World Class Materials Facilities at the University of Huddersfield

目前迈阿密的设施--将透射电子显微镜和离子加速器结合在一起，能够在纳米尺度上观察辐射效应--有几个主要的技术应用。在核研究方面：调查当前和近期核裂变反应堆中使用的材料的行为，以了解它们在预期寿命内以及在偏离正常条件时将如何运行；对于未来的裂变(GenIV)和聚变(磁和惯性约束)反应堆，重点转向开发能够在这些极端环境中运行的新型材料系统；以及探索用于固定长寿命放射性废物的材料解决方案。对于纳米技术、先进制造、半导体加工和材料(性能、结构和表面)的改性，离子束是一种重要的工具，而原位辐照的透射电子显微镜是探索离子-固体相互作用的理想方法，以开发新的技术和材料加工技术。最后，研究地外环境中的辐射暴露对在地球保护磁场之外运行的通信卫星甚至载人飞船的影响，例如前往火星的那些。迈阿密2号的建造将首先确保在可预见的未来保持迈阿密原有设施的能力，使这些材料能够继续进行研究。其次，迈阿密2号能力的增强将使对更广泛的极端环境进行更详细的调查成为可能。具体地说，新的瞬变电磁的拟议配置将使迈阿密-2号能够获得更高水平的信息，包括成分、化学键和电子结构的变化，以及以更高的分辨率(时间和空间)捕捉微结构变化。它还将允许使用更厚的(更多“散装”的)样品，并允许在反应性气体环境中进行辐射损伤研究。这个设施将成为世界上仅有的两个拥有这些能力的设施之一，另一个在美国的桑迪亚国家实验室。这将确保英国保持其作为辐射损害领域领导者之一的地位，并带来下一代先进材料。极端环境范围纳米机械和纳米摩擦学平台(E2N2)将是国内和国际上独一无二的设施，它将允许在“在役”环境下测量材料特性。拟议的仪器将包括：工作载荷范围从mN到数十牛顿和极端温度范围(-30到1000摄氏度)的压痕、划痕、冲击、微动和摩擦；在真空、分压、使用中、预定义和精确监控的环境中进行测量；现场光学和原子力显微镜表面/压痕观察/测量系统。该平台将产生广泛的温度范围和纳米尺度的数据，这是其他方式无法获得的组合。它汇集了哈德斯菲尔德在先进材料、铁路和涡轮增压工程、精密计量学、医疗保健和考古学方面的研究活动。该仪器将广泛用于开发新的自我修复材料和涂层纳米结构的多层膜，以适应极端环境，如高温保护、摩擦和侵蚀。在“在职”环境下进行测量的能力也将使休闲医学和医疗保健方面的研究成为可能。该设施将确保中国在纳米机械领域保持领先地位，并将为交通、能源和医疗保健提供先进材料和薄膜的基本数据。

The current MIAMI facility - which combines a transmission electron microscope (TEM) with an ion accelerator, enabling the observation at the nanoscale of radiation effects- has several major technological applications. In nuclear research: investigations into the behaviour of materials used in current and near-term nuclear fission reactors to understand how they will perform both within their intended lifetimes and also during deviations from normal conditions; for future fission (GenIV) and fusion (both magnetic and inertial confinement) reactors, the focus is shifted towards the development of novel materials systems capable of performing in these extreme environments; also the quest for materials solutions for the immobilisation of long-lived radioactive waste. For nanotechnology, advanced manufacturing, semiconductor processing and the modification of materials (properties, structures and surfaces), ion beams are an important tool and TEM with in situ irradiation is an ideal method to explore ion-solid interactions to develop new technologies and materials processing techniques. Finally the study of the effects of radiation exposure in extra-terrestrial environments, on communication satellites or even manned craft operating outside the Earth's protective magnetic field, such as those heading to Mars.The construction of MIAMI-2 will firstly ensure that the capabilities of the original MIAMI facility are maintained for the forseeable future enabling the continued investigation of these materials. Secondly the enhanced capabilities of MIAMI-2 will allow for the investigation of a greater range of extreme environments in a much more detailed manner. Specifically, the proposed configuration of new TEM, will enable MIAMI-2 to access a higher level of information including the changes in composition, chemical bonding and electronic structure, as well as to capture microstructural changes at higher resolutions (both temporal and spatial). It will also permit the use of thicker (more "bulk-like" specimens) and permit radiation damage studies in reactive gaseous environments.This facility would become one of only two in the world with these capabilities, the other being in the USA at Sandia National Labs. This would ensure that the UK would maintain its position as one of the leaders in the field of radiation damage and lead to the next generation of advanced materials. The extreme environment range nano-mechanical and nano-tribology platform (E2N2) will be unique facility at a national and international level which will allow the measurement of material properties under "in-service" environments. The proposed instrument will include: indentation, scratch, impact, fretting and friction in the range of working loads from mN to tens of Newtons and in an extreme temperature range (-30 to 1000 C); measurements in vacuum, partial pressure, in-service, predefined and precisely monitored environment; in situ optical and AFM surface/indent observation/measuring system. The platform will generate data for a broad temperature range and on the nanoscale a combination which is not otherwise available.It brings together research activities at Huddersfield in Advanced Materials, Railway and Turbocharger Engineering, Precision Metrology, healthcare and archaeology. The instrument will be extensively used in development of new self-healing materials and coating multilayers with nanostructures for extreme environments such us high temperature protection, friction and erosion. The ability to measure under "in-service" environments will also permit research in recreational medicine and healthcare. The facility will ensure that the country remains a leader in the field of nano-mechanics and will provide essential data on advanced materials and thin films for transport, energy and healthcare.