MRI: Acquisition of a High-Temperature X-ray Diffraction System - Transforming Materials Science and Culture in West Texas

这一重大研究仪器(MRI)奖支持收购西德克萨斯农工大学(WTAMU)的高温X射线衍射系统(XRD)，用于潜在的变革性纳米技术和弹性建筑材料的基础研究。X射线衍射仪使研究人员能够在受控的温度和压力条件下研究材料的性能，使其成为开发新材料、延长材料寿命和改进生产工艺的关键工具。研究团队包括女性和非裔美国教师，以及来自机械工程、材料科学和土木工程的研究人员。该仪器还为地区性的新兴拉美裔服务机构(HSI)提供了广泛的教育机会，使1500多名K-12和高等教育学生能够体验XRD的研究或实验室体验。X射线衍射仪具有独特的能力，将使对纳米铝、纳米钻石和弹性材料和基础设施的基础研究成为可能。研究人员将在纳米尺度上测量压力状态，以确定操纵如何影响粒子的反应性。这一知识可能会导致纳米铝储能能力的进步。X射线衍射仪将用于原位研究纳米金刚石的高结合能及其作为金属混合物添加剂时其高功能表面的影响。这些合金可能会在航空航天应用中取得进展，在航空航天应用中，重量和耐温性至关重要，并可能为假肢和植入技术带来希望。X射线衍射仪探测原子距离并在微尺度上提供有关材料性质的信息.通过对损伤前后不同材料的结构进行分析，可以估计出它们所能承受的风荷载、地面加速度和爆炸强度。这一知识使结构材料的开发得以优化，以便在自然或人为危害概率较高的地区使用。

This Major Research Instrumentation (MRI) award supports the acquisition of a High-Temperature X-Ray Diffraction System (XRD) at West Texas A&M University (WTAMU) for potentially transformative fundamental research on nanotechnology and resilient building materials. The XRD allows researchers to investigate material properties under controlled temperature and pressure conditions, making it a critical tool for developing new materials, increasing the lifespan of materials, and improving production processes. The research team includes female and African American faculty and researchers from mechanical engineering, materials science and civil engineering. The instrumentation also provides broad educational opportunities for a regional, emerging Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI), enabling over 1500 K-12 and higher education students to have a research or laboratory experience with the XRD.The XRD has unique capabilities that will enable fundamental research on nanoaluminum, nanodiamonds, and resilient materials and infrastructure. Researchers will measure stress states at the nanoscale to determine how manipulation affects particle reactivity. This knowledge may lead to advances in nano aluminum energy storage capabilities. The XRD will be used in-situ to study the high bond energy of the nano-sized diamond and the effect of its highly functional surface when used as an additive in metallic mixtures. These alloys may enable advances in aerospace applications, where weight and temperature resistance are vital, and may hold promise for prosthetics and implant technology. The XRD probes atomic distances and provides information aabout material properties at the microscale. By analyzing structures with different materials both before and after damage, it is possible to estimate wind loads, ground accelerations and blast intensities that they can withstand. This knowledge enables the development of structural materials optimized for use in areas with a high probability of natural or man-made hazards.