Iowa State University Research Foundation Inc

U.S. Department of Energy

Research Triangle Institute

Joel Lee Harringa

Bruce Allan Cook

Alan Mark Russell

Iver E Anderson

Adam J Boesenberg

Rama Venkatasubramanian

Joel R Rieken

Alan Paul Constant

Yun Tian

Atiq Ahmed

Palaniappa A Molian

Dave Byrd

S Bulent Biner

Evgenii M Levin

Justin S Peters

Bruce Allen Cook

A solder alloy includes Sn, optional Ag, Cu, and Al wherein the alloy composition is controlled to provide a strong, impact-and thermal aging-resistant solder joint that has beneficial microstructural features and is substantially devoid of AgSn blades.

Pb-free Sn&#x2014;Ag&#x2014;Cu&#x2014;Al or Sn&#x2014;Cu&#x2014;Al solder

The present invention relates to CuAlalloys and CuAl-based bulk alloys and coatings that exhibit significantly increased hardness characteristics compared to traditional copper-aluminum alloys.

Hard and super-hard metal alloys and methods for making the same

A thermoelectric material and a thermoelectric converter using this material. The thermoelectric material has a first component including a semiconductor material and a second component including a rare earth material included in the first component to thereby increase a figure of merit of a composite of the semiconductor material and the rare earth material relative to a figure of merit of the semiconductor material. The thermoelectric converter has a p-type thermoelectric material and a n-type thermoelectric material. At least one of the p-type thermoelectric material and the n-type thermoelectric material includes a rare earth material in at least one of the p-type thermoelectric material or the n-type thermoelectric material.

Rare earth-doped materials with enhanced thermoelectric figure of merit

A highly wear resistant sintered, hot pressed, or otherwise compacted ceramic composite material is described, consisting of two discrete phases of the form AlMgBwhere x and y &#x2266;1 or like hard, orthorhombic compounds, and TiBor like Group IVB transition metal di-borides, and with an unexpectedly high content of transition metal di-boride in the range from 40 to 90 percent (28 to 85 volume percent).

Wear-resistant boride composites with high percentage of reinforcement phase

Performance and reliability of microelectromechanical system (MEMS) components enhanced dramatically through the incorporation of protective thin film coatings. Current-generation MEMS devices prepared by the LIGA technique employ transition metals such as Ni, Cu, Fe, or alloys thereof, and hence lack stability in oxidizing, corrosive, and/or high temperature environments. Fabrication of a superhard, self-lubricating coating based on a ternary boride compound AlMgBis described in this letter as a potential breakthrough in protective coating technology for LIGA microdevices. Nanoindentation tests show that hardness of AlMgBfilms prepared by pulsed laser deposition ranges from 45 GPa to 51 GPa, when deposited at room temperature and 573 K, respectively. Extremely low friction coefficients of 0.04-0.05, which are thought to result from a self-lubricating effect, have also been confirmed by nanoscratch tests on the AlMgBfilms. Transmission electron microscopy studies show that the as-deposited films are amorphous, regardless of substrate temperature; however, analysis of FTIR spectra suggests that the higher substrate temperature facilitates formation of the Bicosahedral framework, therefore leading to the higher hardness.

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A composite of M/AlMgBor M alloy/AlMgBis synthesized, where M=Al, Ti, W, or Cu. Small particles and/or fibers of AlMgBare distributed throughout a metal matrix to strengthen the resulting composite.

Ultra-hard boride-based metal matrix reinforcement

This invention relates to a ductile binder phase for use with AlMgBand other hard materials. The ductile binder phase, a cobalt-manganese alloy, is used in appropriate quantities to tailor good hardness and reasonable fracture toughness for hard materials so they can be used suitably in industrial machining and grinding applications.

Ductile binder phase for use with A1MgB14 and other hard materials

A ceramic material which is an orthorhombic boride of the general formula: AlMgB :X, with X being a doping agent. The ceramic is a superabrasive, and in most instances provides a hardness of 40 GPa or greater.

Superabrasive boride and a method of preparing the same by mechanical alloying and hot pressing

A ceramic material which is an orthorhombic boride of the general formula: AlMgB.sub.14 :X, with X being a doping agent. The ceramic is a superabrasive, and in most instances provides a hardness of 40 GPa or greater.

Growing community of inventors

Ames, IA, United States of America

Joel Lee Harringa