Atomic Scale to Micro Scale Understanding of Low Temperature Degradation Mechanism in Zirconia-Based Ceramics

非技术描述：氧化钛稳定的四方氧化锆等氧化锆基陶瓷具有独特的机械、电和化学性能以及生物兼容性，可用于多种应用(整形外科和牙科植入物、涡轮发动机的热障涂层、氧传感器和固体氧化物燃料电池电解液)。然而，在这些材料体系中仍然存在一个关键问题，即当施加刺激(例如，低温)时发生相变，这降低了该材料体系的力学性能和稳定性。尽管氧化锆基陶瓷是目前研究最多的陶瓷体系之一，但对其低温降解的机理还缺乏深入的了解。该项目旨在通过使用综合多尺度显微技术和材料信息学来弥合这一差距，以建立对相变的定量理解。所提出的方法、获得性学习和数据分析方法为材料及其性能的优化创造了一条途径。这对于能源、结构和生物医学应用等许多领域都是至关重要的。例如，在牙冠和固定牙修复体的制造中广泛使用的氧化锆基陶瓷，防止低温过早降解将延长陶瓷牙种植体的寿命。教育和劳动力发展活动影响到研究生、本科生和K-12学生，以及社区，以提高国家工程师和科学家的全球竞争力。新知识在旨在解释原子尺度显微镜原理的教育工具包中传播。材料研究会以及显微镜和显微分析会议上的教程将对不同层次的学生产生影响。技术细节：该研究项目旨在对氧化锆基陶瓷老化引起的低温退化机理有一个基本的了解。利用先进的显微技术和微结构信息学相结合的新方法，可以深入了解不同掺杂浓度和工艺条件下的局部化学、晶界演化和氧空位的产生，从而增加对陶瓷系统的理解，超越传统的表征方法，并提供结构和材料性能之间的高级关联。所提出的方法、获得性学习和数据分析方法为材料及其性能的优化提供了一条途径。研究生和本科生在这一极其重要的陶瓷科学和技术领域接受指导和培训。南方公园高中的少数民族K-12学生通过暑期研究项目得到启发和培训。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

NON-TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION: Zirconia-based ceramics such as yttria-stabilized tetragonal zirconia possess a unique combination of advantageous mechanical, electrical, and chemical properties as well as biocompatibility, which has allowed for a wide variety of applications (orthopedics and dental implants, thermal barrier coatings for turbine engines, oxygen sensors, and solid oxide fuel cell electrolytes). However, a key issue remains in these material systems, namely the occurrence of phase transformation when a stimulus (e.g., low temperature) is applied that degrades the mechanical properties and stability of this material system. Although zirconia-based ceramics are one of the most studied ceramic systems, there is a lack of understanding in terms of the mechanism causing this low temperature degradation. This project aims to close this gap by using integrated multiscale microscopy techniques and material informatics to establish a quantitative understanding of the phase transformation. The proposed methodology, acquired learning, and data analysis methods create a pathway for the optimization of materials and their performance. This is critical for many fields such as energy, structural, and biomedical applications . For example, preventing early-onset of low temperature degradation in zirconia-based ceramics widely used in the fabrication of dental crowns and fixed dental prostheses will extend the longevity of ceramic dental implants. The educational and workforce development activities impact graduate, undergraduate, and K-12 students, and the community to enhance the global competitiveness of the national engineers and scientists. New knowledge is disseminated in an education toolkit designed to explain the principles of atomic scale microscopy. Tutorials at the Materials Research Society and Microscopy and Microanalysis meetings stand to impact students at various levels. TECHNICAL DETAILS: The research project seeks to gain fundamental understandings of the mechanism of aging-induced low temperature degradation in zirconia-based ceramics. The novel approach of employing advanced microscopy techniques coupled with microstructure informatics provides insights into the local chemistry, grain boundary evolution and oxygen vacancy generation with varying dopant concentration and processing conditions stands to increase the understanding of ceramic systems beyond conventional characterization methods and provide advanced correlation between structural and material performance. The proposed methodology, acquired learning, and data analysis methods generate a pathway for the optimization of materials and their performance. Graduate and undergraduate students are mentored and trained in this critically important area of ceramic science and technology. Minority K-12 students from South Park High School are inspired and trained through summer research projects.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.