Here is what we are hearing:
Kyocera introduces environmentally friendly epoxy molding compound for semiconductor encapsulation
Kyocera Industrial Ceramics Corp., Chemical Sales Division, announced the introduction of its new environmentally friendly XKE-G5633 Epoxy Molding Compound. This room-temperature EMC offers an extended shelf life of up to three months, thus improving the cost of operation for manufacturers. The compound is ideal for encapsulating both ball-grid array and land-grid array semiconductor packages, offering the same high-quality encapsulation and connectivity as similar compounds that must be stored in a frozen state. Kyocera’s product, however, is stored at room temperature and ready for immediate use at all times, providing customers more flexibility in production planning and eliminating the downtime caused by traditional EMC thawing. With an extended shelf-life of three months at room temperature, Kyocera’s XKE-G5633 will help customers prevent material losses due to the significantly shorter shelf life of typical EMC products.
New AVS sinter HIP available for immediate shipment
AVS Inc has nearly completed a four-cubic-foot Sinter HIP furnace for tungsten carbide debinding and sintering. This furnace is rated for 1,650°C, 100 bar (1,500psig), with vacuum pump package, two-stage de-wax system, hydrogen burn-off capability and a full ACE control system. The retort is 12 inches wide x a bit over 14″ high from the rollers to the roof x 50″ door to door. The four-cubic-feet of effective working volume is specified as 11″ wide x 13″ high x 48″ deep, with capacity for 250 kg of tungsten carbide. The vessel is CE marked and has been built to PED European pressure vessel requirements. The pressure vessel is also capable of meeting Chinese Pressure Vessel Code. The power supply can operate at 380 V 50 Hz or at 480 V 60 Hz.
Marty Curran named Corning innovation officer
Corning Inc. announced that its board of directors has elected Martin J. Curran to the position of senior vice president and innovation officer, a new position in the company, effective Aug. 1, 2012. Curran, 53, will report to both Wendell P. Weeks, chairman, chief executive officer and president, and David L. Morse, executive vice president and chief technology officer. Most recently, Curran served as senior vice president and general manager, Corning Optical Fiber. In his new role, Curran will be responsible for leading an entrepreneurial-focused organization that will operate across all business segments to identify and develop near-term revenue opportunities. A key responsibility will be streamlining the innovation process and creating faster product development and speed-to-market.
Harper chosen by Allomet Corp. for advanced rotary furnace for unique metal powder processing
Harper International, a world leader in thermal processing solutions for advanced materials, has been selected by Allomet Corp. for the design of a new continuous rotary furnace for the production of specialty composite metal powders. The system is engineered to drive increased throughput of Allomet’s material by many multiples over previous batch systems, significantly improving their operations via increased productivity, shorter delivery lead-times, and reduced production costs. Allomet made their selection after several process evaluation sessions at Harper’s Technology Research Center, where Harper’s experts supported the fine tuning of their carburization process. The results yielded an optimized system design, and will provide an increase in output efficiency that supports Allomet’s continuing production volume growth while minimizing new capital investment.
Laeis: Positive response on TEAM Day 2012
The TEAM Day 2012 took place on May 21, 2012, in Munich, accompanying the Ceramitec exhibition. About 100 participants from 10 countries accepted the invitation from Laeis, Alpha Ceramics, Riedhammer and Sama. The organizing companies were able to acquire top-class authors from industry and research for an interesting lecture program. After the opening speech of Pietro Cassani, General Manager of SACMI, Imola (Italy), Jon Binner, University Loughbourough (UK), gave a comprehensive overview on chances and challenges in the field of advanced ceramics seen from a European point of view. Marco Reinger, Industriekeramik Hochrhein (Ger) reported on high-quality powder for advanced ceramics and João Calado, Innovnano (P), introduced the “Emulsion Detonation Synthesis,” a new and very flexible method to produce nanoscale ceramic powder. The lecture of Rolf Wagner, H.C. Starck (Ger), illustrated by numerous examples, on the properties and applications of silicon nitride was followed by a presentation of Keith Leackfeld, GE (US) on the Durathon Battery, giving an outline on the production process in a new plant.
Powder Processing & Technology makes investments to support growth
The company believes that this is an exciting time to be in the materials business and PPT is investing to support new clients and the growth associated with existing customers. In the last 12 months PPT has added the following capability: two rotary indirect calciners; one stainless steel double cone blender; a new powder production facility; a wet ball milling system (alumina); a new blending facility; a shuttle kiln; a particle size analyzer; and new dust-control equipment.