Effect of wafer thinning methods towards fracture strength and topography of silicon die

This paper characterizes die damage resulting from various wafer thinning processes. Die fracture strength is measured using ball breaker test with respect to die surface finish. Further study on surface roughness and topography of each surface finish is obtained by atomic force microscopy (AFM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) techniques. Stress relief process with 25 μm removal is able to strengthen 100 μm wafer by 20.4% using chemical wet etch and 75 μm wafer by 36.4% with plasma etch. Relatively, plasma etching shows higher fracture strength and flexibility compared to chemical wet etch. This is due to topography of the finished surface of plasma etch is smoother and rounded, leading to a reduced stress concentration, hence improved fracture strength.     

为．NET应用程序实现一个类似Word的对象模型

所有的Microsoft Office应用程序都构建在支持自动化的对象模型之上。任何开发人员都能够使用对象模型来驱动应用程序UI以及添加、编辑和删除内容，就像一个真正的用户在与应用程序交互。丰富对象模型结合自动化支持使Office应用程序真正成为可扩展和可插接的。为了扩展Microsoft Word的行为而满足每个人自身的需要，任何人都能够在很短的时间里编写出一个强大的外接程序。作为优秀的面向对象开发人员，我们使用丰富的结构和优秀合理的对象模型（遵循模型一视图一控制器设计模式（MVC）来开发自己的应用程序。     

Simulation of a localized heating system for broiler brooding to improve energy performance

The aim of this work is to evaluate the performance of an innovative localized solar‐assisted pen heating system for brooding using a 3D computational simulation model of the heated space. The warm air‐curtained pen ensures acceptable temperature, air velocity, relative humidity, and air quality that meet the ventilation and heat requirements for a typical pen of 100 chicks as recommended by the American Society of Heating Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Engineers and American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers. The supply flow characteristics and the simulated velocity and temperature field of the curtained region were determined such that they meet the ventilation requirements and comfort criteria. Results show that air supplied at 40°C is capable of delivering the desired microenvironment at bird level while the heat input to the unit is 685 W when outdoor temperature is ?5°C. The system's energy performance was then analyzed using a prototype of 16 pens. The energy consumption of the new heating scheme consumed one third of the energy required by conventional non‐localized system. Moreover, integrating the new design with a solar system utilizing parabolic concentrators provided 72% of the power load from solar energy during a winter flock operation and 100% during other seasons. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Static and dynamic compressive properties of polypropylene/zinc oxide nanocomposites

The effect of strain rate is widely recognized as an essential factor that influences the mechanical properties of polymer matrix composites. Despite its importance, no previous work has been reported on the high‐strain rate behavior of polypropylene/zinc oxide nanocomposites. Based on this, static and dynamic compression properties of polypropylene/zinc oxide nanocomposites, with particle contents of 1%, 3%, and 5% by weight, were successfully studied at different strain rates (i.e., 0.01 s^?1, 0.1 s^?1, 650 s^?1, 900 s^?1, and 1100 s^?1) using a universal testing machine and a split Hopkinson pressure bar apparatus. For standardization, approximately 24 nm of zinc oxide nanoparticles were embedded into polypropylene matrix for each of the tested polypropylene/zinc oxide nanocomposites. Results show that the yield strength, the ultimate strength, and the stiffness properties, of polypropylene/zinc oxide nanocomposites, were greatly affected by both particle loading and applied strain rate. Furthermore, the rate sensitivity and the absorbed energy of all tested specimens showed a positive increment with increasing strain rate, whereas the thermal activation volume showed a contrary trend. In addition, the fractographic analysis and particle dispersion of all composite specimens were successfully obtained using a field emisission scanning electron microscopy. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 54:949–960, 2014. © 2013 Society of Plastics Engineers     

Evaluation of a robust, diimide-based, porous organic polymer (POP) as a high-capacity sorbent for representative chemical threats

A previously described porous organic polymer (NU-POP-1) was evaluated against four representative chemical threats: ammonia, cyanogen chloride, sulfur dioxide, and octane. Ammonia, cyanogen chloride, and sulfur dioxide are examples of toxic industrial chemicals (TICs) spanning the range from highly basic to strong-acid forming substances, while octane is used to assess physical adsorption capacity. Experiments were carried out using a microbreakthrough test apparatus, which measures the adsorption capacity at saturation and gives an indication of the strength of adsorption. The NU-POP-1 material exhibited substantial removal capabilities against the majority of the toxic chemicals, with capacities as high as or better than an activated, impregnated carbon. The ability to remove the highly volatile toxic chemicals ammonia and cyanogen chloride was intriguing, as these chemicals typically require reactive moieities for removal. The present work presents a benchmark for toxic chemical removal, and future work will focus on incorporating functional groups targeting the toxic chemicals of interest.     

Evaluation of natural gas hydrates as a future methane source

In recent years, attention has been given to obtaining methane gas from natural gas hydrates (NGHs) sediment; but its production, economics, and safety are still far away from being commercially viable for many years, and so more research is needed. NGHs are nonstoichiometric crystalline solid compounds that form from mixtures of water molecules and light weight natural gases such as methane, ethane, propane, and carbon dioxide. They are formed in specific thermodynamic conditions, low temperatures (5–15°C) and high pressures (2–3 MPa), and are found in (a) onshore polar regions beneath permafrost and (b) offshore deep-sea sediments. Methane, NG, is the cleanest fossil fuel and its huge amounts in NGHs have carbon quantities more than double of all fossil fuels. The methods that have been proposed for NG extraction from NGHs include: (a) depressurization, (b) thermal stimulation, and (c) chemical inhibitor injections. The authors review the potential of methane gas from NGHs as an unconventional source of future energy. The formation of NGHs as well as extraction of methane from NGHs coupled with technical and environmental challenges are also addressed.     

Piezoelectric properties of zinc oxide/iron oxide filled polyvinylidene fluoride nanocomposite fibers

Piezoelectric nanogenerators (PENG) with flexible and simple design have pronounced significance in fabricating sustainable devices for self-powering electronics. This study demonstrates the fabrication of electrospun nanocomposite fibers from polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) filled zinc oxide (ZnO)/iron oxide (FeO) nanomaterials. The nanocomposite fiber based flexible PENG shows piezoelectric output voltage of 5.9 V when 3 wt% of ZnO/FeO hybrid nanomaterial is introduced, which is 29.5 times higher than the neat PVDF. No apparent decline in output voltage is observed for almost 2000 s attributed to the outstanding durability. This higher piezoelectric output performance is correlated with the β-phase transformation studies from the Fourier transformation infrared spectroscopy and the crystallinity studies from the differential scanning calorimetry. Both these studies show respective enhancement of 3.79 and 2.16% in the β-phase crystallinity values of PVDF-ZnO/FeO 3 wt% composite. Higher dielectric constant value obtained for the same composite (three times higher than the neat PVDF) confirms the increased energy storage efficiency as well. Thus the proposed soft and flexible PENG is a promising mechanical energy harvester, and its good dielectric properties reveals the ability to use this material as good power sources for wearable and flexible electronic devices.

     

Curcumin antifungal and antioxidant activities are increased in the presence of ascorbic acid

The objective of this study was to evaluate the antifungal and antioxidant activities of curcumin, ascorbic acid and the mixture of these two compounds. For the antifungal assay, the minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) were determined using Candida strains (ATCC and clinical isolates). Curcumin alone inhibited growth of Candida albicans yeast cells, whereas ascorbic acid did not present effects. However, when the mixture of ascorbic acid and curcumin was assayed to determine the association of the two compounds, the curcumin MIC decreased 5- to 10-fold. In the antioxidant assays, the sum of the alone activities of curcumin and ascorbic acid were lower than the activity of the two-compound mixture. This study highlights the importance of the association between two common antioxidants in foods, to improve the antifungal and antioxidant activities of curcumin (in vitro), and can be applied to Candida spp. infection and diseases associated with oxidative stress.     

Accelerating protein release from microparticles for regenerative medicine applications

There is a need to control the spatio-temporal release kinetics of growth factors in order to mitigate current usage of high doses. A novel delivery system, capable of providing both structural support and controlled release kinetics, has been developed from PLGA microparticles. The inclusion of a hydrophilic PLGA–PEG–PLGA triblock copolymer altered release kinetics such that they were decoupled from polymer degradation. A quasi zero order release profile over four weeks was produced using 10% w/w PLGA–PEG–PLGA with 50:50 PLGA whereas complete and sustained release was achieved over ten days using 30% w/w PLGA–PEG–PLGA with 85:15 PLGA and over four days using 30% w/w PLGA–PEG–PLGA with 50:50 PLGA. These three formulations are promising candidates for delivery of growth factors such as BMP-2, PDGF and VEGF. Release profiles were also modified by mixing microparticles of two different formulations providing another route, not previously reported, for controlling release kinetics. This system provides customisable, localised and controlled delivery with adjustable release profiles, which will improve the efficacy and safety of recombinant growth factor delivery.     

Cellular polypropylene‐based piezoelectric films

Cellular polypropylene‐calcium carbonate based piezoelectric films were obtained using biaxial stretching and gas‐mediated inflation followed by a corona discharge treatment using home‐made devices. The obtained results revealed a cellular structure that develops at the interface between the solid particles and the polymer matrix and the final piezoelectric coefficient was found to depend both on the gas pressure profile and on time. The inflation step gives better results when the gas pressure is increased in stepwise manner allowing the gas to adequately intrude the cavities and maintain the required pressure. The overall results are discussed in terms of processing conditions and in terms of the developed microstructure. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 2012. © 2012 Society of Plastics Engineers