Effect of Strain Rate and Extrinsic Size Effect on Micro-Mechanical Properties of Zr-Based Bulk Metallic Glass

In this study, the mechanical properties and deformation features of Zr-based bulk metallic glass (BMG) are investigated at micro-scale via in situ micro-pillar compression. Furthermore, the effects of the strain rate and micro-pillar diameter on respective stress–strain curves are investigated. Together with the mechanical properties, such unique in situ micro-pillar compression techniques provide physical status to the micro-pillars, referring to the instances of stress–strain curves. It is noted that the effect of the strain rate on the stress–strain behaviour of the BMG diminishes with increasing micro-pillar diameter. In contrast, yield and ultimate compressive strength increase with increasing micro-pillar diameter, up to 4 µm. The deformation details after compression, as a result of conformed mechanical loading, are analysed by SEM and TEM. As evident from electron microscopy investigation, the plastic deformation is evidenced by the presence of multiple slip/shear bands, acting as load accommodation mechanisms in the course of mechanical loading together and resemble local plastic flow (ductile in nature) between two shear plans.

Enhanced Spray Cooling Using Micropillar Arrays: A Systematic Study

The role of contact-line evaporation on spray impingement heat transfer is systematically studied by spraying de-ionized water on silicon substrates with micropillar arrays. The height, the pillar diameter, and the spacing of the micropillar array were varied from 5 to 50 μm while keeping the porosity constant at 0.75. An air-assisted nozzle was used to create a liquid spray with a Sauter mean diameter (SMD) of ∼22 to 42 μm depending on flow conditions. Most test runs were conducted at a water flow rate of 30 ml/min and an air-liquid mass flow rate ratio of ∼0.57. The results show a continuous increase in the critical heat flux (CHF) as the pillar diameter is decreased. The effects of pillar height are nonmonotonic, with CHF and peak heat transfer coefficient attaining a maximum as the height-to-diameter ratio approaches unity. Values of CHF as high as 830 W/cm2 were achieved, along with cooling efficiencies of 49%. The effect of liquid flow rates and air-flow rates were also investigated independently using textured surfaces.

Vertically-Aligned Multi-Walled Carbon Nano Tube Pillars with Various Diameters under Compression: Pristine and NbTiN Coated

In this paper, the compressive stress of pristine and coated vertically-aligned (VA) multi-walled (MW) carbon nanotube (CNT) pillars were investigated using flat-punch nano-indentation. VA-MWCNT pillars of various diameters (30–150 µm) grown by low-pressure chemical vapor deposition on silicon wafer. A conformal brittle coating of niobium-titanium-nitride with high superconductivity temperature was deposited on the VA-MWCNT pillars using atomic layer deposition. The coating together with the pillars could form a superconductive vertical interconnect. The indentation tests showed foam-like behavior of pristine CNTs and ceramic-like fracture of conformal coated CNTs. The compressive strength and the elastic modulus for pristine CNTs could be divided into three regimes of linear elastic, oscillatory plateau, and exponential densification. The elastic modulus of pristine CNTs increased for a smaller pillar diameter. The response of the coated VA-MWCNTs depended on the diffusion depth of the coating in the pillar and their elastic modulus increased with pillar diameter due to the higher sidewall area. Tuning the material properties by conformal coating on various diameter pillars enhanced the mechanical performance and the vertical interconnect access (via) reliability. The results could be useful for quantum computing applications that require high-density superconducting vertical interconnects and reliable operation at reduced temperatures.

Review of Size Effects during Micropillar Compression Test: Experiments and Atomistic Simulations

The micropillar compression test is a novel experiment to study the mechanical properties of materials at small length scales of micro and nano. The results of the micropillar compression experiments show that the strength of the material depends on the pillar diameter, which is commonly termed as size effects. In the current work, first, the experimental observations and theoretical models of size effects during micropillar compression tests are reviewed in the case of crystalline metals. In the next step, the recent computer simulations using molecular dynamics are reviewed as a powerful tool to investigate the micropillar compression experiment and its governing mechanisms of size effects.

Two-dimensional Simulation of Motion of Red Blood Cells with Deterministic Lateral Displacement Devices

Deterministic lateral displacement (DLD) technology has great potential for the separation, enrichment, and sorting of red blood cells (RBCs). This paper presents a numerical simulation of the motion of RBCs using DLD devices with different pillar shapes and gap configurations. We studied the effect of the pillar shape, row shift, and pillar diameter on the performance of RBC separation. The numerical results show that the RBCs enter “displacement mode” under conditions of low row-shift (∆λ < 1.4 µm) and “zigzag mode” with large row shift (∆λ > 1.5 µm). RBCs can pass the pillar array when the size of the pillar (d > 6 µm) is larger than the cell size. We show that these conclusions can be helpful for the design of a reliable DLD microfluidic device for the separation of RBCs.

Modeling of Fracture Width and Conductivity in Channel Fracturing With Nonlinear Proppant-Pillar Deformation

Summary Channel fracturing acknowledges that there will be local concentrations of proppant that generate high-conductivity channel networks within a hydraulic fracture. These concentrations of proppant form pillars that maintain aperture. The mechanical properties of these proppant pillars and the reservoir rock are important factors affecting conductivity. In this paper, the nonlinear stress/strain relationship of proppant pillars is first determined using experimental results. A predictive model for fracture width and conductivity is developed when unpropped, highly conductive channels are generated during the stimulation. This model considers the combined effects of pillar and fracture-surface deformation, as well as proppant embedment. The influence of the geomechanical parameters related to the formation and the operational parameters of the stimulation are analyzed using the proposed model. The results of this work indicate the following: Proppant pillars clearly exhibit compaction in response to applied closure stress, and the resulting axial and radial deformation should not be ignored in the prediction of fracture conductivity. There is an optimal ratio (approximately 0.6 to 0.7) of pillar diameter to pillar distance that results in a maximum hydraulic conductivity regardless of pillar diameter. The critical ratio of rock modulus to closure stress currently used in the industry to evaluate the applicability of a channel-fracturing technique is quite conservative. The operational parameters of fracturing jobs should also be considered in the evaluation.

DEM-CFD Modeling of Proppant Pillar Deformation and Stability during the Fracturing Fluid Flowback

In this study, proppant pillar deformation and stability during the fracturing fluid flowback of channel fracturing was simulated with DEM-CFD- (discrete element method-computational fluid dynamics-) coupling method. Fibers were modeled by implementing the bonded particle model for contacts between particles. In the hydraulic fracture-closing period, the height of the proppant pillar decreases gradually and the diameter increases as the closing stress increases. In the fracturing fluid flowback period, proppant particles could be driven away from the pillar by the fluid flow and cause the instability of the proppant pillar. The proppant flowback could occur easily with large proppant pillar height or a large fluid pressure gradient. Both the pillar height and the pillar diameter to spacing ratio are key parameters for the design of channel fracturing. Increasing the fiber-bonding strength could enhance the stability of the proppant pillar.

High Density, Tall Cu Pillars for 3D Packaging

With demands for shrinking footprints and increasing I/O of electronic components, there is an increasing interest in electrodeposited Cu pillar structures for Package on Package (PoP) interconnects. One example of interest involves a 3D package integration approach with the memory mounted above the processor for mobile applications. This paper will explore the processes required and discuss the challenges for Cu pillar fabrication of PoP interconnects at sub 100um pitches. The test vehicles will include variables such as pillar diameter and pitch for a 200um thick liquid film negative tone plating resist on a 300mm wafer format. The high-density pillar pitch is expected to present challenges to resist material applications, lithography capability, and plating capability. Work for this paper is supported by major material and tool suppliers for resist materials, lithography tools, and plating chemistries & plating tools. JSR Micro, Rudolph Technologies, Atotech

Characterization of Phase Change Heat and Mass Transfers in Monoporous Silicon Wick Structures

Silicon is the primary material of integrated circuit (IC) manufacturing in microelectronic industry. It has high thermal conductivity and superior thermomechanical properties compatible to most semiconductors. These characteristics make it an ideal material for fabricating micro/mini heat pipes and their wick structures. In this article, silicon wick structures, composed of cylindrical pillars 320 μm in height and 30–100 μm in diameter, are developed for studies of phase change capability. Fabrication of the silicon wick structures utilizes the standard microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) approach, which allows the precise definition on the wick dimensions, as well as the heated wick area. On these bases, experimental characterizations of temperature variations versus input heat fluxes, associated with simultaneous visualization on the liquid transport and the dryout, are performed to investigate the wick dimensional effects on the maximum phase change capability. On the wick structure with the pillar diameter/pores of 100 μm and a heated wick area of 2 mm × 2 mm, the phase change reached a maximum heat flux of 1130 W/cm2. Despite of the liquid bottom-feed approach, interactions between liquid and vapor phases enables the heated wick structure absorb liquid from its surrounding wick area, including from its top side with a longer liquid transport path. In contrast, a wick structure with fine pillars (10 μm in diameter) inhibited the generation of nucleate boiling. Evaporation on the meniscus interface becomes the major phase change mechanism. A large heated wick area (4 mm × 4 mm) increases the viscous loss in transporting liquid to wet the entire wick, advancing the dryout at 135 W/cm2. Mass transfer analysis, as well as discussion of the experimental results, indicates that a dimensional ratio r/l (pillar diameter/characteristic length of the heated wick area) is a key parameter in determining the maximum phase change capability. A low r/l ratio enhances heat and mass transport capability, as well as heat transfer coefficient.