CAREER: Determining Time and Temperature-Dependent Material Properties for Small Components: Integrated Education and Research

University Of Connecticut, Storrs CT

Investigators

Abstract

The ever-decreasing scale of electronic and micro-electro-mechanical devices (MEMS) indicate that material properties are needed in regimes which material length-scale effects cannot be ignored. As industry looks towards polymers and new soldering alloys, temperature-dependence and creep behavior is of primary concern. This program will perform novel rate- and temperate-dependent experiments on length-scales ranging from the sub-micron to macroscopic, and detailed mechanical modeling to establish the link between micro-tests and material properties. At the core of this integrated research and education plan is the development of novel test procedures that will be implemented into an existing nano-indentation facility. These micro-bend and micro-torsion tests will be developed within existing senior design and accelerated master's degree programs. These projects will expose students to the challenges of cutting-edge product development and research, and provide them with considerable technical skills not typically found in an undergraduate program.