Minneapolis, MN, July 29 -- Brian McAdams from Lehigh University (Lehigh.edu) in Bethlehem, PA, will receive the SMTA's 2004 Charles Hutchins Educational Grant (smta.org/hutchins) for his project, "Sub-critical Initiation of Delaminations at the Underfill/Passivation Interface in Flip Chip Assemblies."

McAdams is a materials science and engineering graduate student who has recently conducted studies of cure kinetics of developmental epoxy systems. He has examined the mechanics of adhesion for the initiation and propagation of cracks at the underfill/passivation interface in flip chip packaging and looked at the role of deformation mechanisms in determining interfacial adhesion and the potential correlation to chemical interactions across the interface.

McAdams hopes to work in electronics assembly and packaging and to continue efforts on materials characterization, failure analysis, or research and development of flip chip assemblies.

The award includes $5,000 and travel expenses to SMTA International, where McAdams will be presented the award during the SMTA Annual Meeting.

Co-sponsored by SMTA and Circuits Assembly, the grant was established in memory of past SMTA president and industry colleague Charles Hutchins. Circuits Assembly donated $5,000 to the fund in February through the proceeds of the Service Excellence Awards.

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