This study presents a basic step towards the selection methodology of electric contact materials for microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) metal contact switches. This involves the interrelationship between the two important parameters, resistivity and hardness, since they provide the guidelines and assessment of the contact resistance, wear, deformation, and adhesion characteristics of MEMS switches. For this purpose, thin film alloys of three noble metals; platinum (Pt), rhodium (Rh) and ruthenium (Ru) with gold (Au) were investigated. The interrelationship between resistivity and hardness was established for three amounts of alloying of these metals with gold. Thin films of gold (Au), platinum (Pt), ruthenium (Rh), and rhodium (Ru) were also characterized to obtain their baseline data for comparison. All films were deposited on silicon substrates. When Ru, Rh, and Pt are alloyed with Au, their hardness generally decreases but resistivity increases. This decrease or increase was, in general, dependent upon the amount of alloying.
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STLE/ASME 2006 International Joint Tribology Conference
October 23–25, 2006
San Antonio, Texas, USA
Conference Sponsors:
- Tribology Division
ISBN:
0-7918-4259-2
PROCEEDINGS PAPER
Interrelationship Between Hardness and Resistivity of Metal Alloy Films as Contact Materials in MEMS Switches Available to Purchase
S. Mall,
S. Mall
Air Force Institute of Technology, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH
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H. Lee,
H. Lee
Andong National University, Kyungbuk, South Korea
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K. D. Leedy,
K. D. Leedy
Air Force Research Laboratory, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH
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R. A. Coutu, Jr.
R. A. Coutu, Jr.
Air Force Research Laboratory, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH
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S. Mall
Air Force Institute of Technology, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH
H. Lee
Andong National University, Kyungbuk, South Korea
K. D. Leedy
Air Force Research Laboratory, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH
R. A. Coutu, Jr.
Air Force Research Laboratory, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH
Paper No:
IJTC2006-12268, pp. 1377-1378; 2 pages
Published Online:
October 2, 2008
Citation
Mall, S, Lee, H, Leedy, KD, & Coutu, RA, Jr. "Interrelationship Between Hardness and Resistivity of Metal Alloy Films as Contact Materials in MEMS Switches." Proceedings of the STLE/ASME 2006 International Joint Tribology Conference. Part B: Magnetic Storage Tribology; Manufacturing/Metalworking Tribology; Nanotribology; Engineered Surfaces; Biotribology; Emerging Technologies; Special Symposia on Contact Mechanics; Special Symposium on Nanotribology. San Antonio, Texas, USA. October 23–25, 2006. pp. 1377-1378. ASME. https://doi.org/10.1115/IJTC2006-12268
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