National Facility for High Speed and High Temperature X-Ray Diffraction

对功能材料性能的理解是通过系统分析其性能来实现的，通常是在一系列条件下，可能复制它们的制造和加工，或它们预期使用的环境。从这些分析中获得的信息往往会推动创新，导致可能对整个社会产生深远影响的新技术。用于能源应用和结构完整性的材料通常会经历高温和快速的温度变化。表征极端条件下持续运行的长期影响，特别是循环加热和冷却，是一个具有挑战性的测量目标。同样，金属、合金、聚合物、陶瓷和药品的加工和制造通常涉及温度的变化和相的变化，包括熔化和冻结，在某些情况下涉及结晶，结晶的形态可能决定最终形式的材料的有用性或其他方面。目前严重缺乏在很大温度范围内测量材料结构特性的技术能力；在超过1000摄氏度的温度下尤其如此。此外，在较低温度下以高分辨率快速测量材料性能变化的能力是另一个很难满足的研究需求。在具有挑战性的测量条件下无法获得重要信息，阻碍了对英国长期利益至关重要的某些技术领域的进一步突破和创新。开放大学(OU)的国家高速和高温X射线衍射设施将为英国提供独特和及时的设施，使工程师、化学家、物理学家和材料科学家能够进行开创性的材料表征测量。它将促进在EPSRC主题下交付变革性研究计划，这些主题包括能源、工程、全球不确定性、医疗保健技术、制造未来、物理科学、量子技术和研究基础设施--通过提供能够在大温度范围内高速测量材料结构变化的远程可访问仪器来实现。不同的潜在用户群体已经表达了他们对这一设施的压倒性支持，表明了整个英国存在的科学需求。这一设施将使英国大量高质量的工程和物理科学研究受益。该设施将成为非环境材料表征的国家中心，在这里可以探索高价值、功能材料及其相关技术的独特属性的基本见解。该设施将是一个可以分享最佳实践的地方，将建立新的合作关系，并将实现创新的、变革性的项目。对于一些研究小组来说，它将成为“同步加速器的门户”，为这些设施的应用提供数据支持，从而提高它们的竞争力。预计与环境、医疗保健和高价值材料相关的研究将产生重大影响，随后将通过获得新见解而开发的技术在未来几十年产生积极的经济影响。

Developing an understanding of the properties of functional materials is achieved via systematic analysis of their performance, typically under a range of conditions, perhaps replicating their manufacture and processing, or the environment in which they are intended to be used. The information obtained from these analyses often drive innovation, leading to new technologies which can have profound impact across society. Materials used for energy applications and for structural integrity typically experience high temperatures and rapid temperature changes. Characterising the long-term effect of sustained operation under extreme conditions, especially cyclic heating and cooling, is a challenging measurement goal. Similarly, the processing and manufacture of metals, alloys, polymers, ceramics, and pharmaceuticals often involves changes in temperature and changes of phase including melting and freezing, in certain cases with crystallisation, the morphology of which may determine the usefulness - or otherwise - of the material in its final form. There is currently a critical lack of technical capability for measuring the structural properties of materials across a large temperature range; this is particularly true for temperatures in excess of 1000 oC. Further, the ability to rapidly measure changes in material properties at lower temperatures, with high resolution, is another research need which is poorly catered for. The inability to obtain important information under challenging measurement conditions prevents further breakthroughs and innovations in certain technology areas that are vital to the UK's long-term interests. The National Facility for High Speed and High Temperature X-Ray Diffraction at the Open University (OU) will provide the UK with a unique and timely facility enabling pioneering materials characterisation measurements for engineers, chemists, physicists, and materials scientists. It will facilitate in delivering transformative research programmes under the EPSRC themes of Energy, Engineering, Global Uncertainties, Healthcare Technologies, Manufacturing the Future, Physical Sciences, Quantum Technologies, and Research Infrastructure - achieved through the provision of remotely accessible instrumentation capable of measuring structural changes in materials over large temperature ranges and at high speed. The diverse prospective user community have already expressed their overwhelming support for this facility, demonstrating the scientific need which exists across the UK. This facility will benefit a significant breadth of high-quality UK engineering and physical sciences research. The facility will become a national hub for non-ambient materials characterisation, where fundamental insights into the unique properties of high-value, functional materials and their associated technologies can be explored. The facility will be a place where best practise can be shared, new collaborations will be established, and innovative, transformative projects will be realised. For some research groups it will serve as a 'Gateway to the Synchrotrons', yielding data that supports applications to those facilities, increasing their competitiveness. Significant impact in research relating to the environment, healthcare, and high-value materials is expected, followed by positive economic impact over the coming decades via the technologies which will be developed as a result of the new insights achieved.