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Research areas in the MSE department
The department's 25 faculty members explore a broad scope of research within the field of materials.
Biomaterials
Tissue engineering is an emerging field that targets the development of materials as human tissue/organ substitutes or "biomaterials." It integrates discoveries from biochemistry, cell and molecular biology, genetics, and materials science to produce three-dimensional composites having properties that can be used either to replace or correct damaged, missing, or poorly functioning components in living systems. The material components themselves may be processed from naturally occuring materials or synthetic composites. Efforts in tissue engineering within MSE include:
- Novel processing of laminated hydroxyapatite/Co-Cr-Mo alloy composites for orthopedic bone implants with enhanced fixation
- HA/TCP-polymer composites as implant materials
- Electrochemical impedance assessment of titanium implant alloys based on cell coverage
- Responsive drug delivery using artificial muscle
- Environmentally assisted fatigue crack growth in dental ceramic composites
Computational modeling of materials
The recent advances in computer power and modeling methods have made it possible by now to study and design materials virtually on the computer. MSE is proud to be one the top departments in the country in computational modeling with award-winning world-class experts working across all modeling scales. Besides using state and national supercomputer facilities, the department also owns significant computational resources, mostly based on cluster-architectures. Examples of work in computational materials science include:
- Atomic-scale process and device modeling for nanoscale devices
- Modeling of electroactive polymers and biomechanics
- Multiscale modeling of nuclear materials
- Modeling microstructural evolution of materials for aerospace applications
- Multiscale modeling of solidification of metals and alloys
- Finite element analysis of texture development
- Peierls and atomistic studies of interface-dislocation interaction
- Dislocation simulations of plasticity in metallic multilayer thin films
- Multiscale modeling of metal plasticity
- Finite element modeling of metal forming and springback
Microstructure and property relationships in materials
There is a direct correlation between the microscopic configuration of atoms and molecules and a material's macroscopic, or "visible," properties. Understanding how properties such as transparency or ductility are derived from the atomic structure of a substance allows for manipulation of microscopic structures to achieve desired large-scale properties. Faculty and students make use of state-of-the-art testing and characterization equipment while performing research in the following areas:
- Computer simulation of microstructures and mathematical modeling
- Microstructural control for quality castings
- Structure and energy of interphase interfaces
- The role of interfaces in composites
- Structure and properties of grain boundaries
- Crystallization of glasses
- The role of microstructural heterogeneity in localized corrosion and environmental fracture
- Deformation mechanisms in high temperature intermetallics
Mechanical properties and responses to deformation
Extensive facilities for studying the mechanical properties of materials are offered on site. Qualities such as strength, plasticity, and hardness are explored for existing and theoretical materials. Current programs range from simulating and modeling a variety of forming operations for metals to studying the wear behavior of composites. These investigations employ experimental techniques on scales ranging from the atomic to industrial forming processes and their use in manufacturing operations. This research includes:
- Ultra high rate forming
- Toughening of ceramics and intermetallics
- Hardness of multilayered metallic composites
- Creep and damage of stainless steels
- Basic mechanisms of sliding friction and wear
- Numerical and physical simulation of sheet forming operations
- Flow of porous ductile materials
- Micromechanisms of polycrystalline deformation
- Formation of nanocrystals by mechanical means
- Fatigue
Materials performance
The enhanced performance of synthesized materials is the goal of many materials scientists. Research taking place in the Department is designed to harness properties specific to a material and meet the demanding requirements of today's high-tech world. From new biomedical composite materials to corrosion protection, the Department's research programs are designed to apply laboratory breakthroughs to everyday use. The ultimate benefit to industries, such as those involved in manufacturing, defense, power generation, etc., amounts to billions of dollars per year. Such programs include:
- Development and characterization of improved biomedical materials
- Corrosion and protection of Al alloys in aging aircraft applications
- Development of new gas, thermal, and bio-sensors
- Properties of materials that influence large-scale manufacturing
- Development of co-continuous ceramic composites
- Corrosion susceptibility of emerging Al-Li alloys
- Development of high-temperature coatings for carbon/carbon composites
- Design of protective coatings for refractory metals
- Fatigue properties of die cast magnesium alloys
Materials processing and manufacturing
Beyond understanding why a material has a given set of properties and how these properties may be applied, a materials scientist must also be concerned with producing a material for commercial use. Much of this research involves techniques for the synthesis and processing of advanced materials in an economical manner. The need for new and more efficient techniques for fabricating materials ensures that this will continue to be a major focus of the Department. Some current programs include:
- Semiconductor process modeling
- Ceramic-polymer composites via sol-gel techniques
- Vapor deposition of diamond-like films
- Development of fiber-optic glasses
- Vitrification of industrial waste
- Fabrication and testing of advanced microcomposite materials
- High-rate forming techniques for net shape forming
- High temperature intermetallic materials
- Sheet metal forming
- Control of microstructures and porosity in die castings
- Magnetron sputtering of laminated composites
- Processing of ceramic composites from metallic precursors
- Controlled crystal orientations in high Tc ceramic superconductors
- Modeling of the chemical vapor deposition process
Superconductors
The focus of research in the Laboratory for Applied Superconductivity and Magnetism (LASM) is in the area of high magnetic field generation. Such high power magnetic fields are used in medicine for Magnetic Resonance Imagery (MRI) and Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR), and in physics for use in particle accelerators. The superconducting wire used to generate the immense magnetic fields required by these applications is the primary interest of LASM. This wire carries current with zero resistance up to a threshold limit. Beyond this limit, resistance increases considerably and no further benefit is gained from the wire. Research in LASM explores, among other things, how to increase the current-carrying capacity of superconducting wire for use in high-field magnetic applications. Composite wires and cables are designed and processed for use in the windings of high-field dipole magnets intended for particle-beam guidance in high-energy accelerators. Low temperature superconductors (LTSC) and high temperature superconductors (HTSC) are extensively studied by LASM. Properties and processes being investigated include:
- Design of HTSC and LTSC cables for high-field, high-current use
- AC current loss in HTSC and LTSC MF strands
- Flux flow and flux creep in HTSC materials
- Proximity effect (and its control) between filaments in composite strands
- Formation of metallic intergrowths (bridging) between filaments in HTSC and LTSC strands
- AC loss measurements in HTSC and LTSC Rutherford cables
- Continuous fabrication processes for HTSC/Ag composite wire
- Continuous fabrication processes for Nb3Al/Nb composite wire
Corrosion
Corrosion, the environmental degradation of materials, is a major area of research in materials science. It has been estimated that the cost of corrosion to U.S. households, businesses, and government agencies exceeds $400 billion dollars per year. In the MSE department, the Fontana Corrosion Center (FCC) focuses on the study of aqueous corrosion in an effort to protect materials from hostile environments created by moisture. The FCC has earned an international reputation for excellence. Topics of interest include:
- Mechanisms of localized corrosion
- Fundamental studies of corrosion inhibition
- Development of environmentally-friendly protective coating systems
- Localized corrosion and environmental fracture of high-strength Al alloys
- Novel applications of scanning probe microscopy to corrosion
- Corrosion and cracking of steel and H2S-containing environments
Electronic, optical, and magnetic materials
There is much interest in the synthesis, processing, and characterization of new magnetic, optical, and electronic materials. In cooperation with other departments, MSE is taking the lead in developing a variety of such materials. Examples of programs in this area include:
- Semiconductor process modeling
- Microelectromechanical systems (MEMS)
- Development of solid-state gas sensors
- Superconducting oxide/metal laminates for energy storage and transmission
- Porous ceramics for thermistor and sensor applications
- Near-net-shape magnetic and dielectric ceramic components for telecommunications
- Interface migration and morphology in thin films
- Phase stability and interfacial phenomena in thin films
