Grain Boundaries in Ceramic Materials: Amorphous Phases and Interfacial Bonding (Materials Research)

这是妇女研究机会计划下的研究计划补助金。这项研究的目的是研究陶瓷晶界结合的基本方面。存在于晶界的力将用一种新的仪器直接测量，该仪器确定将两个陶瓷表面结合在一起然后将它们分开所需的力。力将作为晶体陶瓷表面中晶体方向的函数来测量。扫描电子显微镜和分析电子显微镜也将被用来表征陶瓷晶体和非晶晶界。还将测量边界的微裂纹扩展和电学性能。目前还不可能对两个晶体表面之间的排斥力/吸引力进行直接测量。表面力装置提供了一个令人兴奋的机会，以获得关于陶瓷晶界的物理性质和无定形晶界相的作用的新信息。

This is a Research Planning Grant under the Research Opportunities For Women Program. The objective of the research is to study the fundamental aspects of bonding at ceramic grain boundaries. The forces that exist at the grain boundaries will be measured directly with a new instrument which determines the forces required to bring two ceramic surfaces together and then separate them. The forces will be measured as a function of crystallographic direction in the crystalline ceramic surfaces. Scanning electron microscopy and analytical transmission electron microscopy will also be used to characterize the ceramic crystals and the amorphous grain boundaries. Microcrack propagation and electrical properties will also be measured for the boundaries. No such direct measurement of the repulsive/attractive forces between the two crystal surfaces has yet been possible. The surface forces apparatus provides an exciting opportunity to obtain new information on the physical properties of ceramic grain boundaries and the role of the amorphous intergranular phases.