PerÂhaps no startup was launched for a more intriguing reason than that of Northeastern’s Hanchen Huang. From the comÂpany website:
“MesoGlue was founded by Huang and two of his PhD stuÂdents: They had a dream of a better way of sticking things together.â€
Those “things†are everyÂthing from a computer’s cenÂtral proÂcessing unit and a printed cirÂcuit board to the glass and metal filÂaÂment in a light bulb. The “way†of attaching them is, astonÂishÂingly, a glue made out of metal that sets at room temÂperÂaÂture and requires very little presÂsure to seal. “It’s like welding or solÂdering but without the heat,†says Huang, who is proÂfessor and chair in the DepartÂment of MechanÂical and IndusÂtrial Engineering.
In a new paper, pubÂlished in the JanÂuary issue of Advanced MateÂrials Processes, Huang and colÂleagues, including NorthÂeastern docÂtoral stuÂdent Paul Elliott, describe their latest advances in the glue’s develÂopÂment. Our curiosity was piqued: SolÂdering with no heat? We asked Huang to elaborate.
On new develÂopÂments in the comÂpoÂsiÂtion of the metallic glue:
“Both ‘metal’ and ‘glue’ are familiar terms to most people, but their comÂbiÂnaÂtion is new and made posÂsible by unique propÂerÂties of metallic nanorods–infinitesimally small rods with metal cores that we have coated with the eleÂment indium on one side and galium on the other. These coated rods are arranged along a subÂstrate like angled teeth on a comb: There is a bottom ‘comb’ and a top ‘comb.’ We then interÂlace the ‘teeth.’ When indium and galium touch each other, they form a liquid. The metal core of the rods acts to turn that liquid into a solid. The resulting glue proÂvides the strength and thermal/?electrical conÂducÂtance of a metal bond. We recently received a new proÂviÂsional patent for this develÂopÂment through NorthÂeastern University.â€
On the speÂcial propÂerÂties of the metallic glue:
“The stanÂdard polymer glue does not funcÂtion at high temÂperÂaÂtures or high presÂsures, but the metallic glue does. The stanÂdard glue is not a great conÂductor of heat and/?or elecÂtricity, but the metallic glue is. FurÂtherÂmore, the stanÂdard glue is not very resisÂtant to air or gas leaks, but the metallic glue is.
“‘Hot’ processes like solÂdering and welding can result in metallic conÂnecÂtions that are simÂilar to those proÂduced with the metallic glue, but they cost much more. In addiÂtion, the high temÂperÂaÂture necÂesÂsary for these processes has deleÂteÂrious effects on neighÂboring comÂpoÂnents, such as juncÂtions in semiÂconÂductor devices. Such effects can speed up failure and not only increase cost but also prove danÂgerous to users.â€
What are some appliÂcaÂtions of the technology?
“The metallic glue has mulÂtiple appliÂcaÂtions, many of them in the elecÂtronics industry. As a heat conÂductor, it may replace the thermal grease curÂrently being used, and as an elecÂtrical conÂductor, it may replace today’s solÂders. ParÂticÂular prodÂucts include solar cells, pipe fitÂtings, and comÂpoÂnents for comÂputers and mobile devices.â€
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