vol.% Au and 7?vol.% Pd were lower than that of Pb-10Sn solder. Thus, the additive fractions of Au and Pd to the Ag₂O paste should be less than 16?vol.% and 7?vol.%, respectively, to avoid compromising the mechanical and electrical properties of the sintered layer relative to those of contemporary Pb-10Sn solder. Following the addition of Au and Pd to the paste, the ion-migration tolerances of the sintered layers were approximately 3 and 2 times higher than that of pure Ag, respectively. Thus, the addition of Au was found to improve the ion-migration tolerance of the sintered Ag layer more effectively and with less sacrifice of the mechanical and electrical properties of the sintered layer than the addition of Pd.     

Development of a water-resistant and detergent-washable powder coated with a stimuli-responsive polymer and its application to suncare products

IFSCC Magazines , 12 (2009) (1) 3–7
It is generally well known that the surface of an inorganic UV-protective powder used in a sunscreen formula is treated with a fatty acid or other hydrophobic chemicals to obtain a high water resistance. Due to the resulting strongly hydrophobic surface, the treatment has a clear drawback in that it allows the sunscreen to leave its base components on the skin after washing with regular soap. Therefore, in this study to develop an intelligent sunscreen formula that has a high water resistance and can be washed away easily with regular soap, we focused on a pH-responsive polymer as the surface-treatment agent for a UV-protective powder. Numerous experiments led to the synthesis of the 2-acrylamido-2-methyl-1-propanesulfonic acid/11-methacrylamidoundecanoic acid (AMPS/MAU) copolymer, which is hydrophobic in acidic to neutral solution and hydrophilic in basic solution. Titanium dioxide subjected to surface treatment was treated with the AMPS/MAU copolymer showed a high pH-responsiveness that was similar to that of the polymer. A W/O-type sunscreen containing the pH-responsive titanium dioxide showed a high water resistance as well as a high washability with regular soap.
Keywords:  Detergent-washable, pH-responsive polymer, pH-responsive powder, sun care product, water-resistant     

Highly strong and conductive carbon nanotube/cellulose composite paper

Carbon nanotube (CNT)/cellulose composite materials were fabricated in a paper making process optimized for a CNT network to form on the cellulose fibers. The measured electric conductivity was from 0.05 to 671 S/m for 0.5–16.7 wt.% CNT content, higher than that for other polymer composites. The real permittivities were the highest in the microwave region. The unique CNT network structure is thought to be the reason for these high conductivity and permittivity values. Compared to other carbon materials, our carbon CNT/cellulose composite material had improved parameters without decreased mechanical strength. The near-field electromagnetic shielding effectiveness (EMI SE) measured by a microstrip line method depended on the sheet conductivity and qualitatively matched the results of electromagnetic field simulations using a finite-difference time-domain simulator. A high near-field EMI SE of 50-dB was achieved in the 5–10 GHz frequency region with 4.8 wt.% composite paper. The far-field EMI SE was measured by a free space method. Fairly good agreement was obtained between the measured and calculated results. Approximately 10 wt.% CNT is required to achieve composite paper with 20-dB far-field EMI SE.     

Analysis of mixed-mode interlaminar fracture and damage behavior of GFRP woven laminates at cryogenic temperatures

The objective of this work is to investigate the interlaminar fracture and damage behavior of glass fiber reinforced polymer (GFRP) woven laminates loaded in a mixed-mode bending (MMB) apparatus at cryogenic temperatures. The finite element analysis (FEA) is used to determine the mixed-mode interlaminar fracture toughness of MMB specimen at room temperature (RT), liquid nitrogen temperature (77 K) and liquid helium temperature (4 K). A FEA coupled with damage is also employed to study the damage distributions within the MMB specimen and to examine the effect of damage on the mixed-mode energy release rate. The technique presented can be efficiently used for characterization of mixed-mode interlaminar fracture and damage behavior of woven laminate specimens at cryogenic temperatures.     

An introduction to the special issue section on “The 7th International Conference on Photosynthesis and Hydrogen Energy Production in Honor of Nathan Nelson and T. Nejat Veziroğlu, 19–25 June 2016, Pushchino,Russia”

The research in photosynthesis and hydrogen energy production provides a unique opportunity for transforming sustainable solar energy into our energy system. This special issue presented the selected and invited papers from the International Conference on Photosynthesis Research for Sustainability in honor of Nathan Nelson and T. Nejat Veziro?lu which was held on June 19–25, 2016, in Pushchino, Russia. These papers offered readers with some of the most recent and exciting progresses in photosynthesis and hydrogen energy production. The potential limitations and future efforts with open questions were also offered to stimulate the further research endeavors in the field.     

A 9-ns 16-Mb CMOS SRAM with offset-compensated current senseamplifier

A 9-ns 16-Mb CMOS SRAM has been developed using a 0.35-μm CMOS process, The current-mode fully nonequalized data path has been realized in a CMOS SRAM for the first time by using a stabilized feedback current-sense amplifier (SFCA) that provides a small input resistance and an offset compensation effect. To reduce the test time, a bit-line wired-OR parallel test circuit has been implemented     

City-level energy and CO2 reduction effect by introducing new residential water heaters

Simulation models for a variety of new water heater systems were developed and the models were integrated into a city-level residential energy end-use model for Osaka City. Using the model, the potential of energy conservation and CO₂ emission-reduction by introducing new residential water heaters was evaluated at the city-level. Optimal water-heating systems for each household category for primary energy reduction, CO₂ emission-reduction, or cost reduction were identified by applying the end-use demand model. The effect of subsidies for installing more efficient systems and the influence of diffusion of these systems on electricity load curves were also discussed.     

Mixed-mode interlaminar fracture and damage characterization in woven fabric-reinforced glass/epoxy composite laminates at cryogenic temperatures using the finite element and improved test methods

The present research examines experimentally and analytically the mixed-mode interlaminar fracture and damage behavior of glass fiber reinforced polymer (GFRP) woven laminates at cryogenic temperatures. The mixed-mode bending (MMB) tests were performed with the improved test apparatus, at room temperature, liquid nitrogen temperature (77 K) and liquid helium temperature (4 K). The energy release rates at the onset of delamination crack propagation were evaluated for the woven GFRP specimens using both beam theory and finite element analysis. The fracture surfaces were also examined to verify the fracture mechanisms. In addition, the initiation and growth of damage in the specimens were predicted by a damage analysis, and the damage effect on the mixed-mode interlaminar fracture properties at cryogenic temperatures was explored.     

Examination of nerve distribution to masticatory muscles using a silicone permeation technique

Recently new definitions were agreed for the glucose tolerance test (GTT), for impaired glucose tolerance and for the classification of diabetes mellitus. The World Health Organization and the American Diabetes Association have been active on this point. The fasting glucose value has been lowered and been brought into line with the two hour value of the GTT. Fasting glucose values can now be used for the diagnosis of diabetes mellitus and of impaired glucose tolerance. The new classification is based on differences in cause of the diabetes. The classification includes diabetes mellitus types 1 and 2, pregnancy diabetes and 'other forms of diabetes'.