Non-Newtonian fluid flow model for ceramic tape casting

The current device of miniaturisation and higher device counts in integrate d circuit (IC) packages has significantly increased the use of both multila yer ceramic packages (MLCP) and multilayer capacitors (MLC). Currently, one of the main methods used for the manufacture of Bat ceramic packages with precise thickness control and consistency is the tape casting technique. Si nce these tapes can be cast with thickness of about 100 mu m. it is crucial that the control of green tape thickness is precise, and that these thickn ess values are reproducible consistently. The flow of the slurry onto the c asting surface can be modelled as a two dimensional fluid flow through a pa rallel channel. By choosing a suitable constitutive model, the predictions of the proposed model and existing models were compared with experimental r esults. The proposed model accurately described the fluid flow characterist ics of the process, and had good agreement with experimental results. (C) 2 000 Elsevier Science S.A. All rights reserved.