Development of an electron work function - based microstructure diagnosis technique for developing advanced structural materials

该提案涉及通过新材料技术开发工程先进结构材料背景下的“制造”目标领域。提出的是一种独特的基于电子功函数（EWF）的微观结构诊断技术，其目的是通过微观结构和质量控制来改善材料性能和工艺，并使加拿大成为先进微观结构诊断技术领域的领先国家。材料通常由多个元素、相和相间边界组成，以获得各种所需性质的最佳组合。然而，在冶金过程中，不同的元素可能会发生反应，不仅形成所需的相，而且还形成其他导致副作用的相。各种微观结构成分的共存使得难以控制以保留所需的相和界面，同时消除有害的相和界面。虽然XRD和电子显微镜有很大的权力，以表征微观结构，所获得的数据并不提供同时的信息，各相和界面的性能。在这个项目中，我们提出了一个电子功函数（EWF）为基础的微观结构诊断技术，通过纳米/微米尺度的EWF映射识别所需的和不需要的相和界面，并将应用该技术开发的一类新的结构材料，混合高熵高铬铸铁资源工业。该技术也将应用于运输行业的轻质镁合金。

This proposal addresses the "Manufacturing" target area within the context of engineering advanced structural materials through new material technology development. The proposed is a unique microstructure diagnosis technique based on electron work function (EWF) with the aim to improve material performance and processes through microstructure and quality control, and to enable Canada to be a leading nation in the area of advanced microstructure diagnosis techniques. Materials generally consist of multiple elements, phases and interphase boundaries in order to obtain an optimal combination of various desired properties. However, during metallurgical processes, different elements may react and form not only desired phases but also others which result in side effects. The co-existence of various microstructural constituents makes it difficult to control in order to retain desired phases and interfaces while eliminating detrimental ones. Although XRD and electron microscopy have a great power to characterize microstructures, obtained data does not provide simultaneous information on properties of individual phases and interfaces. In this project, we propose an electron work function (EWF)- based microstructure diagnosis technique for identifying desired and undesired phases and interfaces through nano/micro-scale EWF mapping, and would apply the technique to the development of a new class of structural materials, hybrid high-entropy high-Cr cast irons for resources industry. This technique will also be applied to lightweight Mg alloys for the transportation sector.