New Type of Fatigue Discovered in Silicon

jmke · 4th December 2007, 13:47

Researchers at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) have discovered a phenomenon long thought not to exist. They have demonstrated a mechanical fatigue process that eventually leads to cracks and breakdown in bulk silicon crystals. Silicon — the backbone of the semiconductor industry — has long been believed to be immune to fatigue from cyclic stresses because of the nature of its crystal structure and chemical bonds. However, NIST examination of the silicon used in microscopic systems that incorporate tiny gears, vibrating reeds and other mechanical features reveals stress-induced cracks that can lead to failure. This has important implications for the design of new silicon-based micro-electromechanical system (MEMS) devices that have been proposed for a wide variety of uses.

http://hardware.slashdot.org/article.../11/28/2046256

4th December 2007, 17:09

Note to self: don't drop anymore CPUs.

4th December 2007, 21:12

good excuse for those buying new cpu's every 6 months

we don't want 'the fatigue' to kick in

4th December 2007, 13:47	#1
jmke Madshrimp Join Date: May 2002 Location: 7090/Belgium Posts: 79,021	New Type of Fatigue Discovered in Silicon Researchers at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) have discovered a phenomenon long thought not to exist. They have demonstrated a mechanical fatigue process that eventually leads to cracks and breakdown in bulk silicon crystals. Silicon — the backbone of the semiconductor industry — has long been believed to be immune to fatigue from cyclic stresses because of the nature of its crystal structure and chemical bonds. However, NIST examination of the silicon used in microscopic systems that incorporate tiny gears, vibrating reeds and other mechanical features reveals stress-induced cracks that can lead to failure. This has important implications for the design of new silicon-based micro-electromechanical system (MEMS) devices that have been proposed for a wide variety of uses. http://hardware.slashdot.org/article.../11/28/2046256 __________________

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4th December 2007, 17:09	#2
Kougar Posts: n/a	Note to self: don't drop anymore CPUs.

4th December 2007, 21:12	#3
Jaco Posts: n/a	good excuse for those buying new cpu's every 6 months we don't want 'the fatigue' to kick in