Crystallographic Characteristic Effect of Cu Substrate on Serrated Cathode Dissolution in Cu/Sn–3.0Ag–0.5Cu/Cu Solder Joints during Electromigration

The crystallographic characteristic effect of Cu substrate on cathode dissolution behavior in line-type Cu/Sn–3.0Ag–0.5Cu (SAC305)/Cu solder joints during electromigration (EM) was investigated by scanning electron microscope (SEM), electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD), and first-principles calculations. The SEM and EBSD results show that the crystallographic characteristic of Cu substrate is crucial to cathode dissolution behavior under a direct current of 1.5 × 104 A/cm2 at 125 °C ± 2 °C. When the (001) plane of copper grain adjacent to the Cu3Sn/Cu interface is perpendicular or nearly perpendicular to the current direction, local cathode dissolution tips are easily formed, whereas the (111) plane remains mostly undissolved, which finally leads to the inhomogeneous cathode serrated dissolution in the substrate. The first-principles calculation results reveal that the different surface energies and energy barriers of the different crystallographic planes of Cu grains in the substrate are responsible for the local cathode dissolution tips. Adjusting the copper grain in a substrate to a crystal plane or direction that is difficult to dissolve during EM is a promising method for improving the reliability of solder joints in the future.

Basic Properties of PMMA Reinforced Using Ceramics Particles of ZrO2-Al2O3-SiO2 Coated with Two Types of Coupling Agents

In this study, novel composites materials composed of polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) reinforced ZrO2-Al2O3-SiO2 filler system were developed. Zirconia-alumina-silica filler system were synthesized through sol-gel technique. Chitosan and trimethoxypropilsilane (TMPS) were used to modify the composites system. The resulting composites material were characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and hardness test. SEM images displayed the composites particles in nanometer size with minor agglomeration. The XRD results revealed the presence of cubic and tetragonal phase of zirconia and also monoclinic silica phases in the composites system. These crystallographic characteristic could affect the mechanical properties of the composites. The hardness value for un-modified composites was 15.27 ± 0.25 VHN and for TMPS 19.43 ± 1.89 VHN and chitosan modification 18.75 ± 2.05 VHN, respectively. Therefore, these novel composites materials composed of PMMA reinforced filler system of zirconia-alumina-silica would provide the potential to apply in dental technology.

Novel Aspects of the Purpose-Built Materials Strategy: Evidence of Topographic Template Effect and Oriented Attachment Growth Mechanism

We report two novel aspects relating to the growth of oriented 3D arrays of SnO2 nanorods, based on the "purpose-built materials" (PBM) strategy. Under controlled conditions, the substrate acted as a topographic template and the growth direction of the 3D arrays of SnO2 nanorods was unrelated to the crystallographic characteristic of the substrate. A growth process based on the oriented attachment mechanism was proposed to explain this behavior, and this findings, reported here for SnO2, can be extended to include other metal oxides.

Synthesis and microstructure of conformal coatings on particulates

ABSTRACTIn this paper we present an overview of two very different approaches to the synthesis of composite particulates which result in a “core-shell” type structure. It is shown that both these synthesis approaches result in very characteristic interface structures between the outer coating and the host particles. One synthesis strategy is to use laser ablation deposition on individual particles and the other is to “coat” particles ‘in-situ’ by taking advantage of solid state diffusional transformations. Examination of the interface between the outer shell and the core of the particle shows that textured or toptactical growth occurs and it is suggested that this unique crystallographic characteristic may be responsible for the properties offered by these engineered particulates. The applications of such engineered particulates is also discussed.

Finite-Temperature Molecular Dynamics Study for Atomic Structures of Grain Boundary in Transition Metals Fe and Ni

ABSTRACTBased on Gauss’ principle of least constraint and Nosé-Hoover thermostat formulation, the numerical algorithms for molecular dynamics simulation are developed to investigate the properties of grain boundary in transition metals Fe and Ni at finite temperature. By the appropriate choice of heat bath parameter, a constant temperature version can be realized. A series of parameters are introduced to describe quantitatively the crystallographic characteristic and the distortion of structure unit. The results indicate the applicability of the calculation mode developed by us and reveal the feature of the atomic structure of grain boundary at finite temperature.