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In microelectronics industry, the reliability of its components is a major area of concern for engineers. Therefore, it is imperative that such concerns are addressed by using the most reliable materials available. Thermal interface materials (TIMs) are used in electronic devices to bridge the topologies that exists between a heat sink and the flip chip assembly. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the reliability of SAC405 and SAC396 in a microelectronics assembly.

In this paper, SnAgCu solder alloys (SAC405 and SAC396) were used as the TIMs. The model, which comprises the chip, TIM and heat sink base, was developed with ANSYS finite element analysis software and simulated under a thermal cycling load of between −40°C and 85°C.

The results obtained from this paper were based on the total deformation, stress, strain and fatigue life of the lead-free solder materials. The analyses of the results showed that SAC405 is more reliable than SAC396. This was evident in the fatigue life analysis where it was predicted that it took about 85 days for SAC405 to fail, whereas it took about 13 days for SAC396 to fail. Therefore, SAC405 is recommended as the TIM of choice compared to SAC396 based upon the findings of this investigation.

This paper is centred on SnAgCu solders used as TIMs. This paper demonstrated that SAC405 is a reliable solder TIM. This can guide manufacturers of electronic products in deciding which SAC solder to apply as TIM during the assembly process.

The purpose of this study is to assess the performance of fuel blends containing ethanol and gasoline in spark ignition engines. The aim is to explore alternative fuels that can enhance performance while minimizing or eliminating adverse environmental impacts, particularly in the context of limited fossil fuel availability and the need for sustainable alternatives.

The authors used the Ricardo Wave software to evaluate the performance of fuel blends with varying ethanol content (represented as E0, E10, E25, E40, E55, E70, E85 and E100) in comparison to gasoline. The assessment involved different composition percentages and was conducted at various engine speeds (1,500, 3,000, 4,500 and 6,000 rpm). This methodology aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of how different ethanol-gasoline blends perform under different conditions.

The study found that, across all fuel blends, the highest brake power (BP) and the highest brake-specific fuel consumption (BSFC) were observed at 6,000 rpm. Additionally, it was noted that the presence of ethanol in gasoline fuel blends has the potential to increase both the BP and BSFC. These findings suggest that ethanol can positively impact the performance of spark-ignition engines, highlighting its potential as an alternative fuel.

This research contributes to the ongoing efforts in the automotive industry to find sustainable alternative fuels. The use of Ricardo Wave software for performance assessment and the comprehensive exploration of various ethanol-gasoline blends at different engine speeds add to the originality of the study. The emphasis on the potential of ethanol to enhance engine performance provides valuable insights for motor vehicle manufacturers and researchers working on alternative fuel solutions.