The new field of microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) is rapidly growing. Today, the combined total world market of MEMS reached approximately $2 billion dollars. Conservative estimates from market studies predict a world MEMS market in excess of $8 billion by 2003. MEMS is a rapidly growing field with many diverse applications with many special material requirements. Insulation researchers can learn more about this growing field with the motivation to perhaps apply their expertise in the insulation field to the device requirements need in MEMS technology. For those new to MEMS, this text serves as an excellent primer for engineers, scientists, students, and researchers who want to learn about the basics of MEMS and to get a quick, broad overview of the field. The author describes, in detail, the materials used in producing MEMS—including silicon, polymers, and glass substrates. He also details design and fabrication techniques for nozzles, pressure and inertial sensors, displays, valves, and other current applications. Also revealed are commercial techniques for surface and bulk micromachining such as oxidation, lithography, chemical vapor deposition, silicon fusion bonding, and wet and dry etching. Since this is an introductory book, the author does a nice job of describing a wide range of applications from diverse fields. These industries include automotive, consumer electronics, telecommunications, data storage, medical, and defense. Because the author is the head of research and development at a leading MEMS fabrication company, he has the unique perspective of knowing where future MEMS developments are leading. He has a chapter describing a look at future MEMS technology such as microelectrode arrays, microsystems, actuators, optical and RF switches, and other technologies. Beginners to MEMS technology will find this book an excellent source of information to get a broad overview of the field. 52
Plasma Deposition and Treatment of Polymers Materials Research Society Symposium Proceedings vol. 544
edited by W.W. Lee, R.D’Agostino, and M.R. Wertheimer Materials Research Society 506 Keystone Dr. Warrendale, PA 15086 http://www.mrs.org/publications/ 296 pp - $74.00 (member), $85.00 (non-member) This collection is based on a symposium held at the November 1998 meeting of the Materials Research Society. Plasma deposition of polymers is a method for deposition of thin, uniform films of a wide variety of polymers. Depending on the conditions employed, the films may retain some structural elements found in the starting material. This method can be important in such electrical applications as capacitors and dielectric coatings. This particular volume is divided into sections on biomaterials, processing fundamentals, electronics and optics, and functional coatings. Among the papers that would be of interest to readers of this magazine are descriptions of various low dielectric constant fluorocarbon films prepared by this method, deposition or processing of other types of dielectric films, such as parylene-N, polyimides, etc. Other topics of interest include plasma treatment of several types of polymers to improve adhesion of metal films, plasma deposition of coatings on polymers, and comparison of plasma treated and ion-bombarded surfaces. Conference proceedings like this one are helpful as a snapshot of current work in the field and direction to other references. —K.F. Schoch, Jr.
Annual Review of Energy and the Environment, 1999, vol. 24 edited by R.H. Socolow Annual Reviews, Inc. 4139 El Camino Way Palo Alto, CA 94306
http://www.annualreviews.org 720 pp. - $76.00 This year’s review includes papers on nuclear energy, other methods of power generation, and environmental issues related primarily to global climate change. The papers on nuclear energy focus on the direction of nuclear power generation in the future, the economic performance of nuclear power, and the status of the Yucca Mountain repository for high-level nuclear waste. There are also papers describing the current state of alternative energy sources: hydropower, biomass, hydrogen, and fuel cells. Approximately half of the papers are devoted to environmental topics from various approaches: technology, economics, and policy. Technical articles pertain to methods for assigning air pollutants to particular emission sources and algal blooms. Economic issues are the focus of articles on the impact of growth on the environment and design of greenhouse gas abatement policies. Policy topics include a study of the appropriate level of energy R&D spending, energy use and CO2 emissions and methods for modeling technological change. Anyone interested in these topics will find the papers helpful analyses of the current situation in the field, accompanied by numerous references to related work. —K.F. Schoch, Jr.
Modern Plastics Handbook
C.A. Harper The McGraw Hill Companies, Inc. 11 West 19th St New York, NY 10011 Phone +1 800 352-3566 http://www.mcgraw-hill.com ISBN #0-07-026714-6 $137.50 (Hardback), 1999 The Modern Plastics Handbook is a reference book based on virtually all plastics used today and the processes used to mold plastics. There is also coverage on additives, processing equipment, mold design, testing, specifications, standards, and recycling. The book is well-organized and very comIEEE Electrical Insulation Magazine
prehensive making it a very useful reference. The first three chapters describe thermoplastics, thermoset, and elastomeric materials. There is a chapter on additives used for tailoring critical properties. The next three chapters cover processing. This included process techniques and equipment. There is a chapter on designing plastic parts. You can rarely find this type of practical information on product design in the literature. Here it is presented in one convenient handbook. This chapter alone makes the book worth owning. There are two chapters on coatings and adhesives and chapter on testing and standards and one final chapter on plastic recycling and biocompatability. I particularly liked the practical data and characteristics supplied for each plastic described. In addition to the typical engineering data supplied by most books, this book also details the common uses, typical problem areas, environmental effects, and comparisons to other plastics, along with other types of useful information. This practical knowledge is prevalent throughout the book for the other topics described. This broad based plastics book would be very useful to anyone working in the plastics field at virtually any level.
ONE OF THESE IS A LICHTENBERG FIGURE AND THE OTHER A SEA URCHIN
DO YOU KNOW THE DIFFERENCE? If not, scuba diving is not recommended until you have joined the IEEE Dielectrics and Electric Insulation Society. For information on membership (Student, Member, Senior Member or Affiliate) contact: Dr. J.K. Nelson, Department of Electric Power Engineering, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY 12180-3590 Tel: +1 518 276 6329 Fax: +1 518 276 6226 Email:
[email protected] September/October 2000 — Vol. 16, No. 5
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