RELIABILITY AND FAILURE ANALYSIS OF GLASS AND CERAMIC COMPONENTS Sandia National Laboratories has decades of experience in design, mechanical testing, and failure analysis of glass and ceramic materials for a variety of applications, including connectors, glass and ceramic to metal seals, rolamite switches, batteries, sprytrons, krytrons, and actuators. While specific elements of Sandia National Laboratories scientific expertise may be found in other institutions, the breadth of the technical staff and their ability to integrate proprietary finite-element models, non-destructive evaluation, analytical materials characterization (SEM, TEM, AEM, etc.), mechanical testing (load-frames, indentors, non-destructive evaluation), and failure analysis in one location is unique. In particular, Sandia has been a leader in failure analysis and fractography and has used this expertise in combination with the analytical facilities to address numerous reliability/failure problems for a wide range of customers. Applications Failure analysis and design expertise, which incorporatesstress modeling, is fundamental to engineering glass and ceramic components, including connectors, batteries, actuators, microelectronics, structural ceramics/manufacturers. This expertise is also appropriate for end users or OEMs that need to solve component failure problems. Potential Benefits Commercial institutions working with Sandia National Laboratories can expect to gain new insights and understanding of glass and ceramic material performance factors to enable the design of new and improved materials and devices. They can also expect access to design tools that can improve existing manufacturing processes aimed at achieving enhanced product reliability and production yields. Demonstrated Achievements Worked with Intel Corp. to identify the cause of a pressure vessel explosion and to develop an inspection procedure for identifying cracked vessels that has become an industry standard. Identified source of failures in cermet-containing ceramics with CeramTec Inc. and helped them develop a new fabrication process that significantly improved yields. Identified excessive heat from a seam welding process as the cause of ceramic fracture in hermetic microelectronic device packages and used finite element models and testing to validate a robust new package design. Identified the source of slow-crack growth in glass-metal seals. References Sandia staff have taught (upon request) short courses on failure analysis at the American Ceramic Society annual meeting and for the Martin Marietta Specialty Components Division. Sandia has also demonstrated that it can effectively work with industry and apply its integrated capabilities to solve complex problems (e.g., the work on the Intel tank explosion). Sandia also has a long history of working with classified and proprietary information. Numerous papers have been published (available upon request) on this topic. Sandia is interested in partnering with industry to further develop reliability and failure analysis of glass and ceramic components. Companies interested inpartnering with Sandia should be willing to sponsor a collaborative project via a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) with Sandia. For further information please respond by mail or fax to Sheila Pounds by July 7, 1999 at Sandia National Laboratories, MS-1380, P. O. Box 5800, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87185-1380. Fax: (505) 843-4163. Please indicate the date and title of this CBD notice. E-MAIL: Sheila L. Pounds, slpound@sandia.gov. Posted 06/23/99 (W-SN346518).

Loren Data Corp. http://www.ld.com (SYN# 0532 19990625\SP-0005.MSC)