nugget dmr-0320992

1
Acquisition of a Environmental Scanning Electron
Microscope for Research and Education New York
State College of Ceramics at Alfred University,
DMR-0320992
Through support from this NSF MRI Award, in-situ
deformation observations are being performed to
identify the deformation evolution of metallic
alloys and metal-matrix composites from surface
observations. Below is an image of the Ernest
Fullam, Inc. tensile stage inside the
Environmental SEM. This stage can be tilted to
acquire electron backscatter diffraction patterns
while pulling a sample in tension. It also can
be used to heat a specimen to 1000C while
deforming it. Thus creep experiments have also
been performed. Investigations of
Ti-6Al-4V-1B(wt.) (see right-hand side images)
are particularly noteworthy as we were able to
characterize the RT tensile response of this
material
10mm
0 ksi
and in particular the surface deformation
evolution. This material exhibited TiB platelet
(black) cracking prior to global yielding and
after global yielding the TiB cracking became
extensive and was followed by matrix plasticity
including slip.
10mm
153 ksi
10mm
post failure
2
Scanning Electron Microscopy Education (SEMED)
Outreach Program New York State College of
Ceramics at Alfred University, DMR-0320992
The goal of this outreach program is to educate
non-majors, high school students, and teachers
about Materials Science and Engineering (MSE).
The program is based on Scanning Electron
Microscopy (SEM) education and involves hands-on
instruction in use of a SEM. In its first two
years, over 355 students have been taught by
Alfred University volunteers, including faculty,
staff, graduate and undergraduate students. Some
of the students then return to the program to
perform a project for their high school science
classes on samples they have prepared. The
Environmental SEM which was supported by this NSF
MRI award has been used in this program.
Bolivar Richburg High School Science Students
Performed Their 4th Quarter Research Project,
titled Life Beneath the Naked Eye, through the
SEMED Program at AU. Visit http//semed.alfred.edu
for details and to see the students interesting
posters.
Top Technical Specialist, Mr. Ward Votava,
gives an overview of the SEMs to a group of local
students prior to their hands-on learning
sessions. Bottom High School students examined
human, alpaca, and dog hairs and evaluated their
size scales and presented their results in poster
format.