Development of LTCC micro-hotplate with PTC temperature sensor for gas-sensing applications

Low temperature co-fired ceramic (LTCC) micro-hotplates show wide applications in gas sensors and micro-fluidic devices. It is easily structured in three-dimensional structures. This paper presents the low power consumption micro-hotplates which were developed with PTC (positive temperature coefficient) temperature sensor and inter-digitated electrodes. The paper presents two different structures for micro-hotplate with platinum as a heating element. The PTC temperature sensor using two different materials viz. PdAg and platinum paste are developed with micro-hotplates. The simulation has been achieved through COMSOL for LTCC and alumina micro-hotplates. The temperature variation with power consumption has been measured for the developed LTCC micro-hotplates. The change in resistance of PTC temperature sensors was measured with micro-hotplate temperature. The aim of this study was to place a temperature sensor with the gas sensor module to measure and control the temperature of micro-hotplate. A SnO₂ sensing layer is coated on LTCC micro-hotplate using screen printing and characterized for the sensing of carbon monoxide gas (CO). This study will be beneficial for designing hotplates based on LTCC technology with low power consumption and better stability of temperature for gas-sensing applications.     

Solid state reactions between SiC and Ir

Reactivity between SiC and Ir as a function of SiC-crystallinity was investigated by diffusion bonding technique under a vacuum and over the temperature range of 1200–1450 °C. As reaction products, various Ir-silicides and free unreacted-C were detected. Reactivity is strongly affected by the temperature and SiC-crystallinity involving a series of interactions, from “no reaction” to “massive exothermic reactions”. In particular, interfacial phenomena are more pronounced by the presence of defects and grain boundaries.Solid state reactions result in formation of fine C-precipitates rearranged in a quasi-periodic microstructure. On the contrary, clustering of highly ordered C-precipitates (C-graphitized) occurs after “massive reactions” take place.A relationship between the degree of graphitization (from 1 to multi-layers of graphene), temperature and SiC crystallinity was found by Raman spectroscopy. 2D-layering phenomenon is enhanced in polycrystalline SiC at high temperature.     

湿式摩擦副滑摩过程温度场分析及实验验证

湿式摩擦副滑摩过程温度场与应力场相互耦合作用,温度场分布受到多种因素影响,其中压力、旋转速度、润滑流量作为湿式摩擦副工作参数对其温度场的影响尤为显著。在理论分析基础上,采用有限元数值模拟分析与实验研究相结合的方法,对摩擦界面温度场时空分布特性进行研究,同时研究界面温度场在摩擦副工作压力、相对转速和润滑流量作用下的变化规律。研究表明:在对偶钢片和摩擦片近外径侧更易出现高温和应力集中区,且对偶钢片相对于摩擦片更易出现温度和应力分布不均匀情况;温度场中高温集中区与应力场中应力集中区相对应,最大温度随着压力增加、相对转速增大、润滑流量减少而显著上升,该结果得到试验结果的验证。     

Methodology for optimization of pouring variables using bottom pour for low masses of SS304 (<300 kg) in investment casting process (case study)

Bottom pour ladles with stopper rod systems are commonly used in the metal casting industry. However, stopper rod bottom-pouring systems have not yet been developed for the lower thermal masses of alloys typically used in the investment casting industry. Large thermal masses used with bottom pour systems are typically limited for ladles larger than 700 kg and to certain alloys with higher fluidity and longer solidification time like cast iron, aluminum alloys etc. In this study, bottom pour ladle designs and low thermal mass refractory systems have been developed and evaluated in production investment foundry trials with 300 kg pouring ladle. The ladles system and pouring practices used will be described along with the results from the pouring trials for SS304 that represents typical alloys used in Investment casting industries. Optimization of the variables used in an experimentation using Genetic algorithm is also explained.     

Electrical Breakdown Properties and Space Charge Formation in High Temperature Region in Ultraviolet Ray Irradiated PVC

Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) is the most popular insulating material for electric wiring instruments. However, an exothermic reaction above 150 °C may cause deterioration of the insulating properties of PVC. Therefore, it is important to clarify the heat degradation in PVC, not only to investigate the ignition of electrical wiring products but also to use electrical products safely. It is known that ultraviolet (UV) irradiation causes chemical deterioration of PVC and an increase in its conductivity. Generally, it has been thought that the electrical breakdown properties, electrical conduction, and insulating performance are affected by space charge accumulation in an insulating material. A high temperature pulsed electroacoustic (PEA) system usable up to 250 °C has been developed, and the PEA system can measure the space charge distribution and conduction current in the high temperature range simultaneously. In this investigation, the space charge distribution and conduction current were measured up to electrical breakdown in a non‐UV irradiated sample (normal PVC) and in 353 nm and 253 nm UV‐irradiated PVC samples in the range from room temperature to 200 °C in a DC electric field. In the short wavelength UV irradiated PVC sample (253 nm, 300 h), a deterioration of breakdown strength at 90 °C to 150 °C and negative packet‐like charges were observed at 60 °C and 100 °C, a positive charge accumulated in front of both the anode and cathode above 90 °C, and a higher electric field near the cathode side because the positive charge of the cathode side was greater.     

Temperature cycling and its effect on mechanical behaviours of highporosity chalks

Temperature history can have a significant effect on the strength of water-saturated chalk.In this study,hydrostatic stress cycles are applied to understand the mechanical response of chalk samples exposed to temperature cycling between each stress cycle,compared to the samples tested at a constant temperature.The total accumulated strain during a stress cycle and the irreversible strain are reported.Chalk samples from Kansas(USA)and Mons(Belgium),with different degrees of induration(i.e.amount of contact cementation),were used.The samples were saturated with equilibrated water(polar)and nonpolar Isopar H oil to quantify water weakening.All samples tested during 10 stress cycles with varying temperature(i.e.temperature cycled in between each stress cycle)accumulated more strain than those tested at constant temperatures.All the stress cycles were performed at 30℃.The two chalk types behaved similarly when saturated with Isopar H oil,but differently when saturated with water.When saturated with water,the stronger Kansas chalk accumulated more total strain and more irreversible strain within each stress cycle than the weaker Mons chalk.     

Automated classification of simulated wind field patterns from multiphysics ensemble forecasts

In this study, we have proposed an automated classification approach to identify meaningful patterns in wind field data. Utilizing an extensive simulated wind database, we have demonstrated that the proposed approach can identify low‐level jets, near‐uniform profiles, and other patterns in a reliable manner. We have studied the dependence of these wind profile patterns on locations (eg, offshore vs onshore), seasons, and diurnal cycles. Furthermore, we have found that the probability distributions of some of the patterns depend on the underlying planetary boundary layer schemes in a significant way. The future potential of the proposed approach in wind resource assessment and, more generally, in mesoscale model parameterization improvement is touched upon in this paper.     

Effect of in-situ formation of columnar mullite and pore structure refinement on high temperature properties of corundum casatbles

The effects of in-situ synthesis columnar mullite and pore structure on the hot modulus of rupture (HMOR), thermal shock resistance and corrosion resistance of corundum castables have been investigated in this paper. When 2% nano silica was added, the pore diameters of castables could be decreased to 15 nm (at 110 °C), 1 μm (1100 °C) and 6 μm (1500 °C), respectively. The corresponding reducing magnitude of pore size is 98.5%, 83.3% and 33.3%. The HMOR of castables fired at 1500 °C increased by 110% to 3.64 MPa. Furthermore, after three thermal shock cycles, the residual strength ratio of castables increased from 5.2% to 15.3%. A large amount of cross-distributed columnar mullite was formed between nano silica and α-Al₂O₃ by the two-dimensional nucleation mechanism, which remarkably enhanced the high temperature properties. The penetration index reduced from 30.86% to 19.88%, suggesting that smaller pore size and higher viscosity had a great influence to the penetration process.     

Voltage reference architectures for low-supply-voltage low-power applications

This paper presents a voltage reference generator architecture and two different realizations of it that have been fabricated within a standard 0.18 μm CMOS technology. The architecture takes the advantage of utilizing a sampled-data amplifier (SDA) to optimize the power consumption. The circuits achieve output voltages on the order of 190 mV with temperature coefficients of 43 ppm/°C and 52.5 ppm/°C over the temperature range of 0 to 120°C without any trimming with a 0.8 V single supply. The power consumptions of the circuits are less then 500 nW while occupying an area of 0.2 mm² and 0.08 mm², respectively.     

DP980+Z烘烤硬化值与退火温度的关系

摘要：为了研究退火温度对镀锌DP980+Z烘烤硬化值的影响，退火温度控制在760～820℃之间，系统分析退火温度对烘烤硬化值的影响。通过准静态拉伸试验机测量烘烤硬化值及抗拉强度，采用lepara试剂对组织中的马氏体进行着色，利用金相显微镜及图像处理软件测量马氏体的体积分数；采用扫描电镜观察DP980+Z的双相组织特点，并且将组织图片通过CAD转化成有限元图进行网格划分，建立代表性体积单元（RVE），通过有限元分析铁素体、马氏体强度对烘烤硬化值的影响。在同样的变形量情况下，DP980+Z的原始屈服强度越高，烘烤硬化值越高。