Abstract: The present invention aims at providing a power module and a lead frame for the power module which can enhance adhesion between a heat sink and an insulating resin sheet while maintaining heat radiation properties. The power module includes: the lead frame including a conductor plate formed from Cu or a Cu alloy, and an Al film formed at least on the other side, opposite to one side on which to mount a semiconductor device, of the conductor plate; the semiconductor device mounted on the one side of the conductor plate; a sealing resin which seals at least the semiconductor device and the conductor plate; and an insulating resin sheet adhered to the conductor plate through the Al film therebetween.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for estimating, within a short time, the life of a cable insulating coating material containing an antioxidant in a suitable concentration based on the rate of decrease of the antioxidant and on the critical concentration of the antioxidant at which oxidative degradation rapidly proceeds. The method tests the coating material to examine its life, the coating material including a base polymer, and an antioxidant having a functional group suppressing an oxidative deteriorative reaction of the base polymer. The method includes performing a thermal degradation test on the coating material; determining the degradation levels and degradation rates of the coating material at two or more time points in the thermal degradation test, based on the ratio of the absorbance of the functional group of the antioxidant to the absorbance of the base polymer; and thereby evaluating the life of the coating material.

Abstract: The present invention aims at providing a power module and a lead frame for the power module which can enhance adhesion between a heat sink and an insulating resin sheet while maintaining heat radiation properties. The power module includes: the lead frame including a conductor plate formed from Cu or a Cu alloy, and an Al film formed at least on the other side, opposite to one side on which to mount a semiconductor device, of the conductor plate; the semiconductor device mounted on the one side of the conductor plate; a sealing resin which seals at least the semiconductor device and the conductor plate; and an insulating resin sheet adhered to the conductor plate through the Al film therebetween.

Abstract: The present invention allows simple and sensitive detection of microimpurities, microdefects, and corrosion starting points which may be present in a material. A probe microscope has a function to sense ions diffused from a specimen in a liquid. A probe is caused to scan over a predetermined range on a specimen. Then, the probe is fixed to a particular position in a liquid so as to set the distance between the specimen and the probe to a given value at which the microstructure of the specimen surface cannot be observed. Thereafter, one of the current between the probe and a counter electrode and the potential between the probe and a reference electrode is controlled, and the other of the current and potential which varies in accordance with the control is measured. Thus, ions diffused from the specimen are sensed.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for estimating, within a short time, the life of a cable insulating coating material containing an antioxidant in a suitable concentration based on the rate of decrease of the antioxidant and on the critical concentration of the antioxidant at which oxidative degradation rapidly proceeds. The method tests the coating material to examine its life, the coating material including a base polymer, and an antioxidant having a functional group suppressing an oxidative deteriorative reaction of the base polymer. The method includes performing a thermal degradation test on the coating material; determining the degradation levels and degradation rates of the coating material at two or more time points in the thermal degradation test, based on the ratio of the absorbance of the functional group of the antioxidant to the absorbance of the base polymer; and thereby evaluating the life of the coating material.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a probe microscope that permits qualitative and quantitative evaluation on ions existing near the surface of a sample and permits to detect further simply and easily such as impurities, flaws and corrosion origins existing on the sample in high sensitivity. A probe microscope according to the present invention is provided with a test cell that holds a sample and permits to receive liquid, a probe, a counter electrode, a reference electrode, a drive mechanism that causes the probe to follow the surface of the sample as well as to scan the same, a potential control portion that controls a potential between the probe and the reference electrode and a current measuring portion that measures a current flowing between the probe and the counter electrode, and is characterized in that the material of the probe is constituted by a conductive body containing any of gold or gold alloy, carbon or carbon compound, boron, zinc, lead, tin and mercury.

Abstract: The present invention allows simple and sensitive detection of microimpurities, microdefects, and corrosion starting points which may be present in a material. A probe microscope has a function to sense ions diffused from a specimen in a liquid. A probe is caused to scan over a predetermined range on a specimen. Then, the probe is fixed to a particular position in a liquid so as to set the distance between the specimen and the probe to a given value at which the microstructure of the specimen surface cannot be observed. Thereafter, one of the current between the probe and a counter electrode and the potential between the probe and a reference electrode is controlled, and the other of the current and potential which varies in accordance with the control is measured. Thus, ions diffused from the specimen are sensed.