Very High Purity Alumina Processing Technique  This technology allows for the production of a new aluminum oxide (alumina) material with very high compressive strength making the material suitable for applications that require high strength and/or high temperature. The failure strength of alumina created with this process is considerably greater than any other commercially available alumina. The manufacturing process for this new ultra high-strength alumina includes traditional processing techniques such as vacuum hot pressing and hot isostatic pressing. |
Institute of Materials Processing (IMP) The institute focuses on the extraction, processing, recycling, and utilization of materials and resources. They conduct sponsored technology development, research, problem solving, training, and technology services for MTU, the state of Michigan, other governmental units, and industry. Materials studied include metallics, ceramics, polymers, composites, minerals, and industrial processing wastes. Expertise includes bench-top experimentation through process development, pilot plant scale-up, and commercialization.
Personnel at IMP work closely with faculty members in the academic departments. Since the major focus of the institute, however, is toward accelerating technology transfer into the marketplace, most staff members are full-time, nonteaching research professionals. When necessary, the institute can enter into confidentiality agreements with research sponsors and can undertake both proprietary and classified work. Cooperative development programs with other organizations are also strongly encouraged.
IMP can provide full or partial student support for advanced research in the materials and resource processing areas. |
Ultrafine Grained and Nanostructured Ceramics: Influence of Processing Grain Size and Strain Rate on Fracture Characteristics The goal of this project is to investigate the processing-structure-property relationships in bulk ultrafine grained (20-200 nm in grain size) ceramics that are rapidly consolidated to near theoretical density using novel synthesis and processing methods. The rate-dependent indentation fracture characteristics and the implications of these results to material removal during high-rate processes such as impact, dynamic wear and high speed grinding will be investigated. Based on the experimental and microscopic observations, analytical and numerical models will be developed to provide better insight into the effect of grain size on the mechanical response of this unique class of materials.
The proposed investigations are of significant practical interest, because they will assist in optimal design, successful use and exploitation of the full technological potential of these ceramics in dynamic applications. Insight gained will facilitate exploration of the ‘nano-scale materials design space’ for optimizing the grain size and the properties to meet specific challenges. |
Fracture of Ceramics at High Strain Rates This research program is designed to yield understanding of the influence of microstructure on the high strain rate behavior of ceramic materials. High strain rate experiments are being conducted on ceramics fabricated in the laboratory so that control over the micro-structural features can be maintained. Initial work has focused on high purity aluminum oxide which was densified without the aid of sintering additives while still maintaining a fine grain size of 1-2 xb5m. Variations in grain size and porosity are achieved using additional heat treatment. Damage in shock loaded specimens is evaluated using a variety of techniques. The information from these systematic investigations is being used to develop models which will include the effects of microstructure as well as the loading conditions on deformation and fracture behavior. |
Solidification of Ceramics This research program represents an investigation of the solidification of ceramics as an alternative processing route and as a means of providing ancillary data for a plasma spraying program (Plasma Deposition for Coating Applications). The commercialization of these materials depends on the ability to achieve high critical current densities (Jc), but the necessary Jc values have not been achieved in sintered material. The approach being explored is to eliminate as much nonsuperconducting grain boundary as possible by aligning the grain boundaries so that applied supercurrents could run parallel to the boundaries with the eventual goal of producing single crystals. |
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