Abstract: A mass spectrometer system includes a chamber configured to receive a sample; a gas source coupled to the chamber for delivering a gas across the sample; and a desorption energy source configured to desorb a contaminant from a test area of the sample. The system may also include a mass spectrometer including a vacuum source, an ion source, a mass analyzer and a detector, and a capillary transfer line operatively coupled to the chamber and the mass spectrometer and configured to deliver desorbed volatiles of the contaminant from the test area to the mass spectrometer, the capillary transfer line having an intake proximal the test area. A method of identifying a contaminant is also disclosed.

Abstract: A tin-based solder melt or aqueous tin plating bath composition comprising a source of tin and a stabilizing additive of chemical structure: wherein R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6, R7, R8, R9, and R10 are independently selected from hydrogen atom, hydrocarbon groups R having at least one and up to twelve carbon atoms, groups OR? wherein R? is selected from hydrogen atom and hydrocarbon groups R, and halogen atoms, and wherein any two, three, or four of R1, R2, R3, R4, and R5 or any two, three, or four of R6, R7, R8, R9, and R10 are optionally interconnected to form a fused ring system; R11 and R12 are independently selected from hydrogen atom and hydrocarbon groups R; and r is either 0 or 1. Methods for coating and/or bonding metal substrates by use of the above-described solder compositions are also described.

Abstract: A method of testing the cleanability of polymerized sublimate outgassed from a lithography material during a thermal heating process including; placing a wafer on a wafer hotplate inside a chamber with the wafer being covered by a lithography material; placing a target, having a starting composition, above the wafer in the chamber; heating the wafer using the wafer hotplate in an attempt to outgas a sublimate, where the sublimate condenses on the target; forming a polymerized sublimate on the target; and applying organic solvents to the target to determine the cleanability of the polymerized sublimate.

Abstract: A tin-based solder melt or aqueous tin plating bath composition comprising a source of tin and a stabilizing additive of chemical structure: wherein R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6, R7, R8, R9, and R10 are independently selected from hydrogen atom, hydrocarbon groups R having at least one and up to twelve carbon atoms, groups OR? wherein R? is selected from hydrogen atom and hydrocarbon groups R, and halogen atoms, and wherein any two, three, or four of R1, R2, R3, R4, and R5 or any two, three, or four of R6, R7, R8, R9, and R10 are optionally interconnected to form a fused ring system; R11 and R12 are independently selected from hydrogen atom and hydrocarbon groups R; and r is either 0 or 1. Methods for coating and/or bonding metal substrates by use of the above-described solder compositions are also described.

Abstract: A method of testing the cleanability of polymerized sublimate outgassed from a lithography material during a thermal heating process including; placing a wafer on a wafer hotplate inside a chamber with the wafer being covered by a lithography material; placing a target, having a starting composition, above the wafer in the chamber; heating the wafer using the wafer hotplate in an attempt to outgas a sublimate, where the sublimate condenses on the target; forming a polymerized sublimate on the target; and applying organic solvents to the target to determine the cleanability of the polymerized sublimate.

Abstract: Methods for forming a dense dielectric layer over the surface of an opening in a porous inter-layer dielectric having an ultra-low dielectric constant are disclosed. The disclosure provides methods for exposing the sidewall surface and the bottom surface of the opening to a plurality of substantially parallel ultra-violet (UV) radiation rays to form a dense dielectric layer having a substantially uniform thickness over both the sidewall surface and the bottom surface.

Abstract: Liquid compositions containing a specific hindered phenol or a hindered phenol in combination with an aromatic phosphite are provided which are used as a thermal interface between a heatsink and a chip during a test procedure for electronic components which compositions enhance the thermal conductivity between the heatsink and the chip, are easily removed from the heatsink and the chip after the test procedure without any deleterious residue and which allow the use of high temperatures for extended periods during the test procedure without any significant degradation of the composition. A method for using the compositions in electronic component test procedures such as burn-in procedures is also provided.

Abstract: A liquid thermal interface (LTI) including a mixture of a linearly structured polymer doped with crosslinked networks and related method are presented. The LTI exhibits reduced liquid polymer macromolecule mobility, and thus increased surface tension. An embodiment of the method includes mixing a crosslinker with a linearly structured polymer to form a mixture, wherein the crosslinker includes a base agent including a vinyl-terminated or branched polydimethylsiloxane, and a curing agent including a hydrogen-terminated polydimethylsiloxane; and curing the mixture. The crosslinker functions as cages to block linear or branched linear macromolecules and prevents them from sliding into each other, thus increasing surface tension of the resulting LTI.

Abstract: Methods for forming a dense dielectric layer over the surface of an opening in a porous inter-layer dielectric having an ultra-low dielectric constant are disclosed. The disclosure provides methods for exposing the sidewall surface and the bottom surface of the opening to a plurality of substantially parallel ultra-violet (UV) radiation rays to form a dense dielectric layer having a substantially uniform thickness over both the sidewall surface and the bottom surface.

Abstract: A liquid thermal interface (LTI) including a mixture of a linearly structured polymer doped with crosslinked networks and related method are presented. The LTI exhibits reduced liquid polymer macromolecule mobility, and thus increased surface tension. An embodiment of the method includes mixing a crosslinker with a linearly structured polymer to form a mixture, wherein the crosslinker includes a base agent including a vinyl-terminated or branched polydimethylsiloxane, and a curing agent including a hydrogen-terminated polydimethylsiloxane; and curing the mixture. The crosslinker functions as cages to block linear or branched linear macromolecules and prevents them from sliding into each other, thus increasing surface tension of the resulting LTI.

Abstract: Methods for forming a dense dielectric layer over the surface of an opening in a porous inter-layer dielectric having an ultra-low dielectric constant are disclosed. The disclosure provides methods for exposing the sidewall surface and the bottom surface of the opening to a plurality of substantially parallel ultra-violet (UV) radiation rays to form a dense dielectric layer having a substantially uniform thickness over both the sidewall surface and the bottom surface.

Abstract: Real-time analysis of output volatiles upon UV exposure is achieved using a laboratory scale apparatus. The methods and apparatus use external or internal radiation sources, especially broad band external UV radiation. The apparatus and methods of the invention are especially useful in the analysis and screening of photoresist materials. The apparatus preferably uses FTIR or MS analysis.

Abstract: The present invention discloses chip (die) bond adhesive formulations preferably comprising a siloxane containing epoxide preferably a diglycidyl ether derivative, an anhydride curing additive which is soluble in the epoxide without the use of a solvent, and, optionally comprising, and oligomeric/polymeric co-additive of the type poly(alkylacrylate or -methacrylate), in conjunction with thermal and electrically conductive fillers and conventional co-catalysts used for curing epoxy systems to provide reworkable epoxy adhesives. Also disclosed are adhesive formulations comprising a siloxane containing epoxide and a hydroxybenzophenone curing additive which is soluble in the epoxide without the use of a solvent. The chips can be bonded to the substrate by conventional heating and curing techniques. With epoxy adhesive compositions comprising polyacrylate additives, the die bonded assembly can be reworked by heating the assembly to about 180.degree. C. to 250.degree. C.

Abstract: A malleable penile prosthesis adapted to be implanted in a corpus cavemosum of a penis comprising an elongated core which is bendable about its longitudinal axis with the capability of holding the configuration to which it is bent and is substantially rigid when in the unbent straight configuration, a sleeve of braided biocompatible material, having an inner surface and an outer surface, enveloping the core with the inner surface of the sleeve in contact with the core and the sleeve and core being accommodated within an outer tube of elastomeric material, which tube has a substantially rounded smooth outer surface and an inner surface having a profile formed of alternate grooves and ribs in a substantially helical arrangement. A method of forming a malleable prosthesis is also disclosed.

Abstract: A malleable penile prosthesis adapted to be implanted in a corpus cavernosum of a penis comprising an elongated core which is bendable about its longitudinal axis with the capability of holding the configuration to which it is bent and is substantially rigid when in the unbent straight configuration, a sleeve of braided biocompatible material, having an inner surface and an outer surface, enveloping the core with the inner surface of the sleeve in contact with the core and the sleeve and core being accommodated within an outer tube of elastomeric material, which tube has a substantially rounded smooth outer surface and an inner surface having a profile formed of alternate grooves and ribs in a substantially helical arrangement. A method of forming a malleable prosthesis is also disclosed.

Abstract: An interface linking a mass spectrometer (MS) to a thermogravitational analyzer (TGA) for adjusting the concentration of volatiles entering the MS. The interface is preferably a capillary column provided with a dilution chamber having a inlet for gas insertion, with one end of the chamber connected to the TGA and the other to the capillary column having its other end directly attached to the MS. In a second embodiment, the interface bypasses the dilution chamber, and is made of a glass tubing protected by a stainless steel tubing, in turn surrounded by a temperature programmable sheath heater.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for mixing and dispensing chemical solutions are disclosed. The blending unit (11) includes a manifold (38) having a plurality of chemical inlet ports (39), a water inlet port (45), and an outlet port (46). A plurality of pumps (43) and valves (41) are associated with the chemical inlet ports (39). The outlet port (46) is connected to dispensing outlets (25, 29) for dispensing the chemical solutions and water into a container 16. The apparatus (10) also includes a quality control systems, including a conductivity cell (50), a weight measurement station (26), and a volume flow measurement device. The apparatus (10) also includes an electronic control unit (70) associated with the pumps (43) and valves (41) to operate them in response to a pre-selected volume, sequential combination and concentration of chemicals.

Abstract: The use of silicon-containing polyimide as an oxygen etch barrier in a metal lift-off process and as an oxygen etch stop in the fabrication of multi-layer metal structures is described. In practice, a lift-off layer is applied on a substrate, followed by a layer of silicon-containing polyimide and a layer of photoresist. The photoresist is lithographically patterned, and the developed image is transferred into the silicon-containing polyimide layer with a reactive ion etch using a CF.sub.4 /O.sub.2 gas mixture. The pattern is transferred to the lift-off layer in a reactive ion etch process using oxygen. Subsequent blanket metal evaporation followed by removal of the lift-off stencil results in the desired metal pattern on the substrate. In an alternate embodiment, the silicon-containing polyimide can be doped with a photoactive compound reducing the need for a separate photoresist imaging layer on the top.