NSF Europe: Synthesis and Characterization of Nanostructured Alloys with Enhanced Mechanical Properties

这项NSF-Europe奖授予伊利诺伊大学香槟分校，目的是合成和表征纳米结构的锆、钛和铬二硼化物，用于具有低摩擦系数和低磨损率的超硬涂层。这项与法国维特里Cedex CNRS化学冶金研究中心的合作研究将在以下领域进行：(1)纳米相过渡金属二硼化物的新合成技术，特别是通过混合相材料的化学气相沉积；(2)利用波动电子显微镜等先进的TEM技术和几何相位成像方法表征非晶和纳米晶薄膜的结构和缺陷；(3)以驱动系统为理论框架分析摩擦磨损行为。本研究进行的bibo化物的合成和表征可能会使人们更好地了解二硼化物与过渡金属的化学计量、CVD制备条件以及滑动速度和接触载荷等磨损参数对微观结构的影响。开发具有耐磨和低摩擦硬涂层的节能工具和设备将具有重大的技术和社会效益。与法国科学家的合作将利用两个团队之间的互补知识和经验。研究生和本科生的培训和教学，以及利用大学校园现有项目招募女性和代表性不足群体等外展项目，都是该奖项的一部分。

This NSF-Europe award to University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign is to carry out synthesis and characterization of nanostructured diborides of Zirconium, Titanium and Chromium for super-hard coatings with low friction coefficients and low wear rates. This collaborative research with Centre d'Etudes Chimie-Metallurgie, CNRS, Vitry Cedex, France will be in the following areas: (1) novel synthesis techniques for nanophase transition metal diboride, in particular by chemical vapor deposition of mixed phase materials; (2) characterization of structure and defects in amorphous and nanocrystalline films through the advanced TEM techniques of fluctuation electron microscopy and the geometric phase image method; and (3) analysis of the friction and wear behavior in terms of driven systems as a theoretical framework. Synthesis and characterization of biborides carried out by this study are likely to produce an improved understanding of how microstructure varies with stoichiometry of diborides with transition metals, CVD conditions used to prepare them, and wear parameters such as sliding speed and contact load.Development of energy efficient tools and devices with hard coatings for wear resistance and low friction will have significant technological and societal benefit. This collaboration with the French scientists will take advantage of the complementary knowledge and experience between the two teams. Training and teaching of graduate and undergraduate students, and outreach programs including recruitment of women and under-represented groups using existing programs at the University campus are parts of this award.