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Tuning the Properties of Materials Through Nanostructure: Processing of Large Sized Nanocomposites f

Javier E. Garay Assistant ProfessorDepartment of Mechanical EngineeringMaterials Science and Engineering ProgramUniversity of California, Riverside Improved performance of devices such as high power lasers often hinge on the development of materials with a precise blend of properties. Nanocrystalline materials display significantly different properties and functionalities than their microcrystalline counterparts, yet their direct application in products has been hindered by the difficulty in producing them reliably and efficiently. One reason is that consolidation of nanocrystalline powders usually results in large grain size increase and therefore loss of enhanced nanocrystalline properties. Recently, the versatile material processing technique of current activated pressure assisted densification has proven effective in overcoming the grain growth challenge—it is now possible to efficiently produce materials large enough to be viable nanocrystalline parts. The method draws its effectiveness from large electric current densities that serve to heat the materials and also alter the processing kinetics. After an overview of our processing techniques, I will present results on large-sized, fully dense materials with grain sizes much less that 100 nm. The materials have very different properties than traditional materials including improved visible light transmittance, tailorable heat conductivity, and magnetic coupling and can be used as laser host ceramics, magnetic sensors etc. The results will be discussed in terms of crystal length scale effects and proximity of nanoscale phases.

Location: Seaver Science Library, (SSL) Rm 150

Audiences: Everyone Is Invited

Contact: April Mundy