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New Type of Fatigue Discovered in Silicon

Posted by ScuttleMonkey on from the beat-on-anything-long-enough dept.

Invisible Pink Unicorn writes "Researchers at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) have discovered a phenomenon long thought not to exist. They have demonstrated a mechanical fatigue process that eventually leads to cracks and breakdown in bulk silicon crystals. Silicon — the backbone of the semiconductor industry — has long been believed to be immune to fatigue from cyclic stresses because of the nature of its crystal structure and chemical bonds. However, NIST examination of the silicon used in microscopic systems that incorporate tiny gears, vibrating reeds and other mechanical features reveals stress-induced cracks that can lead to failure. This has important implications for the design of new silicon-based micro-electromechanical system (MEMS) devices that have been proposed for a wide variety of uses. The article abstract is available from Applied Physics Letters."

11 of 108 comments (clear)

  1. Is it just me? by zappepcs · · Score: 4, Funny

    or did anyone else see 'silicon fatigue' and immediately think of something more mammalian in nature?

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    1. Re:Is it just me? by davidsyes · · Score: 2, Funny

      I was thinking "New Type of Fatigue Discovered in Silicon VALLEY".

      But, now that you're thinking (alluding to breasts/mothers' milk; or rampantly-chewing boys or men on females) "siliCONE", why not think these?:

      "New Type of Fatigue in Silicon ALLEY, or"

      "New Type of Fatigue (CastroEderItis) RE-Discovered in Castro District"?

      "New Type of Parking Discovered in Rear" (More Parking in Rear)...

      Such a lovely day...for gags... ummm chokes... umm JOKES...

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    2. Re:Is it just me? by snowraver1 · · Score: 4, Funny

      I think it's just you. I think that I can speak for most of us here when I say that the word "silicon" is mentally associated with "sexy" things. Things like my xbox 360, CPLDs, diodes, LEDs... I should stop there... I'm turning myself on... Oh baby... TTL chips, CMOS... Good 'ol CMOS never say no when you call her late at night.

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    3. Re:Is it just me? by haystor · · Score: 4, Funny

      I put on my robe and wizard hat.

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      t
    4. Re:Is it just me? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

      This being slashdot, rest assured that most readers have busted a nut or two on non-existant female anatomical parts of all shapes and sizes.

  2. especially if you smoke it by User+956 · · Score: 2, Funny

    However, NIST examination of the silicon used in microscopic systems that incorporate tiny gears, vibrating reeds and other mechanical features reveals stress-induced cracks that can lead to failure.

    I can agree with this. In my personal experience, crack inevitably leads to failure.

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    The theory of relativity doesn't work right in Arkansas.
  3. oh well... a more expensive alternative by moondo · · Score: 2, Funny

    Diamonds are forever~

    1. Re:oh well... a more expensive alternative by mcpkaaos · · Score: 2, Funny
      Well, you know what they say:

      A woman without diamonds is a parsnip.
      --
      It goes from God, to Jerry, to me.
  4. Re:Related title by ackthpt · · Score: 3, Funny

    "New type of fatigue discovered in Silicon Valley"

    Got news for you, it's everywhere. I've got stress fatigue from converting SQL scripts.

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    A feeling of having made the same mistake before: Deja Foobar
  5. My first thought was of poor Marvin by spun · · Score: 2, Funny

    Now we finally know what was causing the pain in all the diodes down his left side.

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  6. Oh noes! by mgabrys_sf · · Score: 2, Funny

    I'll be concerned when they start putting "gears" in my Intel chips. The new Intel Geartron processor - now with gears! Um - no.