Selective laser processing of ink-jet printed nano-scaled tin-clad copper particles

The deposition of tin-clad nano-size copper particles was carried out by means of ink-jet printing. Curing the particles on Polyimide (PI) turned them into soldered structures using an Nd-YAG laser. Area coverage of 55% was achieved for a single-layer print. Subsequent laser sintering increased this value to 95%. A Butanol-based copper ink and an aqueous tin (Sn)-clad Copper (Cu) ink were produced and were ink-jetted in this work. These nano-metallic inks showed excellent suspension stability with particle weight concentrations as high as 5%. The ink components were examined by measuring the particle size distribution in a dispersed condition, and the melting temperature. A piezo ink-jet print head was used to deposit the inks onto a moveable substrate. The thermal effect of the laser irradiation allowed approaching and connecting adjacent particles by melting the particle’s tin coating. The results were examined with regard to structure and soldering properties using EDX, SEM and optical microscopy.     

Free vibration of a rotating non-uniform beam with arbitrary pretwist, an elastically restrained root and a tip mass

The governing differential equations for the coupled bending-bending vibration of a rotating beam with a tip mass, arbitrary pretwist, an elastically restrained root, and rotating at a constant angular velocity, are derived by using Hamilton's principle. The frequency equation of the system is derived and expressed in terms of the transition matrix of the transformed vector characteristic governing equation. The influence of the tip mass, the rotary inertia of the tip mass, the rotating speed, the geometric parameter of the cross-section of the beam, the setting angle, and the pretwist parameters on the natural frequencies are investigated. The difference between the effects of the setting angle on the natural frequencies of pretwisted and unpretwisted beams is revealed.     

Preparation and properties of silylated PTFE/SiO2 organic–inorganic hybrids via sol–gel process

A study on poly(tetrafluoroethylene) (PTFE) reinforced with tetraethoxysilanes (TEOS) derived SiO₂ is described. It included the manufacturing process of SiO₂‐reinforced PTFE and the effects of silylation agent on the properties of the hybrid material, such as porosity, hydrophobic, thermal resistance, dielectric and mechanical properties, and microstructure. PTFE/SiO₂ hybrids of 50 wt % SiO₂ loading were prepared via a sol–gel process and were shaped by a two‐roll milling machine. Trimethylchlorosilane and hexamethydisilazane were used as the silylation agents. Our results showed that the water absorption and dielectric loss of PTFE/SiO₂ hybrid had significantly improved with silylation agent. The silylation process replaced Si? OH with Si? CH₃ on the surface of the TEOS‐derived silica colloidal particle. The existence of trimethylsilyl [? Si(CH₃)₃] on the surface of the modified PTFE/SiO₂ hybrid was confirmed via infrared and solid‐state ²⁹Si magic‐angle spinning nuclear magnetic resonance spectra. Nitrogen‐sorption techniques were used to characterize the modified and unmodified PTFE/SiO₂ hybrids. The microstructure of SiO₂ in the matrix was also evaluated with scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. Our results showed that the silylated sol–gel‐derived PTFE/SiO₂ hybrids had exhibited high porosity (53.7%) with nanosize pores (10–40 nm) and nanosize colloidal particles (20–50 nm). This manifests itself as have the ultralow dielectric properties (D_k = 1.9 and D_f = 0.0021), low coefficient of thermal expansion (66.5 ppm/°C), high tensile modulus (141 MPa), excellent thermal resistance (T_d = 612 °C), and an increased hydrophobia (θ = 114°); moreover, the hydrophobic property of the PTFE/SiO₂ hybrid was thermally stable up to 400 °C. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 42: 1789–1807, 2004     

Methane plasma polymerization by low‐temperature cascade arc discharge for enhanced adhesion of primer to thermoplastic olefins

Improvement of primer adhesion to thermoplastic olefins (TPOs) by methane plasma polymerization with a low‐temperature cascade arc discharge was investigated. Methane plasma with a low‐temperature cascade arc plasma torch can be used for improving the primer adhesion to TPOs. Tape‐adhesion tests (ASTM 3359‐92a method) demonstrated this improvement, with a rating of 0 for untreated TPOs and 5 for methane plasma‐polymerized TPOs at certain plasma conditions even for aging at 60 °C and 80% relative humidity for 5 days. The adhesion to primer for the soft, flexible TPOs (ETA‐3041c and ETA‐3101) was easily enhanced. The adhesion to primer for the hard and brittle TPOs (ETA‐3183) needs to optimize the plasma conditions to pass the dry‐ and wet‐adhesion test with methane plasmas. To relate the surface characteristics of methane plasma‐polymerized TPOs to adhesion performance with primer, the wettability and polarity of TPOs were evaluated by the contact‐angle measurements of primer and deionized water to TPOs. TPO surface morphology was evaluated with scanning electron microscopy. The surface composition was characterized with electron spectroscopy for chemical analysis. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 41: 2004–2021, 2003     

Sextic centrifugal distortion constants of ozone

Theoretical expressions for the sextic centrifugal distortion constants of triangular triatomic molecules, as given by Sumberg and Parker, have been evaluated for the ozone molecule. For this calculation, the harmonic frequencies and cubic anharmonic potential constants determined by Barbe, Secroun, and Jouve were used. The calculated distortion constants were compared to complete sets of measured distortion constants recently determined by Maki, and by Barbe et al. Even though the measured constants range over more than four orders of magnitude, we find that the theory reproduces the relative magnitudes and the algebraic signs of the constants quite well. Absolute quantitative agreement is considerably better than order-of-magnitude.     

Introduction to graphene electronics – a new era of digital transistors and devices

The speed of silicon-based transistors has reached an impasse in the recent decade, primarily due to scaling techniques and the short-channel effect. Conversely, graphene (a revolutionary new material possessing an atomic thickness) has been shown to exhibit a promising value for electrical conductivity. Graphene would thus appear to alleviate some of the drawbacks associated with silicon-based transistors. It is for this reason why such a material is considered one of the most prominent candidates to replace silicon within nano-scale transistors. The major crux here, is that graphene is intrinsically gapless, and yet, transistors require a band-gap pertaining to a well-defined ON/OFF logical state. Therefore, exactly as to how one would create this band-gap in graphene allotropes is an intensive area of growing research. Existing methods include nanoribbons, bilayer and multi-layer structures, carbon nanotubes, as well as the usage of the graphene substrates. Graphene transistors can generally be classified according to two working principles. The first is that a single graphene layer, nanoribbon or carbon nanotube can act as a transistor channel, with current being transported along the horizontal axis. The second mechanism is regarded as tunnelling, whether this be band-to-band on a single graphene layer, or vertically between adjacent graphene layers. The high-frequency graphene amplifier is another talking point in recent research, since it does not require a clear ON/OFF state, as with logical electronics. This paper reviews both the physical properties and manufacturing methodologies of graphene, as well as graphene-based electronic devices, transistors, and high-frequency amplifiers from past to present studies. Finally, we provide possible perspectives with regards to future developments.     

Strain-induced crystallization of swollen,crosslinked polyethylene

The kinetics of strain-induced crystallization of swollen polyethylene networks have been measured using dynamometry coupled with optical birefringence. Fibers were prepared by gel-spinning ultrahigh-molecular-weight polyethylene followed by crosslinking in dicumyl peroxide and swelling in xylene. Retractive force on crystallization was monitored at various temperatures and draw ratios. Fiber visualization was achieved using optical illumination coupled with video recording and digital analysis of the in situ transformation. Avrami plots of the transformation data showed good linear fits for low draw ratios in the range α < 1.2 and moderate undercoolings (60 < T_c < 70°C). Time exponents of unity were found, indicating a one-dimensional, heterogeneous growth mechanism whose temperature dependence could be described by a formalism similar to that recently used for flow-induced growth.     

Synthesis of a New Azo Dye Sensor and its Chelation with Ag+

A new azo dye containing thiadiazoline ring was synthesized from the reaction of the diazobenzaldehyde with O‐aminothiophenol, which was characterized by NMR, IR spectroscopy and high resolution mass spectrometry. This dye compound can chelate Ag⁺ in CH₂Cl₂‐EtOH and then result in the variation of UV absorbances.     

Synthesis of dibenzo‐16‐crown‐5 compounds with pendant ester and ether groups

Structurally related dibenzo‐16‐crown‐5 lariat ethers with pendant ester and ether groups are prepared. Structural variations within the series of alkyl lariat ether esters include changes in the O‐alkyl group, attachment site and nature of the lipophilic group, and length of the spacer, which connects the ester group to the polyether framework. Also synthesized are bis(crown ether) diesters with two dibenzo‐16‐crown‐5 or two dicyclohexano‐16‐crown‐5 units and two ester groups connected to each other by a linker of varying length. Synthetic strategies for the preparation of these lariat ethers with pendant ester‐ and ether‐containing side arms are described.     

Reductive Cleavage of the Te—Te Bond in Diphenyl Ditelluride by the Sm—CrCl3（cat.）System： Preparation of Telluroesters and Unsymmetrical Phenyltellurides

The reduction of diphenyl ditelluride by the Sm/CrCl3(cat.) system led to a telluride anion.This species reacted with acid chlorides,alkyl halides,and α，β-unsaturated enoates or α，β-unsaturated ene nitriles to afford telluroesters and unsymmetrical phenyltellurides,respectively,in moderate to good yields under mild and neutral conditions.