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As the dimensions of interconnects in integrated circuits continue to shrink, an urgent need arises to understand the physical mechanism associated with electromigration. Using x-ray nanodiffraction, we analyzed the stresses in Blech-structured pure Cu lines subjected to different electromigration conditions. The results suggest that the measured residual stresses in the early stages of electromigration are related to relaxation of stresses caused by thermal expansion mismatch, while a developing current-induced stress leads to reductions in the residual stress after longer test times. These findings not only validate the feasibility of measuring stress in copper lines using nanodiffraction but also highlight the need for a further understanding, particularly through in situ electromigration experiments with x-ray nanodiffraction analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mo(Si,Al)2 with different yttrium (Y) additions (up to 2 at.%) was synthesised by dry powder mixing followed by compaction and sintering. In as-sintered materials, Y was present as yttrium aluminium garnet. The materials were exposed in air at 1500 °C for up to 250 h to study the effect of Y on oxidation behaviour. The oxides formed were investigated using scanning electron microscopy (SEM)-based techniques and X-ray diffraction. While the Y-free Mo(Si,Al)2 formed a scale consisting of Al2O3 and a small amount of mullite, the Y-containing samples formed oxides containing both yttrium silicate and larger fractions of mullite, in addition to Al2O3. Oxidation rate, scale spallation, as well as the evaporation of Mo, all increased with Y addition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cooling-induced precipitation of the strengthening γ' phase is commonly investigated in Ni-base superalloys with a high γ' volume fraction, where it is used to control the final microstructure and properties. Less is known about the phase separation in low-volume-fraction alloys during cooling, although the microstructural state after cooling from solution treatment is known to affect subsequent heat-treatment steps. We use atomic-scale characterisation of Ni-base superalloy Haynes 282 (equilibrium γ' volume fraction around 20%) to show that air cooling after solution or carbide stabilisation results in precipitation of nm-sized γ' particles, whereas precipitation was suppressed during water quenching. The solution treatment has a significant effect on the hardness and γ' precipitation during air cooling from the subsequent carbide stabilisation temperature. Also, the carbide-stabilisation treatment itself affects the γ' precipitation during subsequent air cooling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]