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At least 325 records · Page 18

A 96% Alumina based Packaging System for 500°C Test of SiC Integrated Circuits

With the development of silicon carbide (SiC) sensors and electronic devices for operation at 500°C, compatible packaging technologies are needed for long term high temperature test and deployment of these sensors and electronic devices. 96% Al2O3ceramic is an excellent electrically insulating material with acceptable dielectric constant and low dielectric loss over wide temperature and frequency ranges. This paper presents a packaging system for low power integrated circuits including a prototype 8-I/O chip-level package and printed circuit board (PCB) based on 96% Al2O3ceramic substrates and Au thick-film metallization for 500°C applications. The details related to designs of packages and PCBs, packaging materials, and specific packaging step recipes including wire -bonding and die-attach, are presented. Some test results of this prototype packaging approach applied to SiC integrated circuits at 500°C are reviewed.

High Temperature, Packaging, Alumina, Thick Film↗

Advanced diesel engine component development program, tasks 4-14

This report summarizes the Advanced Diesel Engine Component Development (ADECD) Program to develop and demonstrate critical technology needed to advance the heavy-duty low heat rejection engine concept. Major development activities reported are the design, analysis, and fabrication of monolithic ceramic components; vapor phase and solid film lubrication; electrohydraulic valve actuation; and high pressure common rail injection. An advanced single cylinder test bed was fabricated as a laboratory tool in studying these advanced technologies. This test bed simulates the reciprocator for a system having no cooling system, turbo compounding, Rankine bottoming cycle, common rail injection, and variable valve actuation to achieve fuel consumption of 160 g/kW-hr (.26 lb/hp-hr). The advanced concepts were successfully integrated into the test engine. All ceramic components met their functional and reliability requirements. The firedeck, cast-in-place ports, valves, valve guides, piston cap, and piston ring were made from silicon nitride. Breakthroughs required to implement a 'ceramic' engine included the fabrication of air-gap cylinder heads, elimination of compression gaskets, machining of ceramic valve seats within the ceramic firedeck, fabrication of cast-in-place ceramic port liners, implementation of vapor phase lubrication, and elimination of the engine coolant system. Silicon nitride valves were successfully developed to meet several production abuse test requirements and incorporated into the test bed with a ceramic valve guide and solid film lubrication. The ADECD cylinder head features ceramic port shields to increase insulation and exhaust energy recovery. The combustion chamber includes a ceramic firedeck and piston cap. The tribological challenge posed by top ring reversal temperatures of 550 C was met through the development of vapor phase lubrication using tricresyl phosphate at the ring-liner interface. A solenoid-controlled, variable valve actuation system that eliminated the conventional camshaft was demonstrated on the test bed. High pressure fuel injection via a common rail system was also developed to reduce particulate emissions.

Kaushal, Tony S.↗

A 96% Alumina based Packaging System for 500°C Test of SiC Integrated Circuits

With the development of silicon carbide (SiC) sensors and electronic devices for operation at 500°C, compatible packaging technologies are needed for long term high temperature test and deployment of these sensors and electronic devices. 96% Al2O3 ceramic is an excellent electrically insulating material with acceptable dielectric constant and low dielectric loss over wide temperature and frequency ranges. This paper presents a packaging system for low power integrated circuits including a prototype 8-I/O chip-level package and printed circuit board (PCB) based on 96% Al2O3 ceramic substrates and Au thick-film metallization for 500°C applications. The details related to designs of packages and PCBs, packaging materials, and specific packaging step recipes including wire - bonding and die-attach, are presented. Some test results of this prototype packaging approach applied to SiC integrated circuits at 500oC are reviewed.

high temperature↗

Preassembly Of Insulating Tiles

Concept for preassembling high-temperature insulating tiles speeds and simplifies installation and repair and reduces damage from handling. Preassembly concept facilitates placement of tiles on gently contoured surfaces as well as on flat ones. Tiles bonded to nylon mesh with room-temperature-vulcanizing silicon rubber. Spacing between tiles is 0.03 in. Applications include boilers, kilns, and furnaces.

Izu, Y. D.↗

SiC-Based Miniature High-Temperature Cantilever Anemometer

The figure depicts a miniature cantilever-type anemometer that has been developed as a prototype of compact, relatively nonintrusive anemometers that can function at temperatures up to 600 C and that can be expected to be commercially mass-producible at low cost. The design of this anemometer, and especially the packaging aspect of the design, is intended to enable measurement of turbulence in the high-temperature, high-vibration environment of a turbine engine or in any similar environment. The main structural components of the anemometer include a single-crystal SiC cantilever and two polycrystalline SiC clamping plates, all made from chemical-vapor-deposited silicon carbide. Fabrication of these components from the same basic material eliminates thermal-expansion mismatch, which has introduced spurious thermomechanical stresses in cantilever-type anemometers of prior design. The clamping plates are heavily oxidized to improve electrical insulation at high temperature. A cavity that serves as a receptacle for the clamped end of the cantilever is etched into one end of one clamping plate. Trenches that collectively constitute a socket for a multipin electrical plug (for connection to external electronic circuitry) are etched into the opposite end of this clamping plate. Metal strips for electrical contact are deposited on one face of the other clamping plate. Piezoresistive single-crystal SiC thin-film strain gauges are etched in the n-type SiC epilayer in a Wheatstone-bridge configuration. Metal contact pads on the cantilever that extend into the clamping-receptacle area, are obtained by deposition and patterning using standard semiconductor photolithography and etching methods. The cantilever and the two clamping plates are assembled into a sandwich structure that is then clamped in a stainless-steel housing. The Wheatstone- bridge carrying SiC cantilever with the metal contact pads on the piezoresistors is slid into the receptacle in the bottom clamping plate. The top clamping plate is brought into contact with the bottom plate so that the narrow section of the metal strips on the top clamp plate aligns with the metal contact pads on the cantilever. When the parts are clamped together, the metal strips provide electrical connections between the Wheatstone-bridge contact points and the sides the trenches that constitute the socket for the multipin electrical plug. Hence, to connect the Wheatstone bridge to external circuitry for processing of the anemometer readout, one need only insert the plug in the socket. In operation, the cantilever end of the stainless-steel housing is mounted flush with an engine wall and the unclamped portion of the cantilever is exposed into the flow. The cantilever is deflected in direct proportion to the force induced by component of flow parallel to the engine wall and perpendicular to the broad exposed face of the cantilever. The maximum strain on the cantilever occurs at the clamped edge and is measured by the piezoresistors, which are located there. The corresponding changes in resistance manifest themselves in the output of the Wheatstone bridge.

Okojie, Robert S.↗

High temperature resistant cermet and ceramic compositions

High temperature oxidation resistance, high hardness and high abrasion and wear resistance are properties of cermet compositions particularly to provide high temperature resistant refractory coatings on metal substrates, for use as electrical insulation seals for thermionic converters. The compositions comprise a sintered body of particles of a high temperature resistant metal or metal alloy, preferably molybdenum or tungsten particles, dispersed in and bonded to a solid solution formed of aluminum oxide and silicon nitride, and particularly a ternary solid solution formed of a mixture of aluminum oxide, silicon nitride and aluminum nitride. Ceramic compositions comprising a sintered solid solution of aluminum oxide, silicon nitride and aluminum nitride are also described.

Phillips, W. M.↗

Thermal/environmental barrier coating system for silicon-based materials

A coating system for a substrate containing a silicon-based material, such as silicon carbide-containing ceramic matrix materials containing silicon carbide and used to form articles exposed to high temperatures, including the hostile thermal environment of a gas turbine engine. The coating system includes a layer of barium strontium aluminosilicate (BSAS) as a bond coat for a thermal-insulating top coat. As a bond coat, the BSAS layer serves to adhere the top coat to a SiC-containing substrate. The BSAS bond coat exhibits sufficient environmental resistance such that, if the top coat should spall, the BSAS bond coat continues to provide a level of environmental protection to the underlying SiC-containing substrate.

Spitsberg, Irene T.↗

Refurbishment cost study of the thermal protection system of a space shuttle vehicle. Phase 2: Supplement

The labor costs and techniques associated with the maintenance of a bonded-on ablator thermal protection system (TPS) concept, suitable for Space Shuttle application are examined. The baseline approach to TPS attachment involves bonding reusable surface insulation (RSI) and/or ablators to the structural skin of the vehicle. The RSI and/or ablators in the form of either flat or contoured panels can be bonded to the skin of the primary structure directly or by way of an intermediate silicone foam rubber pad. The use of foam rubber pads permits the use of buckling skins and protruding heat rivets on the primary structure, minimizing structural weight and fabrication costs. In the case of the RSI, the foam rubber pad serves as a required strain isolator. For purpose of comparison, test data were obtained for an installation with and without the use of a strain isolator. The refurbishment aspects of a bonded-on RSI concept (without a strain isolator) were examined experimentally along with several externally removable panel concepts employing both ablator and RSI TPS. The various concepts are compared.

Haas, D. W.↗

Reaction cured glass and glass coatings

The invention relates to reaction cured glass and glass coatings prepared by reacting a compound selected from the group consisting of silicon tetraboride, silicon hexaboride, other boron silicides, boron and mixtures with a reactive glass frit composed of a porous high silica borosilicate glass and boron oxide. The glassy composites of the present invention are useful as coatings on low density fibrous porous silica insulations used as heat shields and for articles such as reaction vessels that are subjected to high temperatures with rapid heating and cooling and that require resistance to temperature and repeated thermal shock at temperatures up to about 1482C (2700PF).

Goldstein, H. E.↗

High temperature resistant cermet and ceramic compositions

Cermet compositions having high temperature oxidation resistance, high hardness and high abrasion and wear resistance, and particularly adapted for production of high temperature resistant cermet insulator bodies are presented. The compositions are comprised of a sintered body of particles of a high temperature resistant metal or metal alloy, preferably molybdenum or tungsten particles, dispersed in and bonded to a solid solution formed of aluminum oxide and silicon nitride, and particularly a ternary solid solution formed of a mixture of aluminum oxide, silicon nitride and aluminum nitride. Also disclosed are novel ceramic compositions comprising a sintered solid solution of aluminum oxide, silicon nitride and aluminum nitride.

Phillips, W. M.↗

8-9 and 14-15 Micron Two-Color 640x486 GaAs/AlGaAs Quantum Well Infrared Photodetector (QWIP) Focal Plane Array Camera

An optimized long-wavelength two-color Quantum Well Infrared Photodetector (QWIP) device structure has been designed. This device structure was grown on a three inch semi-insulating GaAs substrate by molecular beam epitaxy (MBE). This wafer was processed into several 640x486 format monolithically integrated 8-9 and 14-15 micron two color (or dual wavelength) QWIP focal plane arrays (FPAs). These FPAs were then hybridized to 640x486 silicon CMOS readout multiplexers. A thinned (i.e., substrate removed) FPA hybrid was integrated into a liquid helium cooled dewar to perform electrical and optical characterization and to demonstrate simultaneous two-color imagery. The 8-9 micron detectors in the FPA have shown background limited performance (BLIP) at 70 K operating temperature, at 300 K background with f/2 cold stop. The 14-15 micron detectors of the FPA have reached BLIP at 40 K operating temperature at the same background conditions. In this presentation we discuss the performance of this long-wavelength dualband QWIP FPA in quantum efficiency, detectivity, noise equivalent temperature difference (NEAT), uniformity, and operability.

Gunapala, S. D.↗

A Low-noise Micromachined Millimeter-Wave Heterodyne Mixer using Nb Superconducting Tunnel Junctions

A heterodyne mixer with a micromachined horn antenna and a superconductor-insulator-superconductor (SIS) tunnel junction as mixing element is tested in the W-band (75-115 GHz) frequency range. Micromachined integrated horn antennas consist of a dipole antenna suspended on a thin Si3N4 dielectric membrane inside a pyramidal cavity etched in silicon. The mixer performance is optimized by using a backing plane behind the dipole antenna to tune out the capacitance of the tunnel junction. The lowest receiver noise temperature of 30 +/- 3 K (without any correction) is measured at 106 GHz with a 3-dB bandwidth of 8 GHz. This sensitivity is comparable to the state-of-the-art waveguide and quasi-optical SIS receivers, showing the potential use of micromachined horn antennas in imaging arrays.

DeLange, Gert↗

Micromachined Millimeter- and Submillimeter-Wave SIS Heterodyne Receivers for Remote Sensing

A heterodyne mixer with a micromachined horn antenna and a superconductor -insulator-superconductor (SIS) tunnel junction as mixing element is tested in the W-band (75-115 GHz) frequency range. Micromachined integrated horn antennas consist of a dipole antenna suspended on a thin Si3N4 dielectric membrane inside a pyramidal cavity etched in silicon. The mixer performance is optimized by using a backing plane behind the dipole antenna to tune out the capacitance of the tunnel junction. The lowest receiver noise temperature of 30+/-3 K without any correction) is measured at 106 GHz with a 3-dB bandwidth of 8 GHz. This sensitivity is comparable to the state-of-the-art waveguide and quasi-optical SIS receivers, showing the potential use of micromachined horn antennas in imaging arrays.

Hu, Qing↗

Processing dependence of metal/tunnel-oxide/silicon junctions

The effects of process variations on the fixed-charge density, interface-state density, and tunneling properties of tunnel oxides on (100) silicon are discussed. Annealing the oxide in nitrogen reduces the fixed-charge and interface-state densities substantially, but also causes a marked increase in oxide capacitance. Anneals in forming gas before metallization alter the interface-state distribution and decrease the insulating qualities of the tunneling oxides. Postmetallization anneals in forming gas reduce the interface-state density to 1 x 10 to the 11th e/sq cm V or below, and appear not to affect the current through the oxide. No evidence for metal-induced interface states is observed.

Dressendorfer, P. V.↗

Strain and Temperature Sensing Properties of Multiwalled Carbon Nanotube Yarn Composites

Strain and temperature response of Multiwalled Carbon Nanotube (MWCNT/CNT) yarns on a stainless steel test beam has been studied. The carbon nanotube yarns are spun from a multiwalled carbon nanotube forest grown on a silicon substrate to a 4-ply yarn with a diameter of about 15-20 microns. Four of the 4-ply CNT yarns are arranged in a Wheatstone bridge configuration on the stainless steel test beam using a thin layer of polyurethane resin that insulates and protects the yarns from the test beam. Strain sensitivities of the CNT yarn sensors range from 1.39 to 1.75 mV/V/1000 microstrain at room temperature, and temperature sensitivity of the CNT yarn bridge is 91 microA/degC. Resistance of the yarns range from 215 to 270 ohms for CNT yarn length of approximately 5 mm. Processes used in attaching the CNT yarns on the test beam and experimental procedures used for the measurements are described. Conventional metallic foil strain gages are attached to the test beam to compare with the CNT sensors. The study demonstrates multifunctional capability of the sensor for strain and temperature measurements and shows its applicability where engineering strain is less than 3%.

Kahng, Seun K.↗

Solid-state non-volatile electronically programmable reversible variable resistance device

A solid-state variable resistance device (10) whose resistance can be repeatedly altered by a control signal over a wide range, and which will remain stable after the signal is removed, is formed on an insulated layer (14), supported on a substrate (12) and comprises a set of electrodes (16a, 16b) connected by a layer (18) of material, which changes from an insulator to a conductor upon the injection of ions, covered by a layer (22) of material with insulating properties which permit the passage of ions, overlaid by an ion donor material (20). The ion donor material is overlaid by an insulating layer (24) upon which is deposited a control gate (26) located above the contacts. In a preferred embodiment, the variable resistance material comprises WO.sub.3, the ion donor layer comprises Cr.sub.2 O.sub.3, and the layers sandwiching the ion donor layer comprise silicon monoxide. When a voltage is applied to the gate, the resistance between the electrode contacts changes, decreasing with positive voltage and increasing with negative voltage.

Ramesham, Rajeshuni↗

Silicon device performance measurements to support temperature range enhancement

Characterization results of a MOS controlled thyristor (MCTA60P60) are presented. This device is rated for 60A and for an anode to cathode voltage of -600 V. As discussed in the last report, the MCT failed during 500 V leakage tests at 200 C. In contrast to the BJT (bipolar junction transistor), MOSFET, and IGBT (insulated gate bipolar transistor) devices tested, the breakdown voltage of the MCT decreases significantly with increasing temperature.

Bromstead, James↗

Hardening electronic devices against very high total dose radiation environments

The possibilities and limitations of hardening silicon semiconductor devices to the high neutron and gamma radiation levels and greater than 10 to the eighth power rads required for the NERVA nuclear engine development are discussed. A comparison is made of the high dose neutron and gamma hardening potential of bipolar, metal insulator semiconductors and junction field effect transistors. Experimental data is presented on device degradation for the high neutron and gamma doses. Previous data and comparisons indicate that the JFET is much more immune to the combined neutron displacement and gamma ionizing effects than other transistor types. Experimental evidence is also presented which indicates that p channel MOS devices may be able to meet the requirements.

Buchanan, B.↗