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1 – 10 of over 1000Katie Andrews, Noemi Sinkovics and Rudolf R. Sinkovics
This chapter investigates the coffee value chain in Latin America. By drawing on the concept of just transitions as a “connective tissue” between the sustainable development goals…
Abstract
This chapter investigates the coffee value chain in Latin America. By drawing on the concept of just transitions as a “connective tissue” between the sustainable development goals (SDGs), the discussion zooms in on the promise of agroforestry for environmental upgrading. The chapter concludes by providing examples of trade-offs between environmental, social and economic aspects.
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M.J. Rizvi, Y.C. Chan, C. Bailey, H. Lu and A. Sharif
Anisotropic conductive film (ACF) is now an attractive technology for direct mounting of chips onto the substrate as an alternative to lead‐free solders. However, despite its…
Abstract
Purpose
Anisotropic conductive film (ACF) is now an attractive technology for direct mounting of chips onto the substrate as an alternative to lead‐free solders. However, despite its various advantages over other technologies, it also has many unresolved reliability issues. For instance, the performance of ACF assembly in high temperature applications is questionable. The purpose of this paper is to study the effect of bonding temperatures on the curing of ACFs, and their mechanical and electrical performance after high temperature ageing.
Design/methodology/approach
In the work presented in this paper, the curing degree of an ACF at different bonding temperatures was measured using a differential scanning calorimeter. The adhesion strength and the contact resistance of ACF bonded chip‐on‐flex assembly were measured before and after thermal ageing and the results were correlated with the curing degree of ACF. The ACF was an epoxy‐based adhesive in which Au‐Ni coated polymer particles were randomly dispersed.
Findings
The results showed that higher bonding temperatures had resulted in better ACF curing and stronger adhesion. After ageing, the adhesion strength increased for the samples bonded at lower temperatures and decreased for the samples bonded at higher temperatures. ACF assemblies with higher degrees of curing showed smaller increases in contact resistance after ageing. Conduction gaps at the bump‐particle and/or particle‐pad interfaces were found with the help of scanning electron microscopy and are thought to be the root cause of the increase in contact resistance.
Originality/value
The present study focuses on the effect of bonding temperatures on the curing of ACFs, and their adhesion strength and electrical performances after high temperature ageing. The results of this study may help the development of ACFs with higher heat resistance, so that ACFs can be considered as an alternative to lead‐free solders.
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The work of academics has intensified, but the focus for most remains on teaching, research and contribution to service. Institutional imperatives and positioning within…
Abstract
The work of academics has intensified, but the focus for most remains on teaching, research and contribution to service. Institutional imperatives and positioning within universities impact significantly on how individual academics fashion themselves to fit with expectations and demands. There is, of course, no simple version of scholarly identity and Barnett (2000) called attention to the ‘super complexity’ of academic work some time ago. ‘Scholarly’ has been deliberately used in the title of this chapter, even though ‘academic’ is also used throughout. The purpose here is to draw attention to – and avoid – the binary that Stuart Hall notes: Academic work is inherently conservative in as much as it seeks, first, to fulfill the relatively narrow and policed goals and interests of a given discipline or profession and, second, to fulfill the increasingly corporatized mission of higher education; intellectual work, in contrast is relentlessly critical, self-critical, and potentially revolutionary for it aims to critique, change, and even destroy institutions, disciplines and professions that rationalize exploitation, inequality and injustice. (reported in Olsen & Worsham, 2003, p. 13)
This examination of the higher education landscape now shifts to consider the relationship between the university and the teaching profession. The intention of this chapter is to…
Abstract
This examination of the higher education landscape now shifts to consider the relationship between the university and the teaching profession. The intention of this chapter is to focus on pre-service teacher education to examine how professional identity and university curriculum have become managed. This chapter will introduce the conception of the scholarly blind eye to illustrate how performativity works in the modernised university and three central arguments are forwarded. Firstly, that pre-service teacher education programs are increasingly managed from outside the university. Secondly, that this represents a significant change to higher education. And thirdly, that higher education is contributing to the reworking of teacher identity.
Bo Wang, Fengshun Wu, Yiping Wu, Hui Liu, Longzao Zhou and Yuebo Fang
The purpose of this paper is to investigate the effect of stand‐off height (SOH) on the microstructure and mechanical behaviour of the solder joints in high density…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to investigate the effect of stand‐off height (SOH) on the microstructure and mechanical behaviour of the solder joints in high density interconnection.
Design/methodology/approach
Cu/Sn/Cu solder joints with 100, 50, 20 and 10 μm SOH are prepared using a reflow process. The microstructures and compositions of solder joints are observed and analyzed by scanning electron microscopy. Tensile testing is carried out to investigate the mechanical properties of the solder joints.
Findings
The SOH has a significant effect on the microstructure and mechanical behaviour of Cu/Sn/Cu solder joints. The thickness of the intermetallic compound (IMC) decreases with the reducing SOH; however, their corresponding IMC proportion increases. Meanwhile, the Cu concentration in the solder bulk experiences a marked increase, and the dissolved Cu exists in the forms of a solid solution and Cu‐rich particles at the grain boundary. Because of the higher strain rate and more dissolved Cu in the solder bulk with the reducing SOH, the ultimate tensile strength of solder joints is enhanced. When the SOH reduces to 10 μm, there is only one grain in height in the bulk, and a fracture in the IMC layer occurs. According to the mass balance of substance, a model is established to semi‐quantitatively calculate the consumed Cu thickness, and it is found that the consumed Cu thickness decreases with the reducing SOH.
Originality/value
The paper offers insights into the microstructural and mechanical property changes of the solder joints with the reducing SOH.
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Wenzhen Bi, Guokui Ju, Fei Lin, Shifang Xie and Xicheng Wei
In a previous study, the authors proposed a new low‐silver solder alloy Sn‐ x(1.0, 1.5, 2.0)Ag‐0.3Cu‐3.0Bi‐0.05Er (wt.%) (SACBE) and the purpose of this paper is to provide…
Abstract
Purpose
In a previous study, the authors proposed a new low‐silver solder alloy Sn‐ x(1.0, 1.5, 2.0)Ag‐0.3Cu‐3.0Bi‐0.05Er (wt.%) (SACBE) and the purpose of this paper is to provide additional useful information for new solder alloy development. The growth behaviour of the interfacial IMC layers for Cu/SACBE/Cu and Cu/SAC/Cu joints and their bonding strengths after thermal aging at 150°C for 0, 24, 168 and 500 hours are investigated and the effects of adding elemental Bi and Er on the growth of interfacial IMC layers in the joints, and their tensile properties, are characterized and discussed.
Design/methodology/approach
The tensile properties of the Cu/Sn‐3.0Ag‐0.5Cu/Cu (Cu/SAC/Cu) and Cu/SACBE/Cu joints during thermal aging at 150°C for 0, 24, 168 and 500 hours were investigated, respectively. The thickness of interfacial IMC layer and the fracture surface of solder joint after isothermal aging were observed and analyzed by means of scanning electron micrograph (SEM) equipped with an energy dispersive spectroscopy X‐ray (EDX) analysis system.
Findings
It was found that the thickness of the IMC layer at the interface of a Cu/SACBE/Cu joint was remarkably thinner than that of a Cu/SAC/Cu joint. The addition of Bi and Er could significantly improve the tensile properties of the solder joint and enhance its resistance to high temperature aging. A mixture of ductile and brittle fracture mode was observed after tensile testing in the Cu/SACBE/Cu joints.
Originality/value
The paper implies that the addition of Bi and Er could complement effectively the effects of Ag, thereby reducing the cost of solder. The low‐silver SACBE solder is a potential alloy for electronic packaging production.
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Kamil Janeczek, Małgorzata Jakubowska, Grażyna Kozioł and Anna Młożniak
The purpose of this paper is to examine electrical and mechanical properties of radio frequency identification (RFID) chip joints assembled on a flexible substrate and made from…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to examine electrical and mechanical properties of radio frequency identification (RFID) chip joints assembled on a flexible substrate and made from isotropic conductive adhesives (ICAs) reinforced with graphene nanoplatelets (GPNs) or graphite nanofibers (GFNs).
Design/methodology/approach
The ICAs reinforced with GPNs or GFNs were prepared and screen printed on a test pattern to investigate resistance and thickness of these adhesive layers. Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) was performed to assess a curing behaviour of the prepared ICAs. Then, RFID chips were mounted with the prepared ICAs to the pattern of silver tracks prepared on foil. Shear test was carried out to evaluate mechanical durability of the created chip joints, and resistance measurements were carried out to evaluate electrical properties of the tested ICAs.
Findings
The 0.5 per cent (by weight) addition of GFNs or GPNs to the ICA improved shear force values of the assembled RFID chip joints, whereas resistance of these modified adhesives increased. The DSC analysis showed that a processing temperature of the tested adhesives may range from 80 to 170°C with different curing times. It revealed a crucial influence of curing time and temperature on electrical and mechanical properties of the tested chip joints. When the chip pads were cured for too long (i.e. 60 minutes), it resulted in a resistance increase and shear force decrease of the chip joints. In turn, the increase of curing temperature from 80 to 120°C entailed improvement of electrical and mechanical properties of the assembled chips. It was also found that a failure location changed from the chip – adhesive interface towards the adhesive – substrate one when the curing temperature and time were increased.
Research limitations/implications
Further investigations are required to examine changes thoroughly in the adhesive reinforced with GFNs after a growth of curing time. It could also be worth studying electrical and mechanical properties of the conductive adhesive with a different amount of GFNs or GPNs.
Practical implications
The tested conductive adhesive reinforced with GFNs or GPNs can be applied in the production of RFID tags because it may enhance the mechanical properties of tags fabricated on flexible substrates.
Originality/value
Influence of GFNs and GPNs on the electrical and mechanical properties of commercial ICAs was investigated. These properties were also examined depending on a curing time and temperature. New conductive materials were proposed and tested for a chip assembly process in fabrication of RFID tags on flexible substrates.
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Liang Zhang, Song‐bai Xue, Li‐li Gao, Zhong Sheng, Wei Dai, Feng Ji, Huan Ye, Yan Chen and Sheng‐lin Yu
The purpose of this paper is to explore the formation and growth mechanism of bulk Cu6Sn5 intermetallic compounds, selecting Sn‐Ag‐Cu‐Ce solders as specimens.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to explore the formation and growth mechanism of bulk Cu6Sn5 intermetallic compounds, selecting Sn‐Ag‐Cu‐Ce solders as specimens.
Design/methodology/approach
In order to further enhance the properties of SnAgCu solder, trace amount of rare earth Ce was selected as alloying addition into the alloy; in previous investigations, the enhancements include better wettability, physical properties, creep strength and tensile strength. In this paper, the microstructure of Sn‐Ag‐Cu‐Ce soldered joints and its interfacial intermetallic compounds were investigated. Moreover, different morphologies of Cu6Sn5 IMCs were enumerated and described, and Ostwald ripening theory was employed to interpret the formation mechanism of bulk Cu6Sn5 IMCs.
Findings
In addition, based on finite element simulation, it is found that the von Mises stress concentrate around the bulk Cu6Sn5 IMCs inside the Sn‐Ag‐Cu‐Ce soldered joints after three thermal cycling loading (−55‐125°C). From the stress distribution, the failure site was predicted to fracture near the bulk Cu6Sn5 IMCs interface. This coincides with the experimental findings significantly.
Originality/value
The results presented in this paper may provide a theory guide for developing novel lead‐free solders as well as reliability investigation of lead‐free soldered joints.
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Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to identify the solder joint with optimal mechanical properties among Cu/Sn/Cu, Ni/Sn/Ni and Cu/Sn/Ni solder joints.
Design/methodology/approach
Solder joints with the same specimen shape were prepared by reflow. The microstructures were observed and analyzed by scanning electron microscopy and tensile testing was carried out to investigate the mechanical properties.
Findings
The mechanical properties of solder joint correlate closely with the intermetallic compounds (IMC) layer structure and the dissociative IMC particles in the solder bulk. Under the influence of the opposite Cu bar, the Cu/Sn/Ni has a duplex IMC layer structure at the Ni side, involving a thin Ni‐Cu‐Sn IMC layer and a faceted (Cu,Ni)6Sn5 layer. The mechanical connection of the duplex IMC layers is weak due to the pores in the layers. The Cu/Sn/Ni fractures in the IMC layers in a brittle mode under tensile testing. Comparatively, the Ni/Sn/Ni also has duplex Ni3Sn4 layers, and they connect firmly with each other. The tensile fracture of the Ni/Sn/Ni occurs in the solder bulk in a ductile mode, as well as for the Cu/Sn/Cu. Compared with the Cu/Sn/Cu solder bulk, the solder bulk of the Ni/Sn/Ni and the Cu/Sn/Ni have higher ultimate tensile strengths, because the strengthening effect of the dissociative Ni3Sn4 and (Cu,Ni)6Sn5 particles on the solder bulk is stronger than that of the Cu6Sn5 particles. Among Cu/Sn/Cu, Ni/Sn/Ni and Cu/Sn/Ni, Ni/Sn/Ni has the optimal mechanical properties.
Originality/value
The paper offers insights into the significant influence of base material matching on the microstructure and mechanical properties of solder joints.
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