Materials development for improved durability and performance

这项工作的重点是“加工-显微组织-性能关系”，目的是通过材料设计(控制微结构和/或成分)和/或改进材料加工技术来开发具有更好性能特性的材料。在材料设计领域，“复合”包括功能梯度材料(FGM)、涂层和其他表面工程材料。这些性能特征通常包含长期耐用性的主题，无论是用于汽车应用的涂层铝和镁合金部件的退化，还是用于燃料电池的金属双极板和电催化剂。重点将放在进一步开发PEO(等离子电解氧化)工艺，这是一种相对环保的涂层工艺，在涂覆轻质材料(铝、镁、钛)方面具有巨大的潜力。另一种前景看好的加工技术是在金属衬底上电化学涂覆导电聚合物，用于PEM燃料电池中的双极板应用。我们开发的两种制备纳米粒子的材料合成方法，即胶体化学处理和金属间化合物(镁化物、铝化物和钠)的水解法，将进一步研究。这项工作将解决目前行业面临的两个重大挑战，特别是汽车行业。首先，是开发具有更高耐用性和性能的轻型汽车零部件，以提高燃油经济性和减少排放。第二，是开发替代内燃机作为动力源，包括燃料电池。

The focus of this work is "processing-microstructure-property relationships" with the aim of developing materials with improved performance characteristics through materials design (control of microstructure and/or composition) and/or improved materials processing technologies. In the area of materials design, "composition" includes such issues as functionally-graded materials (FGM), coatings and other surface-engineered materials. The performance characteristics generally incorporate the theme of long-term durability whether it be the degradation of coated Al and Mg alloy parts for automotive applications or metallic bipolar plates and electrocatalysts for fuel cells. Particular emphasis will be placed on further development of the PEO (Plasma Electrolytic Oxidation) process, a relatively environmentally friendly coating process that has enormous potential for coating light-weight materials (Al,Mg,Ti). Another processing technique that holds considerable promise is the electrochemical coating of a conducting polymer on a metallic substrate for bipolar plate applications in PEM fuel cells. Two materials synthesis methods that we have developed for the preparation of nanoparticles, namely chemical processing of colloids and the hydrolysis of intermetallics (magnides, aluminides and sodides), will be further investigated. This work will address two significant challenges presently facing industry, particularly the automotive industry. First, is the development of light-weight automotive components with improved durability and performance to improve fuel economy and reduce emissions. Second, is the development of alternatives to the internal combustion engine as a power source, including fuel cells.