Potentiality of semiconducting diamond as the base material of millimeter-wave and terahertz IMPATT devices

Whisker and fiber reinforcement has been established as an effective toughening concept for monolithic structural ceramics to overcome limited fracture toughness and brittleness. SiC whiskers in particular combine both high strength and elastic moduli with good thermal stability and are compatible with most oxide and nonoxide matrices. As the major toughening mechanisms - crack branching, deflection and bridging - in SiC whiskenreinforced Al2O3 and Si3N41 are critically dependent on interface properties, a detailed TEM investigation was conducted on whisker/matrix interfaces in these all-ceramic- composites.In this study we present HREM images obtained at 400 kV from β-SiC/α-Al2O3 and β-SiC/β-Si3N4 interfaces, as well as preliminary analytical data. The Al2O3- base composite was hotpressed at 1830 °C/60 MPa in vacuum and the Si3N4-base material at 1725 °C/30 MPa in argon atmosphere, respectively, adding a total of 6 vt.% (Y2O3 + Al2O3) to the latter to promote densification.

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Characterization of homoepitaxial diamond films by Electron microscopy

Proceedings, annual meeting, Electron Microscopy Society of America ◽

10.1017/s0424820100088713 ◽

1991 ◽

Vol 49 ◽

pp. 880-881

Author(s):

D.P. Malta ◽

S.A. Willard ◽

R.A. Rudder ◽

G.C. Hudson ◽

J.B. Posthill ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Electron Microscopy ◽

Surface Defects ◽

Substrate Surface ◽

Diamond Films ◽

Chemical Vapor ◽

Polycrystalline Diamond ◽

Large Degree ◽

Rf Plasma ◽

Semiconducting Diamond

Semiconducting diamond films have the potential for use as a material in which to build active electronic devices capable of operating at high temperatures or in high radiation environments. A major goal of current device-related diamond research is to achieve a high quality epitaxial film on an inexpensive, readily available, non-native substrate. One step in the process of achieving this goal is understanding the nucleation and growth processes of diamond films on diamond substrates. Electron microscopy has already proven invaluable for assessing polycrystalline diamond films grown on nonnative surfaces.The quality of the grown diamond film depends on several factors, one of which is the quality of the diamond substrate. Substrates commercially available today have often been found to have scratched surfaces resulting from the polishing process (Fig. 1a). Electron beam-induced current (EBIC) imaging shows that electrically active sub-surface defects can be present to a large degree (Fig. 1c). Growth of homoepitaxial diamond films by rf plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) has been found to planarize the scratched substrate surface (Fig. 1b).

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Microstructure of resistance spot welding of maraging steels

Proceedings, annual meeting, Electron Microscopy Society of America ◽

10.1017/s0424820100177635 ◽

1990 ◽

Vol 48 (4) ◽

pp. 900-901

Author(s):

I. Neuman ◽

S.F. Dirnfeld ◽

I. Minkoff

Keyword(s):

Maraging Steel ◽

Spot Welding ◽

Lath Martensite ◽

Base Material ◽

Aging Treatment ◽

High Strength ◽

Maraging Steels ◽

Heat Treated ◽

Current Cycle ◽

Welding Processes

Experimental work on the spot welding of Maraging Steels revealed a surprisingly low level of strength - both in the as welded and in aged conditions. This appeared unusual since in the welding of these materials by other welding processes (TIG,MIG) the strength level is almost that of the base material. The maraging steel C250 investigated had the composition: 18wt%Ni, 8wt%Co, 5wt%Mo and additions of Al and Ti. It has a nominal tensile strength of 250 KSI. The heat treated structure of maraging steel is lath martensite the final high strength is reached by aging treatment at 485°C for 3-4 hours. During the aging process precipitation takes place of Ni3Mo and Ni3Ti and an ordered solid solution containing Co is formed.Three types of spot welding cycles were investigated: multi-pulse current cycle, bi-pulse cycle and single pulsle cycle. TIG welded samples were also tested for comparison.The microstructure investigations were carried out by SEM and EDS as well as by fractography. For multicycle spot welded maraging C250 (without aging), the dendrites start from the fusion line towards the nugget centre with an epitaxial growth region of various widths, as seen in Figure 1.

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