Abstract: An interconnector line of thin film comprising 0.001 to 30 at % of at least one kind of a first element capable of constituting an intermetallic compound of aluminum and/or having a higher standard electrode potential than aluminum, for example, at least one kind of the first element selected from Y, Sc, La, Ce, Nd, Sm, Gd, Tb, Dy, Er, Th, Sr, Ti, Zr, V, Nb, Ta, Cr, Mo, W, Mn, Tc, Re, Fe, Co, Ni, Pd, Ir, Pt, Cu, Ag, Au, Cd, Si, Pb and B; and one kind of a second element selected from C, O, N and H in a proportion of 0.01 at ppm to 50 at % of the first element, with the balance comprising substantially Al. In addition to having low resistance, such an Al interconnector line of thin film can prevent the occurrence of hillocks and the electrochemical reaction with an ITO electrode. The interconnector line of thin film can be obtained by sputtering in a dust-free manner by using a sputter target having a similar composition.

Abstract: A refractory metal silicide target is characterized by comprising a fine mixed structure composed of MSi2 (where M: refractory metal) grains and Si grains, wherein the number of MSi2 grains independently existing in a cross section of 0.01 mm2 of the mixed structure is not greater than 15, the MSi2 grains have an average grain size not greater than 10 &mgr;m, whereas free Si grains existing in gaps of the MSi2 grains have a maximum grain size not greater than 20 &mgr;m. The target has a high density, high purity fine mixed structure with a uniform composition and contains a small amount of impurities such as oxygen etc. The employment of the target can reduce particles produced in sputtering, the change of a film resistance in a wafer and the impurities in a film and improve yield and reliability when semiconductors are manufactured.

Abstract: A refractory metal silicide target is characterized by comprising a fine mixed structure composed of MSi2 (where M: refractory metal) grains and Si grains, wherein the number of MSi2 grains independently existing in a cross section of 0.01 mm2 of the mixed structure is not greater than 15, the MSi2 grains have an average grain size not greater than 10 &mgr;m, whereas free Si grains existing in gaps of the MSi2 grains have a maximum grain size not greater than 20 &mgr;m. The target has a high density, high purity fine mixed structure with a uniform composition and contains a small amount of impurities such as oxygen etc. The employment of the target can reduce particles produced in sputtering, the change of a film resistance in a wafer and the impurities in a film and improve yield and reliability when semiconductors are manufactured.

Abstract: A Mo—W material for the formation of wirings is discloses which, as viewed integrally, comprises 20 to 95% of tungsten and the balance of molybdenum and inevitable impurities by atomic percentage. The Mo—W material for wirings is a product obtained by compounding and integrating a Mo material and a W material as by the powder metallurgy technique or the smelting technique or a product obtained by arranging these materials in amounts calculated to account for the percentage composition mentioned above. The Mo—W material containing W in a proportion in the range of from 20 to 95% manifests low resistance and, at the same time, excels in workability and tolerance for etchants. The wiring thin film which is formed of the Mo—W alloy of this percentage composition is used as address wirings and others for liquid crystal display devices.

Abstract: A method of determining whether a metal terminal including a conductor clamping section for clamping a wire thereto is satisfactorily connected to the wire or not, the method includes steps of: providing a first metal terminal including a first conductor clamping section for clamping a first wire thereto; calculating one of dimensional variation and a rate of a dimensional change of the first conductor clamping section in an axial direction of the first metal terminal are caused before and after clamping the first conductor clamping section; and preparing compressibility comparison data by calculating, from a section of the first conductor clamping section after clamping the first conductor clamping section, compressibility of the first wire with respect to the first conductor clamping section based on the one of the dimensional variation and the rate of the dimensional change.

Abstract: A Mo-W material for the formation of wirings is discloses which, as viewed integrally, comprises 20 to 95% of tungsten and the balance of molybdenum and inevitable impurities by atomic percentage. The Mo-W material for wirings is a product obtained by compounding and integrating a Mo material and a W material as by the powder metallurgy technique or the smelting technique or a product obtained by arranging these materials in amounts calculated to account for the percentage composition mentioned above. The Mo-W material containing W in a proportion in the range of from 20 to 95% manifests low resistance and, at the same time, excels in workability and tolerance for etchants. The wiring thin film which is formed of the Mo-W alloy of this percentage composition is used as address wirings and others for liquid crystal display devices.

Abstract: This is a highly purified metal comprising one metal selected from the group consisted of titanium, zirconium and hafnium. The highly purified metal has an Al content of not more than 10 ppm. It also has an oxygen content of more than 250 ppm, each of Fe, Ni and Cr contents not more than 10 ppm and each of Na and K contents not more than 0.1 ppm. The highly purified metal is obtained by either purifying crude metal by the iodide process or surface treating crude metal to remove a contaminated layer existing on the surface thereof and then melting The surface treated material with electron bean in a high vacuum.

Abstract: An electrical terminal to be inserted into a terminal receiving chamber of a connector housing is provided. The terminal includes a terminal body which can be provided by folding a conductive metal plate and a protective cover made of synthetic insulating material to cover the terminal body. The protective cover is provided on a rear side thereof with a flexible engagement piece having an engagement projection by which the terminal can be engaged in the connector housing.

Abstract: A sputtering target that consists essentially of a continuous matrix of Ti-W phase, Ti phase having a particle diameter of 50 .mu.m or less distributed in the matrix, and a W phase having a particle diameter of 20 .mu.m or less also distributed in the matrix. Preferably the target contains aluminum in the range of 1 ppm or less. The target has high density and a low impurity content, which reduces the generation of particles from the target when it is used for sputtering. A method of manufacturing the sputtering target is also disclosed.

Abstract: This is a highly purified metal comprising one metal selected from the group consisted of titanium, zirconium and hafnium. The highly purified metal has an Al content of not more than 10 ppm. It also has an oxygen content of more than 250 ppm, each of Fe, Ni and Cr contents not more than 10 ppm and each of Na and K contents not more than 0.1 ppm. The highly purified metal is obtained by either purifying crude metal by the iodide process or surface treating crude metal to remove a contaminated layer existing on the surface thereof and then melting The surface treated material with electron bean in a high vacuum.

Abstract: In the present invention, metal silicide grains form an interlinked structure of a metal silicide phase, and Si grains which form a Si phase are discontinuously dispersed between the metal silicide phase to provide a sputtering target having a high density two-phased structure and having an aluminum content of 1 ppm or less. Because of the high density and high strength of the target, the generation of particles from the target during sputtering is reduced, and due to the reduced carbon content of the target, the mixing of carbon into the thin film during sputtering can be prevented.

Abstract: This is a highly purified metal comprising one metal selected from the group consisted of titanium, zirconium and hafnium. The highly purified metal has an Al content of not more than 10 ppm. It also has an oxygen content of not more than 250 ppm, each of Fe, Ni and Cr contents not more than 10 ppm and each of Na and K contents not more than 0.1 ppm. The highly purified metal is obtained by either purifying crude metal by the iodide process or surface treating crude metal to remove a contaminated layer existing on the surface thereof and then melting the surface treated material with electron beam in a high vacuum.