Compressibility of porous TiO2 nanoparticle coating on paperboard

Compressibility of liquid flame spray-deposited porous TiO₂ nanoparticle coating was studied on paperboard samples using a traditional calendering technique in which the paperboard is compressed between a metal and polymer roll. Surface superhydrophobicity is lost due to a smoothening effect when the number of successive calendering cycles is increased. Field emission scanning electron microscope surface and cross‒sectional images support the atomic force microscope roughness analysis that shows a significant compressibility of the deposited TiO₂ nanoparticle coating with decrease in the surface roughness and nanoscale porosity under external pressure.

PACS

61.46.-w; 68.08.Bc; 81.07.-b     

Influence of surface treatment prior to ALD high-/spl kappa/ dielectrics on the performance of SiGe surface-channel pMOSFETs

Compressively strained Si/sub 0.7/Ge/sub 0.3/ surface-channel pMOSFETs with atomic layer deposition (ALD) Al/sub 2/O/sub 3//HfO/sub 2//Al/sub 2/O/sub 3/ nanolaminate and low-pressure chemical vapor deposition p/sup +/ poly-SiGe gate electrode were fabricated. Surface treatment with either hydrogen fluoride (HF) clean, or HF clean followed by water rinse was performed prior to the ALD processing. The devices with water rinse show a good control of interfacial layer and device reproducibility, while the devices without water rinse lack a clearly observable interfacial layer and show scattered electrical characteristics and distorted mobility curve. A /spl sim/20% increase in hole mobility compared to the Si universal mobility and a /spl sim/0.6-nm-thick continuous interfacial layer are obtained for the pMOSFETs with water rinse.     

A novel strained Si/sub 0.7/Ge/sub 0.3/ surface-channel pMOSFET with an ALD TiN/Al/sub 2/O/sub 3//HfAlO/sub x//Al/sub 2/O/sub 3/ gate stack

Proof-of-concept pMOSFETs with a strained-Si/sub 0.7/Ge/sub 0.3/ surface-channel deposited by selective epitaxy and a TiN/Al/sub 2/O/sub 3//HfAlO/sub x//Al/sub 2/O/sub 3/ gate stack grown by atomic layer chemical vapor deposition (ALD) techniques were fabricated. The Si/sub 0.7/Ge/sub 0.3/ pMOSFETs exhibited more than 30% higher current drive and peak transconductance than reference Si pMOSFETs with the same gate stack. The effective mobility for the Si reference coincided with the universal hole mobility curve for Si. The presence of a relatively low density of interface states, determined as 3.3 /spl times/ 10/sup 11/ cm/sup -2/ eV/sup -1/, yielded a subthreshold slope of 75 mV/dec. for the Si reference. For the Si/sub 0.7/Ge/sub 0.3/ pMOSFETs, these values were 1.6 /spl times/ 10/sup 12/ cm/sup -2/ eV/sup -1/ and 110 mV/dec., respectively.     

Decreasing variation in paste printing using statistical process control

A method was developed to evaluate the quality of the paste printing process. In this patented (USA) method a test pattern is situated on the printed wiring board, and the printing quality of the pattern is continuously monitored with automated camera based equipment right after the printing process. Statistical process control (SPC) application software generates predefined alarms when an unexpected change is monitored in the printing process. SPC rules used in the system are explained in detail. Promising results were observed after several months of evaluation: variation in paste printing process was decreased as well as the amount of defects in soldering inspection.     

Reel-to-reel inline atmospheric plasma deposition of hydrophobic coatings

Plasma deposition equipment was developed and installed at a pilot extrusion coating line for reel-to-reel substrates. Hexamethyldisiloxane was used as a siloxane precursor for the atmospheric plasma deposition of siloxane coatings on substrates of three different categories: paper, polyethylene-coated paper, and textile materials (woven cotton fabric and polypropylene nonwoven). SEM, H₂O contact angle measurements, heat sealability, and water vapor barrier measurements were carried out to characterize the composition and surface structure of the samples. The potential of the method and the equipment was shown by the coatings, ranging to micrometer scale. With selected samples, hydrophobic coating was shown to form at speeds up to 100 m/min.     

Hydrolysis of lactic acid based poly(ester-urethane)s

The hydrolysis behaviour of lactic acid based poly(ester-urethane)s has been studied in a buffer solution of pH 7·00 at 37 and 55°C. Samples were prepared using a straight two step lactic acid polymerization process. The lactic acid was first polymerized by condensation with a low molecular weight by hydroxyl terminated telechelic prepolymer and the molecular weight then was increased with a chain extender such as a diisocyanate. In the hydrolysis study, the effect on the hydrolysis rate of different stereostructures (different amount of D -units in the polymer chain) and the length of the ester units were studied. The rate of hydrolysis was examined by various techniques including weighing (water absorption and weight loss), GPC (molecular weight and polydispersity), and DSC (thermal properties). GPC measurements showed that at 37°C the weight average molecular weight of the poly(ester-urethane)s started to decrease slowly during the first week of hydrolysis, but that at 55°C the weight average molecular weight decreased dramatically during the first week of hydrolysis. Significant mass loss occurred later at both temperatures. © 1998 Society of Chemical Industry     

Acute injuries in soccer, ice hockey, volleyball, basketball, judo, and karate: analysis of national registry data

OBJECTIVE: To determine the acute injury profile in each of six sports and compare the injury rates between the sports. DESIGN: Analysis of national sports injury insurance registry data. SETTING: Finland during 1987-91. SUBJECTS: 621,691 person years of exposure among participants in soccer, ice hockey, volleyball, basketball, judo, or karate. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Acute sports injuries requiring medical treatment and reported to the insurance company on structured forms by the patients and their doctors. RESULTS: 54,186 sports injuries were recorded. Injury rates were low in athletes aged under 15, while 20-24 year olds had the highest rates. Differences in injury rates between the sports were minor in this adult age group. Overall injury rates were higher in sports entailing more frequent and powerful body contact. Each sport had a specific injury profile. Fractures and dental injuries were most common in ice hockey and karate and least frequent in volleyball. Knee injuries were the most common cause of permanent disability. CONCLUSIONS: Based on the defined injury profiles in the different sports it is recommended that sports specific preventive measures should be employed to decrease the number of violent contacts between athletes, including improved game rules supported by careful refereeing. To prevent dental injuries the wearing of mouth guards should be encouraged, especially in ice hockey, karate, and basketball.     

A decision support system for evaluating intangible investments

In this research project we have connected the procedural and substantive decision support by means of modern information technology. We have showed how the semistructured strategic decisions concerning intangible investments can be supported effectively by relating appropriate analysis methods to the different phases of the investment process. Because for the intangible investments there is no well-defined solution procedure available, a variety of methods must be integrated to support the solution process.

As a demonstrative example we showed how the intangible investments in logistic systems can be managed. It was highlighted that the logistics systems are complex, cross-functional systems that affect all major functions or departments within the firm beginning from the raw material deliveries and ending with the deliveries of finished goods. Investments in the logistics systems have corporatewide, cross-functional effects, and the investment decisions are strategic decisions. Consequently, the investments in the logistics systems should be strategically justified, not only cost-justified. The cross-functional effects imply that the investment analysis concerning the whole logistics system must be fulfilled under multiple, diversified criteria. We can not, however, ignore the financial, cost and revenue oriented, traditional investment criteria. They just have to be used in a new, flexible way in relation to the goals and objectives of the firm.

Strategic planning is a managerial area where semistructured problems frequently exist. One of the key problems faced in strategic management is the issue of investment decisions. Investments in information systems, logistic systems, flexible production systems, corporate image, etc, are examples of complex investment problems that are difficult to quantify and analyze with traditional techniques. Modern computer technology can enrich the analysis and improve the quality of strategic decision making.     

Asymmetrical mechanical behavior of a precipitation hardened beta titanium alloy

Precipitation hardened single crystals of a beta (bcc) Ti-40 at. pct V + 1.0 at. pct Si alloy have been deformed in compression at 77 K and 298 K. The dependence of the yield stress upon aging time at 843 K for solution treated crystals shows two maxima which are caused by silicide precipitates. The orientation dependence of the yield stress and of the active macroscopic slip plane have been determined as a function of aging time. The solution treated as well as aged crystals exhibit an asymmetry of both the yield stress and the plane of slip, the degree of asymmetry being larger at 77 K than at 298 K. The asymmetry of slip and yielding is not affected by the presence of precipitation hardening. The results indicate that the effect of the dislocation core structure on dislocation motion is independent of the presence of precipitates.