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

非技术描述：氧化锆基陶瓷，如钇稳定的四边形氧化锆，具有独特的机械，电气和化学性能以及生物相容性的组合，这使得各种各样的应用成为可能（骨科和牙科植入物，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质）。然而，在这些材料系统中仍然存在一个关键问题，即当施加刺激（例如低温）时，相变的发生会降低该材料系统的机械性能和稳定性。虽然氧化锆基陶瓷是研究最多的陶瓷体系之一，但在引起这种低温降解的机制方面缺乏了解。该项目旨在通过使用集成的多尺度显微镜技术和材料信息学来建立对相变的定量理解，从而缩小这一差距。所提出的方法论、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。这对能源、结构和生物医学应用等许多领域至关重要。例如，防止广泛用于制造牙冠和固定义齿的氧化锆基陶瓷的早期低温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。新知识在教育工具包中传播，旨在解释原子尺度显微镜的原理。材料研究学会和显微镜与微量分析会议上的教程会对学生产生不同程度的影响。技术细节：该研究项目旨在获得氧化锆基陶瓷中老化引起的低温降解机制的基本理解。采用先进的显微技术与微观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加工条件下的局部化学，晶界演变和氧空位生成，从而超越传统的表征方法，增加对陶瓷系统的理解，并提供结构和材料性能之间的高级相关性。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途径。研究生和本科生在这个至关重要的陶瓷科学和技术领域接受指导和培训。来自南方公园高中的少数族裔K-12学生通过暑期研究项目得到启发和训练。该奖项反映了美国国家科学基金会的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值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.