Influence of incorporated non-metallic impurities on electromigration in copper damascene interconnect lines

Low electromigration in Cu interconnect lines represents one of the major challenges for a good performance of semiconductor devices. Referring to this, experiments were carried out to study the influence of non-metallic impurities like Cl, S, and C incorporated in Cu during the electrochemical deposition. In the case of a lower impurity content a higher resistance against electromigration was verified. The electromigration activation energy for metallizations with small contaminations was found to be (1.00 ± 0.06) eV whereas Cu interconnect lines with high non-metallic impurities revealed an activation energy of (0.65 ± 0.03) eV. The electromigration induced degradation by void formation starts at the top interface between Cu and dielectric cap layer. Probably, this results from high mechanical stresses due to differences in material properties or due to an interface weakening by the segregation of S and C impurities.     

Accuracy of hard turning

Nowadays, hard turning is frequently used to replace grinding. The economic benefits of hard turning are obvious but for achievable accuracy the situation is somewhat ambiguous. Although machine tool factories offer lathes with the same accuracy as grinding machines in some cases problems may arise in keeping the prescribed geometrical accuracy. Investigations were performed in a working environment in order to determine the attainable size, form and positional accuracy obtained with hard turning. Error sources of machining errors that occurred in hard turning and in grinding were taken into account, giving typical differences between the two processes. In the parts produced in series, size deviations were measured as well as out-of-roundness, cylindricity error and parallelism error of the bore's generatrices. The workpieces used for the investigation are disc-type parts with bores, i.e., gears that are built into transmissions. Our first measuring series evaluates the achievable accuracy with hard turning while the second includes the comparison of grinding with hard turning. The most important error sources are identified. We present measures for keeping prescribed tolerances and propose methods for eliminating the means error source.     

Study of rotational temperature of oxygen DC glow discharge in Silica and Pyrex discharge tubes

Active DC glow discharges in oxygen have been studied in Silica and Pyrex discharge tubes for medium pressures up to 550 Pa and for discharge currents up to 40 mA. Electric field strength measured by a double-probe technique was found to increase with the pressure and to decrease with the discharge current, which is typical for DC glow discharges. We have focused on the emitted radiation. The rotational temperature (T_rot) of molecular oxygen was determined from the ^PP and ^PQ branches of the well-resolved atmospheric A-band of molecular oxygen at 760 nm. Good agreement between values of T_rot obtained from particular branches was found. The increase of the rotational temperature with increasing pressure and discharge current has been observed in both discharge tubes, however, the values of rotational temperature were systematically higher in the tube made of Pyrex glass. This difference was explained by the particular thermal conductivity of the tube material.     

Certification programme of airframe primary structure composite part with environmental simulation

The paper presents certification programme of an airframe primary structure composite part (pressurized bulkhead). Within the test the mechanical (static and fatigue) and environmental loading was simulated. The environmental loading is represented by 70 °C temperature and 90% humidity. The proposal and realization of the whole certification programme in the Aeronautical Research and Test Institute (VZLU) is presented. The designed programme fulfilled the conditions of the FAR-23 (or CS-23) regulations requirements.The composite bulkhead was designed and manufactured during the development of a new small Czech air carrier with pressurized fuselage. The bulkhead is honeycomb structure with carbon/epoxy skin. The technical and operational testing conditions, test facility possibilities and follow-up details related to the structure certification are stated. Results from residual strength test and results from advanced non-destructive testing are presented (Shearography method).     

Mechanical,Hygric, and Thermal Properties of Cement-Based Composite with Hybrid Fiber Reinforcement Subjected to High Temperatures

The tensile strength, bending strength, water vapor diffusion resistance factor, gas permeability, thermal conductivity, specific heat capacity, and linear thermal expansion coefficient of a cement-based composite with hybrid PVA-fiber reinforcement are determined as functions of thermal pre-treatment, the loading temperatures being 600 °C, 800 °C, and 1000 °C. The experimental results show that the most important changes in all studied parameters occur between the unloaded state and the loading temperature of 600 °C and then between 800 °C and 1000 °C. Although seemingly high, these changes are still small as compared to many other cement-based composites. The positive effect of using PVA fibers for the high-temperature behavior of the studied composite can be seen mainly in their ability to prevent thermal spalling which is a serious deterioration effect for cement-based composites.     

The Effect of High Selenite and Selenate Concentrations on Ferric Oxyhydroxides Transformation under Alkaline Conditions

Iron-based nanomaterials have high technological impacts on various pro-environmental applications, including wastewater treatment using the co-precipitation method. The purpose of this research was to identify the changes of iron nanomaterial’s structure caused by the presence of selenium, a typical water contaminant, which might affect the removal when the iron co-precipitation method is used. Therefore, we have investigated the maturation of co-precipitated nanosized ferric oxyhydroxides under alkaline conditions and their thermal transformation into hematite in the presence of selenite and selenate with high concentrations. Since the association of selenium with precipitates surfaces has been proven to be weak, the mineralogy of the system was affected insignificantly, and the goethite was identified as an only ferric phase in all treatments. However, the morphology and the crystallinity of ferric oxyhydroxides was slightly altered. Selenium affected the structural order of precipitates, especially at the initial phase of co-precipitation. Still, the crystal integrity and homogeneity increased with time almost constantly, regardless of the treatment. The thermal transformation into well crystalized hematite was more pronounced in the presence of selenite, while selenate-treated and selenium-free samples indicated the presence of highly disordered fraction. This highlights that the aftermath of selenium release does not result in destabilization of ferric phases; however, since weak interactions of selenium are dominant at alkaline conditions with goethite’s surfaces, it still poses a high risk for the environment. The findings of this study should be applicable in waters affected by mining and metallurgical operations.     

Technologische Eigenschaften von Stählen im europäischen Vergleich

The object of this contribution is the comparison of the statistical characteristics of yield strength, ultimate strength and ductility of Austrian and Czech steels. In an independent manner, basic material characteristics of steel products of both Austrian and Czech producers were statistically evaluated at the Vienna and the Brno Universities to guarantee the maximum objectivity of the results obtained and of the conclusions drawn from them. The influence of material characteristics on the reliability of a steel structure designed according to the design standards is reasoned.     

Children's residential exposure to chlorpyrifos: application of CPPAES field measurements of chlorpyrifos and TCPy within MENTOR/SHEDS-Pesticides model

The comprehensive individual field-measurements on non-dietary exposure collected in the Children's-Post-Pesticide-Application-Exposure-Study (CPPAES) were used within MENTOR/SHEDS-Pesticides, a physically based stochastic human exposure and dose model. In this application, however, the model was run deterministically. The MENTOR/SHEDS-Pesticides employed the CPPAES as input variables to simulate the exposure and the dose profiles for seven children over a 2-week post-application period following a routine residential and professional indoor crack-and-crevice chlorpyrifos application. The input variables were obtained from a personal activity diary, microenvironmental measurements and personal biomonitoring data obtained from CPPAES samples collected from the individual children and in their homes. Simulation results were compared with CPPAES field measured values obtained from the children's homes to assess the utility of the different microenvironmental data collected in CPPAES, i.e. indicator toys and wipe samplers to estimate aggregate exposures that can be result from one or more exposure pathways and routes. The final analyses of the database involved comparisons of the actual data obtained from the individual biomarker samples of a urinary metabolite of chlorpyrifos (TCPy) and the values predicted by MENTOR/SHEDS-Pesticides using the CPPAES-derived variables. Because duplicate diet samples were not part of the CPPAES study design, SHEDs-Pesticides simulated dose profiles did not account for the dietary route. The research provided more confidence in the types of data that can be used in the inhalation and dermal contact modules of MENTOR/SHEDS-Pesticides to predict the pesticide dose received by a child. It was determined that we still need additional understanding about: (1) the types of activities and durations of activities that result in non-dietary ingestion of pesticides and (2) the influence of dietary exposures on the levels of TCPy found in the urine.     

Synthesis of N‐Heteroaryl(trifluoromethyl)hydroxyalkanoic Acid Esters by Highly Efficient Solid Acid‐Catalyzed Hydroxyalkylation of Indoles and Pyrroles with Activated Trifluoromethyl Ketones

The synthesis of N‐heteroaryl(trifluoromethyl)hydroxyalkanoic acid esters by solid acid‐catalyzed Friedel–Crafts hydroxyalkylation of indoles and pyrroles with ethyl 3,3,3‐trifluoropyruvate and ethyl 4,4,4‐trifluoroacetoacetate is described. The inexpensive and readily available K‐10 montmorillonite is found to be an efficient catalyst for the synthesis of a wide variety of trifluoromethylated indol‐3‐yl‐ and pyrrol‐2‐yl‐hydroxypropionic and ‐butanoic acid esters. Using a series of substituted indoles and pyrroles the corresponding products were isolated in excellent yield (up to 98%) and 100% selectivity under mild experimental conditions, during very short reaction times. Beyond these, the ease of product isolation, catalyst stability and handling make this process an attractive, environmentally benign alternative for the synthesis of the target compounds.