Numerical simulation of encapsulant curing within a variable frequency microwave processing system

Curing of encapsulant material in a simplified microelectronics package using an open oven Variable Frequency Microwave (VFM) system is numerically simulated using a coupled solver approach. A numerical framework capable of simulating electromagnetic field distribution within the oven system, plus heat transfer, cure rate, degree of cure and thermally induced stresses within the encapsulant material is presented. The discrete physical processes have been integrated into a fully coupled solution, enabling usefully accurate results to be generated. Numerical results showing the heating and curing of the encapsulant material have been obtained and are presented in this contribution. The requirement to capture inter-process coupling and the variation in dielectric and thermophysical material properties is discussed and illustrated with simulation results.

Multiphysics simulation of microwave processing using a multidomain coupled solver approach

Microwave processing of materials is numerically simulated using a coupled solver approach. Microwave heating is a complex coupled process due to the variation in dielectric properties during heating. The effects of heating an object in a electromagnetic field directly influence the manner in which it interacts with the field. Simplifying assumptions and empirical solutions do not capture the fundamental physics involved and, in general, do not provide usefully accurate solutions in a number of practical problems. In order to capture the underlying processes involved in microwave heating, the problem must be looked at in a holistic manner rather than a number of discrete processes. This contribution outlines a coupled-solver multiphysics analysis approach to the solution of practical microwave heating problems.

On variable frequency microwave processing of heterogeneous chip-on-board assemblies

Variable Frequency Microwave (VFM) processing of heterogeneous chip-on-board assemblies is assessed using a multiphysics modelling approach. The Frequency Agile Microwave Oven Bonding System (FAMOBS) is capable of rapidly processing individual packages on a Chip-On-Board (COB) assembly. This enables each package to be processed in an optimal manner, with temperature ramp rate, maximum temperature and process duration tailored to the specific package, a significant benefit in assemblies containing disparate package types. Such heterogeneous assemblies may contain components such as large power modules alongside smaller modules containing low thermal budget materials with highly disparate processing requirements. The analysis of two disparate packages has been assessed numerically to determine the applicability of the dual section microwave system to curing heterogeneous devices and to determine the influence of differing processing requirements of optimal process parameters.

Industrial scale microwave processing of tomato juice using a novel continuous microwave system

This study evaluated the effect of an industrial scale continuous flow microwave volumetric heating system in comparison to conventional commercial scale pasteurisation for the processing of tomato juice in terms of physicochemical properties, microbial characteristics and antioxidant capacity. The effect against oxidative stress in Caco-2 cells, after in vitro digestion was also investigated. Physicochemical and colour characteristics of juices were very similar between technologies and during storage. Both conventional and microwave pasteurisation inactivated microorganisms and kept them in low levels throughout storage. ABTS⁺ values, but not ORAC, were higher for the microwave pasteurised juice at day 0 however no significant differences between juices were observed during storage. Juice processed with the microwave system showed an increased cytoprotective effect against H₂O₂ induced oxidation in Caco-2 cells. Organoleptic analysis revealed that the two tomato juices were very similar. The continuous microwave volumetric heating system appears to be a viable alternative to conventional pasteurisation.

Inactivation kinetics of polyphenol oxidase and peroxidase in green coconut water by microwave processing

The inactivation kinetics of enzymes polyphenol oxidase (PPO) and peroxidase (POD) was studied for the batch (discontinuous) microwave treatment of green coconut water. Inactivation of commercial PPO and POD added to sterile coconut water was also investigated. The complete time-temperature profiles of the experimental runs were used for determination of the kinetic parameters D-value and z-value: PPO (D(92.20 degrees C) = 52 s and z = 17.6 degrees C); POD (D(92.92 degrees C) = 16 s and z = 11.5 degrees C); PPO/sterile coconut water: (D(84.45 degrees C) = 43 s and z = 39.5 degrees C) and POD/sterile coconut water: (D(86.54 degrees C) = 20 s and z = 19.3 degrees C). All data were well fitted by a first order kinetic model. The enzymes naturally present in coconut water showed a higher resistance when compared to those added to the sterilized medium or other simulated solutions reported in the literature. The thermal inactivation of PPO and POD during microwave processing of green coconut water was significantly faster in comparison with conventional processes reported in the literature. (C) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Changes in occlusal vertical dimension in microwave processing of complete dentures.

This study investigated the effect of different microwave curing cycles on the changes in occlusal vertical dimension of complete dentures. Four test groups with 12 maxillary dentures each were evaluated. Groups 1, 2 and 3 were polymerized with different cycles by microwave radiation and Group 4 was the control and cured by water bath. The average pin opening for all groups was less than 0.5 mm. There was no significant difference between the groups polymerized by the microwave method and the control group. However, analyses of the vertical dimension changes showed statistically significant differences between groups 2 (0.276 +/- 0.141 mm) and 3 (0.496 +/- 0.220 mm).

Comparison of encapsulant curing with convention and microwave systems

Comparison of the performance of a conventional convection oven system with a dual-section microwave system for curing thermosetting polymer encapsulant materials has been performed numerically. A numerical model capable of analysing both the convection and microwave cure processes has been developed and is breifly outliines. The model is used to analyse the curing of a commercially available encapsulant material using both systems. Results obtained from numerical solutions are presented, confirming that the VFM system enables the cure process to be carried out far more rapidly than with the convection oven system. This capability stems from the fundamental heating processes involved, namely that microwave processing enables the heating rate to be varied independently of the material temperature. Variations in cure times, curing rates, maximum temperatures and residual stresses between the processes are fully discussed.

Advanced microwave oven for rapid curing of encapsulant

The curing of a thermosetting polymer materials utilized on micro-electronics packaging applications can be performed using microwave systems. The use of microwave energy enables the cure process to be completed more rapidly than with alternative approaches due to the ability to heat volumetrically. Furthermore, advanced dual-section microwave systems enable curing of individual components on a chip-on-board assembly. The dielectric properties of thermosetting polymer materials, commonly used in microelectronics packaging applications, vary significantly with temperature and degree of cure. The heating rate within a material subjected to an electric field is primarily dependant on the dielectric loss properties of the material itself. This article examines the variation in dielectric properties of a commercially available encapsulant paste with frequency and temperature and the resulting influence on the cure process. The 'FAMOBS' dual section microwave system and its application to microelectronics manufacture are described. The measurement of the dielectric properties of 'Henkel EO1080' encapsulant paste uses a commercially available 'dielectric probe kit' and is described in this paper. The FAMOBS heating system is used to encapsulate a small op-amp chip. A numerical model formulated to assess the cure process in thermosetting polymer materials under microwave heating is outlined. Numerical results showing that the microwave processing systems is capable of rapidly and evenly curing thermosetting polymer materials are presented.

Domestic microwave oven adapted for fast heat treatment of Ba0.5Sr0.5(Ti0.8Sn0.2)O-3 powders

In this work, BSTSn powders prepared by the polymeric precursor method were heat treated in a domestic microwave oven (MW) using a SiC susceptor to absorb the microwave energy and transfer the heat to the powder. The main advantage of MW is to reduce the thermal treatment time for phase crystallization. The powders were heat treated at 300 degrees C for 20 h in conventional oven, 300 degrees C for 10 min, 20 min, and 30 min in MW and at 500 degrees C for 1 min in MW. After thermal treatment, the photoluminescent properties of powders at room temperature were analyzed. (c) 2007 Published by Elsevier B.V.

Fabrication of corrosion resistant, bioactive and antibacterial silver substituted hydroxyapatite/titania composite coating on Cp Ti

The present work is aimed at developing a bioactive, corrosion resistant and anti bacterial nanostructured silver substituted hydroxyapatite/titania (AgHA/TiO(2)) composite coating in a single step on commercially pure titanium (Cp Ti) by plasma electrolytic processing (PEP) technique. For this purpose 2.5 wt% silver substituted hydroxyapatite (AgHA) nanoparticles were prepared by microwave processing technique and were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) methods. The as-synthesized AgHA particles with particle length ranging from 60 to 70 nm and width ranging from 15 to 20 nm were used for the subsequent development of coating on Cp Ti. The PEP treated Cp Ti showed both titania and AgHA in its coating and exhibited an improved corrosion resistance in 7.4 pH simulated body fluid (SBF) and 4.5 pH osteoclast bioresorbable conditions compared to untreated Cp Ti. The in vitro bioactivity test conducted under Kokubo SBF conditions indicated an enhanced apatite forming ability of PEP treated Cp Ti surface compared to that of the untreated Cp Ti. The Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion method or antibiotic sensitivity test conducted with the test organisms of Escherichia coli (E. coli) for 24 h showed a significant zone of inhibition for PEP treated Cp Ti compared to untreated Cp Ti. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd and Techna Group S.r.l. All rights reserved.

Filmes finos de SrBi2Ta2O9 processados em forno microondas

Filmes finos de SrBi2Ta2O9 foram depositados em substratos de Pt/Ti/SiO2/Si e, pela primeira vez, sinterizados em forno microondas doméstico. Os padrões de difração de raios X mostraram que os filmes são policristalinos. O processamento por microondas permite utilizar baixa temperatura na síntese e obter filmes com boas propriedades elétricas. Ensaios de microscopia eletrônica de varredura (MEV) e de Força Atômica (MFA) revelam boa aderência entre filme e substrato, com microestrutura de superfície apresentando grãos finos e esféricos e rugosidade de 4,7 nm. A constante dielétrica e o fator de dissipação, para freqüência de 100 KHz, à temperatura ambiente, foram de 77 e 0,04, respectivamente. A polarização remanescente (2Pr) e o campo coercitivo (Ec) foram 1,04 miC/cm² e 33 kV/cm. O comportamento da densidade de corrente de fuga revela três mecanismos de condução: linear, ôhmico e outro mecanismo que pode ser atribuído à corrente de Schottky. Dos padrões de DRX, análises das imagens por MEV e topografia de superfície por MFA observa-se que 10 min de tratamento térmico a 550 ºC, em forno microondas, é tempo suficiente para se obter a cristalização do filme.

Síntese e processamento de cerâmicas em forno de microondas doméstico

O uso de microondas no processamento e obtenção de materiais tem adquirido nos últimos anos crescente interesse por parte de diversas áreas do conhecimento como a química e a engenharia de materiais. Neste sentido, aparatos especialmente projetados têm começado a ser descritos na literatura como reatores e câmaras de processamento a microondas visando aplicação na pesquisa e na indústria. em particular o uso de fornos de microondas domésticos em atividades científicas tem se mostrado de interesse dado uma série de novas aplicações, simplicidade e baixo custo. O presente trabalho reporta um dispositivo desenvolvido a partir de um forno de microondas doméstico, capaz de efetuar sínteses e processamentos de sólidos mesmo quando os materiais envolvidos não possuem susceptibilidade as microondas. O novo dispositivo tem sido utilizado com sucesso na síntese de óxidos metálicos e, em especial na sinterização e ordenamento de redes cristalinas de filmes finos.

Barium strontium titanate nanocrystalline thin films prepared by soft chemical method

Barium strontium titanate (Ba0.65Sr0.35TiO3) nanocrystalline thin films, which were produced by the soft chemical method, were crystallized at low temperature using a domestic microwave oven. A SiC susceptor were used to absorb the microwave energy and rapidly transfer the heat to the film. Low microwave power and short time have been used. The films obtained are crack-free, well-adhered, and fully crystallized. The microstructure displayed a polycrystalline nature with nanograin size. The metal-BST-metal structure of the thin films treated at 700 degrees C show food electric properties. The ferroelectric nature of the BST35 thin film was indicated by buttertly- shaped C-V curves. The capacitance-frequency curves reveal that the dielectric constant may reach a value up to 800 at 100kHz. The dissipation factor was 0.01 at 100kHz. The charge storage density as function of applied voltage graph showed that the charge storage densities are suitable for use in trench type 64 Mb ( 1-5 mu C/cm(2) and 265 Mb (2-11 mu C/cm(2)) DRAMs. (C) 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Comparison of the effect of processing parameters and degradation on the DC and microwave properties of thin films and polycrystalline bulk high-Tc superconducting materials

The sharp increase in microwave power loss (the reverse of what has previously been reported) at the transition temperature in high-Tc superconducting systems such as YBaCu oxide (polycrystalline bulk and thin films obtained by the laser ablation technique) and BiPbSrCaCu oxide is reported. The differences between DC resistivity ( rho ) and the microwave power loss (related to microwave surface resistance) are analysed from the data obtained by a simultaneous measurement set-up. The influence of various parameters, such as preparation conditions, thickness and aging of the sample and the probing frequency (6-18 GHz), on the variation of microwave power loss with temperature is outlined.