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A D V A N C E D
M A T E R I A L S
&
P R O C E S S E S | F E B R U A R Y / M A R C H
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for Innovation and Science. “This adds
weight and makes fabrication with car-
bon fiber composites difficult.” The new
technology, however, allows electrical
transport throughout the composite
material and could eventually allow a
whole range of novel integrated func-
tions—including sensors, systems for
energy harvesting lighting, and commu-
nication antennae—ushering in a new
era in aerospace composite technology.
www.surrey.ac.uk,
www.bris.ac.uk,
bombardier.com.
AN IMPACTFUL METHOD OF
CREATING GNG STRUCTURES
Scientists at Rice University,
Houston, demonstrated that firing
a tiny, nearly perfect cube of silver
onto a hard target transforms its sin-
gle crystal microstructure into a gra-
dient-nanograined (GNG) structure.
Cubes were synthesized as single
crystals via bottom-up seed growth
to roughly 1.4 µm per side, then shot
at room temperature at a silicon target
500 µm away using Rice’s advanced
laser-induced projectile impact test
structure from the nanometer to the mi-
cron scale could provide the high strength
of nanocrystalline structures without
their brittle failure susceptibility. The new
process produces a range of grains from
10-500 nm over a distance of 500 nm—a
gradient at least 10 times higher than oth-
er techniques. In addition to creating ul-
trastrong metals, the new research could
influencematerials processing techniques
such as cold spray and shot peening.
rice.edu.
34 MODELS Cover All Common Tests • Measuring ranges from 1% to 2000% strain • Gage lengths from 0.125 to 10+ inches (3 to 250+ mm) • Temperature ranges from -265 to 1600°C • Laser extensometers Extensometers Strain measurement for materials testing 3975 South Highway 89 Jackson, WY 83001 USA 307 733-8360 ISO 17025 www.epsilontech.comrig. The cube’s temperature rose
by 350°F upon impact at 400 m/s
and allowed dynamic recrystallization.
“The high-velocity impact generates
very high pressure that far exceeds the
material’s strength,” says materials
scientist Edwin Thomas. “This leads
to high plasticity at the impact side of
the cube while the top region retains
its initial structure, ultimately creating
a grain-size gradient along its height.”
Earlier studies show that a GNG
Microscopic silver cubes were the bullets in Rice University experiments to show
how deformation upon impact canmake materials stronger and tougher. Courtesy
of Rice University.
www.masterbond.comHackensack, NJ 07601 USA
+1.201.343.8983 •
main@masterbond.comBeat the clock
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