Abstract:
The invention relates to a piston ring, having a base body, which comprises a running surface provided with a chamber, an upper and a lower flank surface, and an inner circumferential surface, wherein at least the chamber is provided with at least one wear protection layer, and a PVD cover layer is applied to the running surface at least in some regions such that the base body has the PVD cover layer only in the edge regions, which is to say outside of the chamber, in the finished state.
Abstract:
The wear-resistant ceramic coating is a coating formed with a first thin film nitride layer formed by laser nitriding and a second thin film layer of titanium nitride or other ceramic material formed by physical vapor deposition. For example, the coating may be formed on a Ti-6Al-4V alloy by first directing a CO2 laser beam towards the surface of the alloy while subjecting the surface to a flow of pressurized pure nitrogen. This process results in the formation of a first nitride layer approximately 80 microns in thickness by laser melting. The first layer is polished to a smooth surface. Then a thin film (about two micrometers) of titanium nitride is applied over the first layer by physical vapor deposition, e.g., by sputtering at 260° C. Similar coatings may be applied to other titanium alloys, such as Ti-5Al-2.5Fe, or to other metals, such as high-speed steel (HSS).
Abstract:
A flat steel product provided with a coating system, which in the coated state possesses an optimized combination of corrosion resistance and welding capacity, includes a base layer formed from a steel and a corrosion protection system applied onto the base layer. The corrosion protection system comprises a metallic coating less than 3.5 μm thick, formed from a first metallic layer applied onto the base layer and a second metallic layer applied onto the first metallic layer, wherein the second metallic layer has formed a metallic alloy with the first metallic layer. The corrosion protection system also comprises a plasma polymer layer applied onto the metallic coating.
Abstract:
A method is disclosed for making semiconductor films from a eutectic alloy comprising a metal and a semiconductor, which are vapor deposited at a fixed temperature on relatively inexpensive buffered substrates, such as glass. Such films could have widespread application in photovoltaic and display technologies.
Abstract:
A two step thin film deposition process is disclosed to provide for the simultaneous achievement of controlled stress and the achievement of preferred crystalline orientation in sputter-deposited thin films. In a preferred embodiment, a first relatively short deposition step is performed without substrate bias to establish the crystalline orientation of the deposited film followed by a second, typically relatively longer deposition step with an applied rf bias to provide for low or no stress conditions in the growing film. Sputter deposition without substrate bias has been found to provide good crystal orientation and can be influenced through the crystalline orientation of the underlying layers and through the introduction of intentionally oriented seed layers to promote preferred crystalline orientation. Conversely, sputter deposition with substrate bias has been found to provide a means for producing stress control in growing films.
Abstract:
A magnetic sensing element which allows a high reproduction output and reduction in asymmetry of reproduction waveform to become mutually compatible, as well as a method for manufacturing the same, is provided. In the inside of a second pinned magnetic layer and a free magnetic layer, the atomic percentage of an element Z is decreased in a region close to a non-magnetic material layer. Consequently, the ferromagnetic coupling magnetic field due to magnetostatic coupling (topological coupling) between the pinned magnetic layer and the free magnetic layer can be reduced. At the same time, in a region at a distance from the non-magnetic material layer, the atomic percentage of an element Z is increased, a spin-dependent bulk scattering coefficient is increased, and a product of the amount of change in magnetic resistance and the element area of the magnetic sensing element can be maintained at a high level.
Abstract:
Methods for making copper (Cu) interconnects in semiconductor devices for interconnect dimensions less than 50 nm are described. The processes form Cu interconnects using a sequence of barrier layer, liner layer, and Cu deposition layer depositions, followed by a thermally assisted Cu reflow of the Cu deposition layer, and then a chemical mechanical polish (CMP) to removed excess portions of the reflowed Cu. The liner layer comprises noble metals such as Ru, Ir, Os, Rh, Re, Pd, Pt, and Au. Such processes avoids the formation of voids in copper interconnects with dimensions less than 50 nm.
Abstract:
A method of forming a transparent optical film includes the step of forming an optical film that is transparent on a substrate by a reactive sputtering process using a Mg—Si metal target in an atmosphere into which a gas of a fluorine-containing compound is introduced and in which the total pressure is adjusted to 8 Pa or more.
Abstract:
A pressure sensor for use in a harsh environment including a substrate and a sensor die directly coupled to the substrate by a bond frame positioned between the substrate and the sensor die. The sensor die includes a generally flexible diaphragm configured to flex when exposed to a sufficient differential pressure thereacross. The sensor further includes a piezoelectric or piezoresistive sensing element at least partially located on the diaphragm such that the sensing element provides an electrical signal upon flexure of the diaphragm. The sensor also includes an connecting component electrically coupled to the sensing element at a connection location that is fluidly isolated from the diaphragm by the bond frame. The bond frame is made of materials and the connecting component is electrically coupled to the sensing element by the same materials of the bond frame.
Abstract:
A member (1) resistant to erosion by cavitation on which an amorphous carbon film coating is formed on a surface of a base material has at least a first amorphous carbon film coating (4) having a plurality of columnar structures (4a) on the surface of the base material (2), and a second amorphous carbon film coating (5) having a plurality of granular structures (5a) deposited with no orientation on the surface of the first amorphous carbon film coating (4).