Diffusion soldering for stable high-temperature thin-film bonds

Diffusion soldering is a special bonding technique to produce joints at a moderate temperature that are subsequently stable at higher temperatures. The search for material systems extending the upper-temperature limit of stability requires information from the pertinent phase diagrams and the reaction kinetics. Combining experimental studies on phase equilibration in powder samples with bulk and thin-film diffusion couples is a useful approach for a systematic search. Promising candidates for dsoldering are Pt-In or Pd-In, and molybdenum is also an effective diffusion barrier against the attack of liquid tin.     

Ozone Cooling Tower Treatment With and Without Mineral Removal

This paper builds on a prior paper by this author, McGrane (1991). In that paper, ozone is used as the sole means of cooling tower water treatment. The paper discusses water conservation by increased cycles of concentration, greatly increased efficiency through extremely low biological populations, and corrosion data which is compared to ozonated and chemically treated towers.

New in this paper are the results from the combination of a low pressure reverse osmosis system with ozone treatment for cooling tower water. Scale formation has continued to plague cooling towers with high concentrations of calcium in the make-up water. The use of a mineral removal system in cases of extremely hard water has made ozone an attractive alternative to traditional chemicals in many areas.     

Star-shaped block copolymers. IV. Emulsifying activity in the water–oil emulsions

Water–organic solvents emulsions based on toluene, n hexane, n-dodecane, and decaline are stabilized by new A(B)₂ star-shaped block copolymers. B is a polyoxirane block and A a polydiene or polyvinyl one. The influence of the molecular parameters of the copolymers has been studied; low-molecular-weight (±5000) copolymers containing 50% of polyoxirane have the originality to generate both O/W and W/O stable emulsions. The importance of the molecular architecture of block copolymers on their stabilizing efficiency has been put in evidence. For instance, 7/3 water–toluene emulsions are more efficiently stabilized by star-shaped block copolymers, whereas linear block copolymers give better results for 3/7 water–toluene emulsions.     

Investment casting of NiAl single-crystal alloys

Significant progress has been made in the understanding of solidification conditions, microstructure evolution, and defect formation during investment casting of NiAl single crystals. The high liquidus temperatures of NiAl alloys result in a larger dendrite arm spacing than is found in superalloy René N5. Because of their higher thermal conductivities, NiAl alloys have higher cooling rates and lower temperature gradients during solidification than René N5. These differences give NiAl alloys a lower tendency to form freckles and a higher tendency to form equiaxed grains. However, with the aid of process modeling, single crystals of various shapes of NiAl alloys have been produced.     

Characterizing the deformation of cold-rolled copper sheet

An advanced x-ray diffraction technique allows the development of texture components to be monitored and provides supplementary information about the cold work and residual stresses in cold-rolled copper sheet. The new technique confirms the results of an ultrasonic test, except for the ultrasonic test’s sensitivity to grain size. The new x-ray diffraction technique could be adapted to provide in-process, nondestructive evaluation of thin copper sheet, even for material moving at high speeds.     

Issues in the replacement of lead-bearing solders

The use of soft solders, particularly those containing lead, dates back nearly 5,000 years. Solders similar to the materials used to seal the aqueducts of ancient Rome are now an important building block in the manufacture of high-speed computer assemblies. This history attests to the technological versatility of soft solders and, in particular, the solder alloys that contain lead. However, the health effects of prolonged exposure to lead have also been documented; measures to limit human exposure—at the work place and indirectly through the environment—are being considered. The successful introduction of lead-free solders into future electronic products will rely heavily upon their solderability, which can be evaluated by test procedures such as the meniscometer/wetting balance technique and the capillary flow test.     

Processing ceramic-matrix composites using electrophoretic deposition

A novel, cost-effective processing technique for manufacturing ceramic-matrix composites (CMCs) containing two-dimensional woven-fiber reinforcement has been developed. The technique relies on the electrophoretic deposition (EPD) of ceramic sols on/into the fiber preforms to achieve the required impregnation. The laboratory-scale results achieved thus far indicate that the processing approach offers great potential for the manufacture of high-quality, composite products with dual-component oxide matrices for high-temperature structural applications.     

The effects of silicon on the properties of tantalum

The microalloying of tantalum with silicon has been effectively used on a commercial scale. However, data on effects of microalloying on processibility, microstructure and mechanical properties are not readily available. To develop some data, tantalum powder with various levels of silicon (0–50 ppm) was processed under identical conditions. Sheet samples were then annealed at different temperatures and evaluated via microstructural, chemical and mechanical tests. The recrystallization temperature was found to increase with silicon content, most probably as a result of the presence of an intermetallic (Ta₃Si) phase. The mechanical properties of unrecrystallized tantalum are, as expected, significantly different from those of recrystallized tantalum.     

Digital Elevation Model generation for historical landscape analysis based on LiDAR data,a case study in Flanders (Belgium)

This paper discusses the generation of a high precision DEM (Digital Elevation Model) based on high density airborne LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) data for an interdisciplinary landscape archaeological study concerning the settlement history and environment in Sandy Flanders, a region to the north of Ghent (Belgium). The objective was to create a detailed topographical surface free of artificial features and topographical artefacts, in the form of a DEM, visualizing the natural and current topography through the implementation of true ground points only. The semi-automatical removal of these features and artefacts was based on topographical vector data, visual interpretations and slope analysis. Ultimately two DEM’s were constructed (1) a TIN (Triangulated Irregular Network) model, whereby the inherent large file format restricts the usability to large scale and (2) a grid model which can be used for small-, medium- and large-scale applications. Both datasets were used as an image that is interpreted using ancillary data from historical sources. Its usefulness is illustrated in a case of field pattern and microfield topography. Starting from this DEM, the approach of this landscape historical study is mainly retrogressive, i.e. starting from the landscape structures and elements that are still present in the contemporary landscape and moving into the past.     

Sintering and Electronic Conducting Properties of Lao.7Ca0.3CrO3 Perovskite Synthesized by a Glycine-nitrate Process

La0.7 Ca0.3 CrO3 powder consisting of superfine and uniform particles （ 100-200 nm ） were synthesized using a glycine-nitrate process （ GNP ）. The sintering and electronic conducting properties of La0.7 Ca0.3 CrO3 were invetigated in the sintering temperature range of 1 200-1 450 ℃. The desired morphology of the powder significantly improved its sinterability. La0.7 Ca0.3 CrO3 ceramics sintered at 1 250-1 450 ℃ show high relative densities above 95 % . The ceramics sintered at 1 250-1 400 ℃ have very similar electronic conduct- ing properties, providing electronic conductivities around 55 Ω^-1 cm^-1 at a measuring temperature of 800 ℃ . Further increasing the sintering temperature to 1450 ℃ led to an apparent degradation of electronic conducting properties. This research demonstrates the advantage of the GNP in producing La0.7 Ca0.3 CrO3 with respect to the enhanced sintering properties and superior electronic conducting properties.