Hamid Garmestani - US grants

9526231 Schwartz The proposed research integrates synthesis, microstructural characterization, and superconducting properties characterization to explore the critical influence of a metallic interface on the HgBa2Can-1CunOx system, the superconducting oxide system with highest critical temperature yet achieved. The project objectives include identifying chemically compatible metallic substrates, understanding and controlling interfacial reactions, understanding the influencing factors for microstructural development of the superconducting and competing non- superconducting phases (including texture), and understanding the microstructure/superconducting properties relationships, including flux pinning and weak links. Synthesis studies will employ a two-zone assembly that allows for independent control of the mercury pressure and the annealing temperature. Tapes will be cast on metallic substrates. Thermal processing, atmosphere, stoichiometry, and substrate metal are important variables. The samples will be characterized using a variety of techniques. %%% The project addresses the underlying scientific issues for applications of the HgBa2Can-1 CunOx superconducting oxides. A deeper understanding of the relationships between metallic interfaces, microstructure, and properties of high temperature superconductors will result. ***

The award is to enhance the research and educational collaboration in the area of materials science and engineering between Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University (FAMU) and Carnegie Mellon University (CMU). The primary contact at CMU is the Materials Research Science and Engineering Center at CMU, which has been supported by the National Science Foundation since 1996. The award has three objectives: (1) To strengthen the quality of the materials science and engineering (MSE) curriculum at FAMU; (2) to provide more opportunities for minority students, who are traditionally underrepresented in MSE, to participate in materials science research at FAMU and CMU; and (3) to enhance the materials resources at both FAMU and CMU through shared equipment and software. The focus of the activities is the involvement of undergraduate students in research.
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The award is to enhance the research and educational collaboration in the area of materials science and engineering between Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University (FAMU) and Carnegie Mellon University (CMU). The primary contact at CMU is the Materials Research Science and Engineering Center at CMU, which has been supported by the National Science Foundation since 1996. The award has three objectives: (1) To strengthen the quality of the materials science and engineering (MSE) curriculum at FAMU; (2) to provide more opportunities for minority students, who are traditionally underrepresented in MSE, to participate in materials science research at FAMU and CMU; and (3) to enhance the materials resources at both FAMU and CMU through shared equipment and software. The focus of the activities is the involvement of undergraduate students in research.
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This award from the Instrumentation materials Research program to Florida State University is for the acquisition of a variable-temperature scanning probe microscope system. The instrument will be used for studying microstructures not only at the nano-scale but also on the meso-scale, particularly at high sample temperatures, with applications in thin film semiconductors, semi-crystalline polymers, high-temperature superconductors, and nanostructures of superplastic and precipitation hardening materials. Methods to extend the temperature range capability of atomic force microscopy (AFM) to temperatures in excess of 1500 K will be investigated by the addition of thermocouple sensors on the heat-sensitive probe assemblies, and modification of the sample mounting configuration to minimize the volume being heated. This extremely large temperature range will provide scientists from FAMU-FSU College of Engineering with the opportunity to observe and investigate in-situ such phenomena as superconductor vortex structures, crystal reorientation, texture evolution, internal stress development and phase transformation. The information obtained from SPM may be used to complement the data acquired with other techniques, and thereby expand knowledge of the micromechanisms of deformation and phase transformation. The surface atomic arrangement will be used to obtain texture in bulk materials, even at high temperatures. The instrument will be used for instruction at both the undergraduate and graduate level, providing the opportunity for students to work with a truly state-of-the-art instrument at the forefront of materials research.
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This award from the Instrumentation materials Research program to Florida State University is for the acquisition of a variable-temperature scanning probe microscope system. The relatively new field of scanning probe microscopy has opened up an enormous number of opportunities for detailed atomic-scale study of dynamic surfaces. The fundamental principle behind the technique is the precision electrical manipulation of a needle probe whose tip is less than one-thousandth the diameter of a human hair. Simply by changing the material of the needle probe, the instrument can be converted to respond to differences in magnetic field, temperature, electron density and even chemical reactivity- all on the atomic scale. This instrument is capable of performing measurements on samples over the temperature range of 25 degrees above absolute zero, to over 1500 degrees. This remarkable temperature range will enable users to investigate a wide range of surface phenomena and material properties, including high temperature superconductors, shape-memory metallic alloys, high-purity semiconductors, and novel types of polymer materials. The instrument will be maintained by the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering, a jointly managed program of Florida State University, and Florida A&M University, a Doctoral-granting historically black university. Approximately 50% of the engineering students are minorities, and over 25% are women. The instrument will be used for instruction at both the undergraduate and graduate level, providing the opportunity for students to work with a truly state-of-the-art instrument at the forefront of materials research.
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0109535
Garmastani

This project is aimed at greater understanding of fundamental mechanisms of structural superplastic deformation in different aluminum alloys using the most current digital imaging and insitu microscopy techniques. It has been established that grain boundary sliding during micrograin superplasticity operates heterogeneously and in a cooperative manner. The nature of heterogeneity of cooperative grain boundary sliding remains unclear. Fundamental understanding of the origin of this important deformation mode can be fruitful for the improvement of theoretical models of superplasticity as well as for the design of advanced materials with improved superplastic properties. The main goals of this study are: (1) to determine the relationship between cooperative grain boundary sliding and grain boundary disorientation (mesotexture) in three fine-grained aluminum alloys (AA7475, AA5083 and D19) that manifest different micro-mechanical behavior; (2) to study topological modes of grain boundary sliding in these alloys; (3) to investigate accommodation mechanisms for cooperative grain boundary sliding. To reach these goals two different micro-characterization techniques are combined together: Orientation Imaging Microscopy (OIM) in Scanning Electron Microscope and Nanoscratching with Scanning Probe Microscope. The work is based on insitu micro-tensile stage capability that will be used in conjunction with real time OIM analysis to provide important information on the nature of the grain boundary sliding. The funding for this research provides a first hand exposure to research in forefront of science and technology to minority students at FAMU-FSU College of Engineering.
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This research develops new understanding of the mechanisms involved with superplasticity beyond the present state of the art. The results are applicable for cost savings for metal fabrication through near net shaping. The research will make significant contributions to minority education and research.
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The Industry/University Cooperative Research Center for Computational Materials Design jointly proposed by Penn State and Georgia Tech, aims to substantially impact progress towards systems-based materials design by promoting research programs of interest to both industry and universities, to enhance the infrastructure of computational materials research in the nation, to explore and extend the interface between engineering systems design, information technology and physics-based simulation of process-structure and structure-property relations of materials, to improve the intellectual capacity of the workforce through industrial participation and conduct of high quality research projects, and to develop curriculum in computational and systems design aspects of materials. This will be achieved by developing long-term partnerships among industry, university and other organizations.

This award provides support for an REU Site at Loyola Marymount University (LMU) for up to three years to provide research experiences to students from community colleges in the Los Angeles, California area and students from LMU. A total of 24 students will be recruited to spend ten weeks in the summer at LMU engaged in cutting-edge research projects in the field of materials and process engineering. The program will serve to encourage students to pursue advanced degrees in engineering and thus impact the nations need to increase the number of U.S. citizens and permanent residents engaged in research-related careers. It is also anticipated that this REU Site will have a Broader Impact on the nations need to have broader participation in the research enterprise of citizens and permanent residents from demographic groups traditionally underrepresented in science and engineering.

The Industry/University Cooperative Research Center for Computational Materials Design joins Penn State and Georgia Tech to substantially impact progress towards systems-based materials design by promoting research programs of interest to both industry and universities, to enhance the infrastructure of computational materials research in the nation, to explore and extend the interface between engineering systems design, information technology and physics-based simulation of process-structure and structure-property relations of materials, to improve the intellectual capacity of the workforce through industrial participation and conduct of high quality research projects, and to develop curriculum in computational and systems design aspects of materials.

This research program will develop atomistic and microstructural models of the structure-property-processing relationships in actinide metals and alloys (U, Pu alloys). The project focuses its attention on metallic actinide alloys that are relevant to nuclear forensics. Metallic forms are the final forms of the actinide before use in a weapon. By developing these microstructure and atomistic models, we aim to understand how the microstructure evolves under processing such as casting and rolling for the alloys. This understanding provides the forensic scientist a capability to trace the provenance of such special nuclear materials should they be interdicted in the alloy form.

This project will train graduate students and involve undergraduates in research experiences through Georgia Tech Summer Undergraduate Research Experience and broaden participation of under-represented groups, for example, by recruiting students from minority serving institutions. It will by establish collaborations with researchers in INL and PNNL where graduate students will interact directly with researchers. Significant faculty involvement, participation by underrepresented minorities, and active learning distinguish the education and outreach component of this project. The outreach program is especially important in the case of a topic where the general public is not conversant with the science such as actinide chemistry and metallurgy. This program will educate a new generation of undergraduate and graduate students on actinide chemistry and metallurgy and provide resources to K-12 students to become interested and conversant in the actinide sciences while enhancing national security by providing a means to improve nuclear forensics science.