Aqueous Tape Casting Process with Styrene-acrylic Latex Binder

A commercial styrene-acrylic latex binder has been investigated as a good binder for aqueous Al-2O-3 suspensions tape-casting process. This paper focuses on the forming film mechanism of latex binder, the rheological behaviors of the suspensions, physical properties of green tapes and drying process of aqueous slurries with latex binder system. The drying process of the alumina suspensions is shown to follow a two-stage mechanism (the first stage: evaporation controlled process; and the second stage: diffusion controlled process). During the drying stage of the suspensions, the compressive force presses the latex particles and makes them be distorted, which results in cross-linking structure in contacted latex particles of the solidified tapes.A smooth-surface and high-strength green tape was fabricated by aqueous tape casting with latex binder system. The results from the SEM images of the crossing section microstructure of green tapes show that the latex is a very suitable binder for aqueous tape casting.

HPMA modified aluminium nitride powder for aqueous tape casting of AlN ceramic substrates

Aluminum nitride(AlN)is considered one of the most desirable materials for integrated circuits and electronic packaging substrates.However,raw AlN powder reacts easily with water,forming Al(OH)3 or AlOOH on the surface and hindering the development of an aqueous tape-casting process for preparing AlN ceramic substrates.In this study,hydrolyzed polymaleic anhydride(HPMA)was used to modify AlN powder,which has good water solubility and dispersibility.The AlN powder was modified with 5 wt%HPMA remained stable in water for at least 90 h under magnetic stirring condition and 24 h under ball milling condition,indicating that HPMA-modified AlN powder has good resistance to hydrolysis.The action mechanism of HPMA is revealed.Firstly,–COOH of the HPMA polymer and the oxide layer on the surface of the AlN powder underwent a dehydration condensation reaction to form a compound.Secondly,long chains of the polymer further coated the surface of the AlN powder,forming an anti-hydration layer with a thickness of about 7.0 nm on the surface of the AlN particles.In addition,AlN green sheets were successfully prepared by aqueous tape casting using the HPMA-modified AlN powder without additional dispersants.Subsequently,AlN ceramic substrates were obtained by sintering at 1750℃for 4 h under an N2 atmosphere with a pressure of 0.2 MPa.The relative density and thermal conductivity were tested to be 97.3%and 122 W/(m·K),respectively.