Properties and structure of AlSiN and AlSiON films
Magneto-optical disks employ rare earth-transition metal amorphous alloy films (RE-TM films) as recording films, therefore improvement of the corrosion resistance of such disks is an important problem which must be resolved to enable practical application. Development of protective layers for magneto-optical disks is important to improving corrosion resistance. Such protective layers must offer excellent protective performance, and must also have a large refractive index in order that a large Kerr effect enhancement be obtained. AlSiN and AlSiON films are being developed for use as protective films meeting these requirements. However, as yet not much is known about the structure, bonding states, and relation between composition and refractive index of such films. This article reports on the refractive indices, structures, and bonding states of AlSiN and AlSiON sputtered films.
Direct-contact type image sensors using a novel amorphous-silicon photodiode array
A novel type of amorphous-silicon (a-Si:H) photodiode array for direct-contact type (lens-less) line image sensors was developed. A U-shaped top ITO (tin-doped indium oxide) contact and a rectangular a-Si:H window resolves the accumulation of dust from the documents at the steps of the light window. Semi-insulating Al-Si-N and insulating SiN/sub X/ stacked films are successfully applied to the surface protection layer to prevent a charge buildup by friction with documents.<<ETX>>
EFFECT OF SAMPLE PREPARATION ON WATER TREE RESISTANCE OF XLPE/SEBS BLENDS
The effects of an aromatic polymer, such as poly[styrene-b-(ethylene-co-butylene)b-styrene] (SEBS), and its preparation processes on water tree resistance, morphology, crystallinity, dielectric constant and dielectric loss tangent of crosslinked polyethylene (XLPE)/SEBS and XLPE/SEBS/ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) blends were investigated. The XLPE/SEBS samples were characterized by means of differential scanning calorimetry, scanning electron microscopy, dielectric spectral analysis and the accelerated water treeing experiment. The results clearly showed that although SEBS was partially compatible with LDPE and it was dispersed evenly in XLPE matrix, the blends demonstrated excellent dielectric performances, such as dielectric constant and dissipation factor. The crystallinity of XLPE/SEBS blends was decreased with increase in SEBS content and it was further decreased with the addition of EVA. SEBS could effectively improve the water-tree resistance of XLPE and both SEBS and EVA were found to improve the water tree resistance of XLPE synergistically as expected. The differences in sample preparation processes could change the phase morphology and dielectric performance of the blends, and could also influence the dispersion of SEBS in XLPE matrix as well as the crystallinity of the blends. Different preparation processes led to different water tree resistance behaviours of the samples. The improvement of SEBS dispersion in XLPE matrix helped to improve the water tree resistance of XLPE.