Current stressing-induced growth of Cu3Sn in Cu/Sn/Cu solder joints

We investigated the influence of current stressing on a crystallographic microstructure of intermetallics in Cu/Sn/Cu solder joints using electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD). After direct current (DC) stressing at 150 °C for 10 d, the total Sn of the Cu/Sn/Cu was converted into a tri-layer structure of Cu₃Sn/Cu₆Sn₅/Cu₃Sn. The Cu₃Sn layers that grew on the cathode and anode are asymmetrical during DC stressing. A preferred direction < 010> Cu₃Sn along the current direction on the anode was found after current stressing.     

Particle-reinforced aluminum matrix composites produced from powder mixtures via friction stir processing

Particle-reinforced aluminum matrix composites were produced from powder mixtures of aluminum and silicon by using multiple passages of friction stir processing (FSP). In the composites, the Si particles with an average size of ∼1.5 μm are uniformly dispersed in the aluminum matrix which has a fine-grained structure (∼2 μm). The strengthening mechanism of the composites is discussed. It indicates that the fine grain size of aluminum, the Orowan strengthening due to intragranular particles and the dislocations generated by thermal mismatch all contribute significantly to the composite yield strength.     

Removal of cyanobacterial metabolites by nanofiltration from two treated waters

Cyanobacterial metabolites, both toxic and non-toxic, are a major problem for the water industry. Nanofiltration (NF) may be an effective treatment option for removing organic micropollutants, such as cyanobacterial metabolites, from drinking water due to its size exclusion properties. A rapid bench scale membrane test (RBSMT) unit was utilised to trial four NF membranes to remove the cyanobacterial metabolites, microcystin, cylindrospermopsin (CYN), 2-methylisoborneol (MIB) and geosmin (GSM) in two treated waters sourced from the Palmer and Myponga water treatment plants. Membrane fouling was observed for both treated waters; however, only minor differences were observed between feed waters of differing natural organic matter (NOM) concentration. Low molecular weight cut-off (MWCO), or 'tight' NF, membranes afforded average removals above 90% for CYN, while removal by higher MWCO, or 'loose' NF membranes was lower. MIB and GSM were removed effectively (above 75%) by tight NF but less effectively by loose NF. Microcystin variants (MCRR, MCYR, MCLR, MCLA) were removed to above 90% by tight NF membranes; however, removal using loose NF membranes depended on the hydrophobicity and charge of the variant. Different NOM concentration in the treated waters had no effect on the removal of cyanobacterial metabolites.     

An np‐control chart for inspection errors and repeated classifications

The np‐control chart has been used to monitor the conforming fraction in process production, and it is assumed that no classification errors occur during the inspection process. Increases in the sample size and/or the number of repeated classifications of the inspected items can reduce the impact of the classification errors. In this paper, an np ‐control chart is proposed, and the monitored statistics are based on the results of independent repeated classifications with classification errors during the inspection process. The aim of the proposed control chart is to have the same performance as a control chart without classification errors. Numerical examples illustrate the proposal. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Role of initial texture on the plastic anisotropy of Mg-3Al-1Zn alloy at various temperatures

The effect of initial texture on the anisotropic properties of AZ31 Mg alloys was investigated on the basis of microstructure evolution after compression tests and Lankford parameter (r-value) experiments at various temperatures. Two kinds of sheets were used: one is the cast-and-rolled sheet, and the other is the strip-cast sheet. Compression tests were conducted up to a strain of 0.3 at temperatures of 200-400 °C, and tensile tests were performed to obtain the r-value at various temperatures (25-450 °C). The results showed that, at all test temperatures, the average r-value of the RD plane were greater than those of the ND and TD planes in the cast-and-rolled material. When comparing the average r-value of the RD plane, the cast-and-rolled material revealed much higher values than those of strip-cast material. It was observed that the cross-sectional shape of RD compressive specimens (the compression axis was parallel to the rolling direction) of cast-and-rolled materials changed from an initial circular shape to an ellipsoidal shape due to the plastic anisotropy. Compression processes of specimens were simulated using a finite element method where the Hill's anisotropic yield criterion was adopted. The simulated results were in a good agreement with experimental data.     

Single-element ultrasound transducer for combined vessel localization and ablation

This report describes a system that utilizes a single high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) transducer for both the localization and ablation of arteries with internal diameters of 0.5 and 1.3 mm. In vitro and in vivo tests were performed to demonstrate both the imaging and ablation functionalities of this system. For imaging mode, pulsed acoustic waves (3 cycles for in vitro and 10 cycles for in vivo tests, 2 MPa peak pressure) were emitted from the 2-MHz HIFU transducer, and the backscattered ultrasonic signal was collected by the same transducer to calculate Doppler shifts in the target region. The maximum signal amplitude of the Doppler shift was used to determine the location of the target vessel. The operation mode was then switched to the therapeutic mode and vessel occlusion was successfully produced by high-intensity continuous HIFU waves (12 MPa) for 60 s. The system was then switched back to imaging mode for residual flow to determine the need for a second ablation treatment. The new system might be used to target and occlude unwanted vessels such as vasculature around tumors, and to help with tumor destruction.     

Kinetics of aluminum dross dissolution in sec-butyl alcohol for aluminum sec-butoxide

Al sec-butoxide (ASB) has been used as a precursor for activated aluminas but its cost is higher than any other type of precursor. This study was carried out on the dissolution kinetics for synthesis of the ASB from Al dross waste. The reaction was performed under the molar ratio of Al dross and sec-butyl alcohol (SBA) of 3 mol SBA/mol Al with a catalyst of 10^?3 mol HgI₂/mol Al and three different dissolution temperatures of 80, 90 and 100 °C. The Al reactant was used with Al dross of 3–5 mm size range. As a result of the experiment, the dissolution reaction gave a 65% yield after 24 h. The dissolution mechanism was determined by the shrinking core model assumed by the shape of spherical particles. Especially, the kinetic data were well fitted by a chemical reaction in the model. By the Arrhenius equation, the apparent activation energy was determined to be 40.9 kJ mol^?1 at the given reaction temperatures.