New nanolaminate ternary and quaternary alloy phases by thin film synthesis. The availability of suitable materials is a driver of new technologies. We will develop a new class of ternary and quaternary alloys with nanolaminate structures at the atomic scale using a combination of theoretical modeling, novel thin film synthesis and advanced characterization methods. The nanostructure of these materials is expected to promote a rare combination of metallic and ceramic like properties, such as low ....New nanolaminate ternary and quaternary alloy phases by thin film synthesis. The availability of suitable materials is a driver of new technologies. We will develop a new class of ternary and quaternary alloys with nanolaminate structures at the atomic scale using a combination of theoretical modeling, novel thin film synthesis and advanced characterization methods. The nanostructure of these materials is expected to promote a rare combination of metallic and ceramic like properties, such as low friction, high mechanical strength, resistance to heat shock, fracture, corrosion and oxidation, up to very high temperatures. Careful characterisation of the growth process and structure-property relationships will allow us to develop methods of tailoring the property mix for operation in harsh environments.Read moreRead less
Nanocrystalline Processing of Polycrystalline Ceramics Exhibiting the Giant Piezoelectric Effect. Piezoelectric materials interconvert electric and mechanical energy. They have been incorporated into a wide range of industrial, medical and domestic applications. The newest, known as PZN-PTs, are only available as single crystals. They have ten times the response of conventional piezoelectric materials, however they are expensive, mechanically fragile and have shape limitations. This project will ....Nanocrystalline Processing of Polycrystalline Ceramics Exhibiting the Giant Piezoelectric Effect. Piezoelectric materials interconvert electric and mechanical energy. They have been incorporated into a wide range of industrial, medical and domestic applications. The newest, known as PZN-PTs, are only available as single crystals. They have ten times the response of conventional piezoelectric materials, however they are expensive, mechanically fragile and have shape limitations. This project will tailor nanostructured intermediate states that will allow the production of stronger, more versatile polycrystalline PZN-PT ceramics. It will develop scientific results on nanocrystalline processing applicable to many materials and allow deeper insight into the mechanism of the anomalous piezoelectric response of these materials.Read moreRead less
Structural Origins of the Giant Piezoelectric Effect in Relaxor Ferroelectrics. This project addresses fundamental questions about the origins of the Giant Piezoelectric Effect. The solution of these questions will be will raise the profile of Australian science in this area as well as allowing new directions to be explored both in modifying existing materials and seeking new ones. It will expand the pool of personnel with experience in the synthesis and diffraction based study of these material ....Structural Origins of the Giant Piezoelectric Effect in Relaxor Ferroelectrics. This project addresses fundamental questions about the origins of the Giant Piezoelectric Effect. The solution of these questions will be will raise the profile of Australian science in this area as well as allowing new directions to be explored both in modifying existing materials and seeking new ones. It will expand the pool of personnel with experience in the synthesis and diffraction based study of these materials which are slated for inclusion in large numbers of 'Smart' technologies. The training of personnel in advanced diffraction methods is important in the lead up to the new Australian research reactor OPAL in 2006 and the new Australian synchrotron in 2007.Read moreRead less
Coupled Structural and Elastic Response Studies of the Phase Transformation Behaviour of Environment-Friendly, Lead-free Piezoceramics. The ultimate aim of this project is to identify high performance, environment-friendly i.e. lead free, piezoceramic materials capable of replacing the currently market dominant, lead-based materials. Such piezoceramics have widespread industrial applications. Understanding the factors that control the capacity of such materials to respond to applied stress or el ....Coupled Structural and Elastic Response Studies of the Phase Transformation Behaviour of Environment-Friendly, Lead-free Piezoceramics. The ultimate aim of this project is to identify high performance, environment-friendly i.e. lead free, piezoceramic materials capable of replacing the currently market dominant, lead-based materials. Such piezoceramics have widespread industrial applications. Understanding the factors that control the capacity of such materials to respond to applied stress or electric field is critical to the discovery, optimization and, ultimately, industrial exploitation of such materials. Through comprehensive experimental and theoretical studies of a number of such materials this project will enhance the ability of industry to develop new and improved materials. Development of advanced materials is a designated National Research Priority area. Read moreRead less
Grain-boundary sliding in high-temperature ceramics: mechanical spectroscopy of high-purity magnesium oxide. The demise of elastic behaviour in materials stressed at sufficiently high temperature limits the usefulness of ceramics for structural applications, and is also responsible for reduced wave speeds and associated attenuation of seismic waves in the Earth's interior. Yet the nature of the transition in fine-grained materials tested at high temperature from elastic through anelastic to vis ....Grain-boundary sliding in high-temperature ceramics: mechanical spectroscopy of high-purity magnesium oxide. The demise of elastic behaviour in materials stressed at sufficiently high temperature limits the usefulness of ceramics for structural applications, and is also responsible for reduced wave speeds and associated attenuation of seismic waves in the Earth's interior. Yet the nature of the transition in fine-grained materials tested at high temperature from elastic through anelastic to viscous rheology remains poorly understood. Through a combination of mechanical testing by torsional forced oscillation/ microcreep methods of carefully fabricated and characterised specimens of polycrystalline MgO and associated micro-mechanical modelling we seek to clarify this fundamental and general aspect of high-temperature mechanical behaviour.Read moreRead less
Combustion Synthesis of Ternary Carbides. Ti3SiC2 belongs to a group of ternary carbides that exhibit an exciting combination of the high temperature properties of ceramics, with the electrical and thermal conductivity of metals. A great number of potential applications have been identified, however a cost effective large scale synthesis method has been lacking. Combustion synthesis, which uses the heat of reaction as the primary energy source, has great potential for this purpose. This program ....Combustion Synthesis of Ternary Carbides. Ti3SiC2 belongs to a group of ternary carbides that exhibit an exciting combination of the high temperature properties of ceramics, with the electrical and thermal conductivity of metals. A great number of potential applications have been identified, however a cost effective large scale synthesis method has been lacking. Combustion synthesis, which uses the heat of reaction as the primary energy source, has great potential for this purpose. This program will use advanced in-situ neutron diffraction experiments to map and quantify combustion synthesis reactions in the Ti-Si-C system and related systems. The results of these studies will be used to design methods of production for Ti3SiC2 and related materials.Read moreRead less