| About this Abstract |
| Meeting |
Materials Science & Technology 2009
|
| Symposium
|
Characterization and Modeling of Ceramic-Ceramic and Metal-Ceramic Interfaces
|
| Presentation Title |
Towards Microscopic Prediction of Macroscopic Properties through Atomic Resolution Microscopy and First-Principles Theory |
| Author(s) |
Stephen Pennycook, Juan-Carlos Idrobo, Weronika Walkosz, Robert Klie, Serdar Ogut, Albina Borisevich, Paul Becher, Mark Oxley, Sokrates Pantelides, Biljana Mikijelj |
| On-Site Speaker (Planned) |
Stephen Pennycook |
| Abstract Scope |
The widespread use of silicon nitride ceramics at high temperatures and pressures has been limited by its intrinsic brittleness. Empirically, however, it is known that the fracture toughness of silicon nitride can be enhanced by adding sintering additives, in particular rare-earth oxides, which promote a whisker-like microstructure. With aberration corrected electron microscopy and energy loss spectroscopy it is now possible to image individual rare earth sites in intergranular films and probe their local chemical environment. Results can be compared directly to first-principles total energy calculations and image simulations to begin to provide an atomic-level understanding of the complex factors that determine macroscopic mechanical properties. |
| Proceedings Inclusion? |
Undecided |