Case Study on Speed Failure Causes in a Microprocessor

In this article, we identify the underlying speed paths and perform a detailed analysis on the effects of multiple input switching, cross-coupling noise, and localized voltage drop on microprocessor. We employ cycle-wise clock shrinks on a tester combined with a CAD methodology to unintrusively identify and analyze these speed paths. Understanding the causes of speed failures can help designers make better power and performance tradeoffs.     

Synthesis,characterization, and swelling kinetic study of porous superabsorbent hydrogel nanocomposite based on sulfonated carboxymethylcellulose and silica nanoparticles

New superabsorbent nanocomposite was synthesized by free-radical graft polymerization of sulfonated-carboxymethyl cellulose (SCMC) with acrylic acid (AA) in the presence of polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) and silica nanoparticles. Carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) was first sulfonated using chlorosulfonic acid, and then AA monomers were grafted onto SCMC. FTIR results confirmed that sulfonation of CMC as well as grafting of AA monomers onto SCMC has been performed successfully. Moreover, the presence of silica nanoparticles into superabsorbent nanocomposite was evaluated with EDX analysis. The element mappings show a homogenous distribution of silica nanoparticles throughout the hydrogel nanocomposite. SEM images exhibited porous morphology for hydrogel nanocomposite, which was due to the incorporation of PVP in its network. The experimental findings from TGA analysis indicated that incorporation of PVP and silica nanoparticles into the hydrogel network improved thermal stability of superabsorbent nanocomposite. Swelling kinetic studies revealed that superabsorbent nanocomposite hydrogel had higher equilibrium swelling capacity and swelling rate compared with the neat hydrogel sample. Besides that, superabsorbent nanocomposite depicted excellent salt and pH-sensitive behavior in different saline and pH solutions. As a consequence, this hydrogel nanocomposite acts as useful water reservoir, which might be most profitable in agricultural applications.     

Enhanced dielectric and piezoelectric response in PZT superlattice-like films by leveraging spontaneous Zr/Ti gradient formation

Spontaneous Zr/Ti gradient formation during crystallization in sol-gel-processed Pb(Zr_xTi_1−x)O₃ films is used to prepare superlattice-like (SL), highly (1 0 0)-oriented thin films on Pt/Ti/SiO₂/Si substrates. SLs with stacking periodicity ranging from 13 up to 60 nm are synthesized with compositional gradient normal to the film surface and composition centered at x ≈ 0.53. X-ray diffraction (XRD) shows high order satellite peaks and no secondary phases. XRD structural refinement, along with XPS depth profile chemical analysis, reveals that the crystal structure alternates between rhombohedral and in-plane polarized tetragonal phases, effectively corresponding to “artificially created” phase boundaries. SL films have ∼45% and ∼20% higher d_33,f piezoelectric coefficient and dielectric permittivity, respectively, with respect to compositional-gradient-free films of similar thickness, possibly due to enhanced reorientation of electrical dipoles and higher extrinsic contributions due to the motion of the “artificially created” phase boundaries in SL films. Dielectric nonlinear studies indicate a higher amount of extrinsic contributions to the dielectric response in SL and gradient-enhanced films than in conventional films of similar average composition. This processing method provides a simple chemical route to create thin ferroelectric films with enhanced dielectric and piezoelectric properties suitable for a range of miniaturized applications.     

Characterizing a novel method for blending regenerated cellulose structures with polyester filaments

The combination method of various manmade fibers with other fibers was developed to create special properties many years ago. Fibers can be mixed in a generation process, such as in solution or melt spinning, or in a fiber spinning process in the form of filaments, staple, sliver, yarn, and so on. Hybrid blended yarns are a common class of yarns in the textile industry, and the most are produced through cotton–polyester or viscose–polyester blending in the spinning process. The cellulose fibers blended in spun yarns should be at least 1 in. in length with appropriate surface properties. This causes limitations in the use of cheap materials. Cheap products owe their manufacturing to waste papers, wood trash, poor linters of cotton, spinning trash, and so on. In this study, a new method for combining regenerated cellulose structures with polyester filaments was examined; it is different from conventional hybrid polyester–viscose fiber production. In the first step, the viscose pulp was prepared and then coated on the polyester filaments in various forms. The properties, including the tensile strength, density, yarn count, moisture regain, static electricity, and dyeing, of the resulted hybrid fibers were evaluated with a variety of methods. The results show that almost all of the properties of the coated samples were improved, especially the moisture absorbance, static electricity, and dyeing properties. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 2013     

Synthesis and characterization of cobalt-free Ba0.5Sr0.5Fe0.8Cu0.2O3−δ perovskite oxide cathode nanofibers

The cobalt-free perovskite-oxide, Ba_0.5Sr_0.5Fe_0.8Cu_0.2O_3−δ (BSFC) is a very important cathode material for intermediate-temperature proton-conducting solid oxide fuel cells. Ba_0.5Sr_0.5Fe_0.8Cu_0.2O_3−δ nanofibers were synthesized for the first time by a sol-gel electrospinning. Process wherein a combination of polyvinylpyrrolidone and acetic acid was used as the spinning aid and barium, strontium, iron and copper nitrates were used as precursors for the synthesis of BSFC nanofibers. X-ray diffraction studies on products prepared at different calcination temperatures revealed a cubic perovskite structure at 900 °C. The temperature of calcination has a direct effect on the crystallization and surface morphology of the nanofibers. High porosity, and surface area, in addition to an electrical conductivity of 69.54 S cm⁻¹ at 600 °C demonstrate the capability of BSFC nanofibers to serve as effective cathode materials for intermediate-temperature solid oxide fuel cells.     

Optimisation of flow balance and isothermal extrusion of aluminium using finite-element simulations

There is significant demand to reduce variations in the shape and mechanical properties of the aluminium extrusion process to meet tighter tolerance requirements. To reduce variations, the flow and temperature evolution in the container and die must be controlled. To study how the process parameters influence the temperature evolution and the material flow, the effects of ram speed, initial temperature distribution in the billet and container cooling rate have been studied. This work is divided into three parts which examine the different aspects of the extrusion process. (1) To minimize the radial variations of temperature and velocity fields over multiple press cycles. (2) To obtain isothermal extrusion of aluminium. (3) To understand and formulate the effect of an undesired lateral temperature gradient in the billet on the exit velocity of the aluminium sections. In each part, the effect of different process parameters on the flow balance and temperature evolution of the extruded sections is shown and discussed.     

Improvement of Nanoscale SOI MOSFET Heating Effects by Vertical Gaussian Drain-Source Doping Region

Silicon - This paper presents an efficient method to improve the heating effects in Nanoscale SOI MOSFET with the Vertical Gaussian Doping Profile in Drain and Source regions (D-S-G-SOI). Three...     

Optimization and statistical modeling of catalytic oxidation of 2-propanol over CuMnmCo2−mO4 nano spinels by unreplicated split design methodology

Optimization of 2-propanol oxidation over CuMn_mCo_2?mO₄ nanospinels was carried out by a split design method. 15-term model was proposed to fit the experimental data. The model revealed that both whole plot and subplot variables have significant effects on conversion of 2-propanol. The model predicted the interaction of subplot and whole plot variables as well as their importance. The maximum conversion of 2-propanol was observed over CuMn₂O₄ (x₁ = 0.33, x₂ = 0, x₃ = 0.67) at calcination and reaction temperatures of 800 °C (z₁ = 1) and 300 °C (z₂ = 1), respectively. The predicted response and the response obtained from experiment for optimum conditions were 93.36 and 96, respectively.     

Stress/strain development around a spherical inclusion in a polymeric matrix: The effects of particle and matrix mechanical characteristics and thermal expansivity difference

For a spherical inclusion embedded in an infinite polymeric matrix, the Goodier Model, combined with thermal stress contribution, is applied to establish the stress/strain fields around a spherical particle in different particle/matrix combinations, including TiO₂, alumina, silica, steel, polystyrene, and polyvinyl butyral particles embedded in a range of polymeric matrices. This approach provides the basis for examining the effects of different parameters such as Young's modulus and Poisson's ratio of the particle and matrix, and the thermal history of samples on the failure‐initiation criteria. An explanation is provided for divergent results obtained for very soft and elastic particles. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2012     

Key elements of and material performance targets for highly insulating window frames

The thermal performance of windows is important for energy efficient buildings. Windows typically account for about 30-50 percent of the transmission losses though the building envelope, even if their area fraction of the envelope is far less. The reason for this can be found by comparing the thermal transmittance (U-factor) of windows to the U-factor of their opaque counterparts (wall, roof and floor constructions). In well insulated buildings the U-factor of walls, roofs and floors can be between 0.1 and 0.2 W/(m² K). The best windows have U-factors of about 0.7-1.0. It is therefore obvious that the U-factor of windows needs to be reduced, even though looking at the whole energy balance for windows (i.e., solar gains minus transmission losses) makes the picture more complex.In high performance windows the frame design and material use are of utmost importance, as the frame performance is usually the limiting factor for reducing the total window U-factor further. This paper describes simulation studies analyzing the effects on frame and edge-of-glass U-factors of different surface emissivities as well as frame material and spacer conductivities. The goal of this work is to define material research targets for window frame components that will result in better frame thermal performance than is exhibited by the best products available on the market today.