Sidewall oxidation of polycrystalline-silicon gate

Evidence is presented demonstrating that sidewall oxidation, a processing step needed for device reliability, can lead to gate oxide thickening in short-channel devices. This increase in thickness is the result of encroachment of bird's beaks from the edges of the gate structure into the channel region. The encroachment can be reduced by increasing oxidation temperature and/or using a dry ambient. With a judicious choice of polysilicon sidewall oxidation conditions, minimum gate-to-drain overlap capacitance and adequate device reliability can be achieved     

Effect of Multifunctional Additive on Filler Dispersion in Carbon-Black- and Silica-Filled Natural Rubber Compounds

The effect of multifunctional additive (MFA) on filler dispersion in carbon-black- (CB) and silica-filled natural rubber (NR) compounds has been studied. Silica dispersion, measured by computer-aided image analysis and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), showed a substantial improvement when MFA concentration is increased from 1 to 3 phr. After this level, there is a further but small improvement. However, for CB-filled NR compounds, CB dispersion showed a substantial improvement when the MFA used between 0 and 1 phr. As in silica-Filled NR compounds, there is only a small improvement in dispersion after 1 phr.     

Effect of filler surface treatment on the properties of recycled high‐density polyethylene/(natural rubber)/(Kenaf powder) biocomposites

Biocomposites were prepared from a kenaf core powder and recycled high‐density polyethylene/(natural rubber) blend by using an internal mixer at 165^oC and 50 rpm. The effect of the filler content and the filler surface treatment was studied. Chemical modification of kenaf filler was performed with alkali pretreatment followed by treatment with silane. Scanning electron microscopy and infrared spectroscopy studies confirmed changes in the chemical compositions and structural characteristics induced through the modification. It was found that treated biocomposites offered higher tensile strength and tensile modulus, but lower elongation at break compared with untreated biocomposites. Lower water absorption and higher thermal stability of the resultant biocomposites were also obtained when treated fillers were used. J. VINYL ADDIT. TECHNOL., 20:218–224, 2014. © 2014 Society of Plastics Engineers     

Thermal properties and aging characteristics of chemically modified oil palm ash-filled natural rubber composites

The chemically modified oil palm ash (OPA) with the cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) solution was prepared prior to compounding with the natural rubber and other curing ingredients. The aging resistance and thermal stability of CTAB-modified OPA-filled natural rubber composites were evaluated in the same manner as non-modified OPA samples. The retention tensile properties after thermal aging was measured and based on the result shown, the CTAB-modified OPA-filled natural rubber composites imparted insignificant effect to aging resistance as compared to the non-modified OPA-filled natural rubber composites at very low OPA loading; however, the effect became apparent beyond 3 phr OPA loading where the CTAB-modified OPA-filled natural rubber composites provided better aging resistance than the corresponding non-modified OPA-filled natural rubber composites. The thermogravimetric analysis indicated that the CTAB-modified OPA-filled natural rubber composites exhibited lower thermal stability which showed lower temperature at their respective weight loss and lesser char residue than that of non-modified OPA-filled natural rubber composites. This was attributed to the CTAB which started to decompose at the temperature of 210 °C. However, for the range from ambient temperature to 210 °C, the CTAB-modified OPA-filled natural rubber composites produce better thermal stability than those of non-modified OPA-filled natural rubber composites.     

Analysis of experimental design with multivariate response: A contribution using multiblock techniques

In many application areas, experimental approaches both involve an experimental design that determines changes in the studying factors and an untargeted analytical method (IR, LC-MS, NMR,…) used to characterize the samples by a large number of variables. This leads to a resulting data set which can be structured in blocks with respect to the different levels of the experimental factors. Among the methods that have been developed to address this situation, the ANOVA-Simultaneous Component Analysis (ASCA) is the only one which proposes the use of a multiblock technique to date. Nevertheless, other possibilities are achievable. Therefore in this article, we propose 1) to adopt another way of defining and organizing the blocks from the initial matrix and 2) to apply Multiple Co-inertia Analysis (MCoA) a multiblock method different from Simultaneous Component Analysis to manage this new scenario. The complementarities of our proposal with ASCA are demonstrated on a case study related to cheese processing.     

In vivo measurement of lower back deformations with Fourier-transform profilometry

Through the variation of their cross sections, the in vivo response of lower back muscles to low loading in an upright seated posture is explored by the Fourier-transform profilometry technique. The maximization of its sensitivity allows us to reach an adequate resolution for the evaluation of low-back displacements. Refinements of the fringe pattern analysis permit the minimization of errors. The experiments show an asymmetric distribution of the displacement during head rotation movements. Significant contribution of the lower back to grasping exertions is also observed. These results are thought to be useful for early defect detection in the lower back.     

Flicker noise due to grain boundaries in n-type Hg1−xCdxTe

Flicker noise was measured between adjacent contacts a?b and b?c of n-type Hg_0.61Cd_0.39Te photoconducting samples. The region between contacts a and b had no grain boundary, whereas the region between contacts b and c had a grain boundary. When the data were corrected for the differences in the resistances between the contacts a?b and b?c, it was found that the grain-boundary section had four times as much noise as the no-grain-boundary section for the particular geometry involved.     

The partial replacement of silica or calcium carbonate by halloysite nanotubes as fillers in ethylene propylene diene monomer composites

The effect of partial replacement of silica or calcium carbonate (CaCO₃) by halloysite nanotubes (HNTs) on the curing behavior, tensile properties, dynamic mechanical properties, and morphological characteristics of ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM) composites was studied. Five different compositions of EPDM/Silica/HNT and EPDM/CaCO₃/HNT compounds (i.e. 100/30/0, 100/25/5, 100/15/15, 100/5/25, and 100/0/30 parts per hundred rubber (phr)) were prepared on a two‐roll mill. The results indicated that the replacement of CaCO₃ by HNTs increased the tensile strength, elongation at break (E_b), and tensile modulus of composites from 0 to 30 phr of HNTs whereas for silica, the maximum tensile strength and E_b occurred at 5 phr loading of HNTs with an enhanced stress at 300% elongation (M300). The curing results show that, with replacement of silica or CaCO₃ by HNTs, the cure time (t₉₀) and cure rate (CRI) were decreased and increased, respectively. Scanning electron microscopy investigation confirmed that co‐incorporation of 5 phr of HNTs with silica would improve the dispersion of silica and enhanced the interactions between fillers and EPDM matrix. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2009     

Effects of natural weathering on the degradation of alkaline‐treated peanut shell filled recycled polypropylene composites

The present work evaluates the potential of the natural filler peanut shell powder (PSP) on the properties and degradation behavior of alkaline‐treated PSP filled recycled polypropylene (RPP) composites. For this purpose, 0–40 wt% of untreated PSP and hydrogen peroxide‐treated PSP were incorporated into RPP composites that were fabricated via a melt‐mixing molding system. The fabricated composites were exposed to the natural environment of Penang, Malaysia for 6 months. The properties of both untreated and treated RPP/PSP composites were assessed. Results showed that the tensile properties of the treated RPP/PSP composites were higher than that of the untreated RPP/PSP composites. The treated RPP/PSP composites were less affected by weathering degradation compared to the untreated RPP/PSP composites. An increase in the carbonyl index of both composites also confirmed that some degradation had taken place. On comparing the crystallinity of both composites, the treated composites showed lower crystallinity than untreated composites. J. VINYL ADDIT. TECHNOL., 25:26–34, 2019. © 2018 Society of Plastics Engineers     

The effect of epoxidized vegetable oil and phthalic anhydride as compatibilizers on properties of rubber seed shell/polypropylene composites

Iranian Polymer Journal - Numerous adverse effects are reported from excessive usage of synthetic polyolefins including major environmental concerns. Since then, the development of natural-based...