Sematech makes progress in EUV-resist outgas testing
December 12, 2014 Source: ASM International
Sematech, Albany, N.Y., reports that promising progress has been made in qualifying outgassing specifications for extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography.
Continue readingMentor Graphics EZ-VIP provides re-usable building blocks to cut testbench assembly time
Source: ASM International
Mentor Graphics Corp., Wilsonville, Ore., announces the immediate availability of its new Mentor EZ-VIP PCI Express Verification IP (VIP).
Continue readingHelios PFIB designed for semiconductor failure analysis and process development
Source: ASM International
FEI Corp., Hillsboro, Ore., offers the Helios PFIB for large area deprocessing to enable electrical fault isolation of advanced process ICs, and advanced failure analysis of 3D packages.
Continue readingFourth-generation Intel Core processor enables 50% longer battery life
Source: ASM International
Intel Corp., Santa Clara, Calif., has introduced the 4th generation Intel Core processor family, with power levels as low as 6 watts, up to 50% improvement in battery life over the previous generation in active workloads, and two to three times improvement in standby battery life.
Continue readingBruker launches NanoForce nanomechanical testing system
Source: ASM International
Bruker, Billerica, Mass., introduces the NanoForce nanoindenting and nanomechanical testing system.
Continue readingCadence system SoC verifier enables up to ten times improvement in productivity
December 11, 2014 Source: ASM International
Cadence Design Systems Inc., San Jose, Calif., has developed the Cadence Perspec System Verifier platform, a software-driven system-on-chip (SoC) verification solution.
Continue readingUltrasound treatment removes hydrogen from molten aluminum
December 10, 2014 Source:
Researchers at Brunel University London report that an ultrasound treatment could be a much cheaper and more environmentally friendly way to remove hydrogen from aluminum alloys than conventional methods. Treating molten metal with ultrasound is a cleaner, greener and more efficient route to produce high quality castings
Molten aluminum alloys at 700°C naturally contain a high percentage of dissolved hydrogen. Left untreated, the resulting solid metal is highly porous. The most widely- used method of hydrogen removal – argon rotary degassing - is energy intensive and requires costly components.
In pilot scale trials funded by EU Framework Seven Programme, the team found that ultrasound was just as efficient as the standard method, but produced far less waste material (dross). The price of argon gas continues to rise because making it requires producers to liquefy air, which takes a lot of energy.
Research with quantities of up to 150 kg confirmed earlier laboratory tests that a moving ultrasound probe could achieve results similar to those of the argon process, but with the advantages of not relying on expensive and fragile graphite rods and expensive gas which cannot be captured and recycled. The five-fold reduction of the amount of dross created is another benefit.
Researchers at Brunel University London report that an ultrasound treatment could be a much cheaper and more environmentally friendly way to remove hydrogen from aluminum alloys than conventional methods.
Continue readingIpsen ships vacuum furnaces to aerospace companies
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Ipsen, Cherry Valley, Ill., reports that three separate companies recently purchased different Ipsen furnace models, all of which are for the aerospace industry. Ipsen shipped two of the heat-treating vacuum furnaces to Texas; the third furnace was shipped to the United Arab Emirates. While all of these furnaces will be used to process parts for the Aerospace industry, they all varied in size and model, as well as the type of parts they will produce.
The Horizontal TurboTreater with 6-bar partial pressure will be used to process fasteners. This specific furnace features a 36 x 36 x 48 in. all-metal hot zone with a 3000-pound load capacity. It operates at temperatures of 1000 to 2400°F, with ±5°F temperature uniformity.
The Horizontal Metal Master with 2-bar partial pressure will be used to process engine parts. This specific furnace features 24 x 24 x 40 in. all-metal hot zone with a 1500-pound (680 kg) load capacity. It operates at temperatures of 1,000 °F to 2,200 °F (538 °C to 1,204 °C) with ±10 °F temperature uniformity.
The Titan H4 with 2-bar absolute pressure will be used to process parts for gas turbines. This specific furnace features 24 x 28 x 48 in. all-metal hot zone with a 2000-pound load capacity.
Ipsen, Cherry Valley, Ill., reports that three separate companies recently purchased different Ipsen furnace models, all of which are for the aerospace industry.
Continue readingReliance Steel & Aluminum completes acquisition of Fox Metals and Alloys
Source:
Reliance Steel & Aluminum Co., Los Angeles, announces that it has acquired all of the capital stock of Fox Metals and Alloys Inc., Houston. Fox is a steel distributor specializing in alloy, carbon, and stainless steel bar and plate products. Through a network of more than 290 locations in 39 states and twelve countries, Reliance provides value-added metals processing services and distributes a full line of over 100,000 metal products to more than 125,000 customers in a broad range of industries.
Fox, located in Houston, Texas, is a supplier in the Houston/Gulf Coast region when critical supplies are needed on a timely basis. Fox's in-house processing services include saw cutting, plate burning and testing. Net sales for Fox were approximately $50.5 million for the twelve months ended December 31, 2013.
Fox will operate as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Reliance Steel & Aluminum Co. Additional terms were not disclosed.
Reliance Steel & Aluminum Co., Los Angeles, announces that it has acquired all of the capital stock of Fox Metals and Alloys Inc., Houston.
Continue readingAlcoa cuts production time for auto alloys from 20 days to 20 minutes
Source:
Alcoa, Pittsburgh, Pa., has developed a technology called Micromill, which is said to reduce production time for automotive aluminum alloys from 20 days to 20 minutes. It reportedly changes the microstructure, resulting in 40% higher formability and 30% greater strength than incumbent aluminum, while meeting stringent automotive surface quality requirements. Automotive parts will also reportedly be twice as formable and 30% lighter than parts made from high-strength steel.
Micromill aluminum sheet is easier to shape into intricate forms, such as the inside panels of automobile doors and external fenders, which today are generally made of steel. Higher strength will improve dent resistance, enabling the production of automotive sheet that is thinner and even lighter than previous generations. It will also be the fastest, most productive aluminum casting and rolling system in the world.
Micromill also has a significantly smaller footprint than a traditional rolling mill, at just one quarter the size, and lowers energy use by 50%. The Alcoa Micromill technology and the differentiated metal it will produce are covered by more than 130 patents around the world.
Alcoa, Pittsburgh, Pa., has developed a technology called Micromill, that is said to reduce production time for automotive aluminum alloys from 20 days to 20 minutes.
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