9703044 Wang This is a CAREER grant to a new faculty member. In the research component advanced simulation techniques will be developed and used to study the formation and evolution of complex microstructures during thermal processing of high- temperature oxide-based sensor materials, nanostructured ceramic composites and titantium-based intermetallic alloys. The research should reveal the fundamental mechanisms, morphology and kinetics of the microstructure development; provide a means to predict microstructure formation during processing; and suggest novel processing schedules to improve material performance for a wide range of applications. The methodology to be used is the field computational approach to nonlinear pattern dynamics. The proposed research will form the basis of new courses at the undergraduate and graduate level in which students can design alloys and see how microstructure evolves during processing and how it determines materials properties. The course will be embedded in world-wide web and CD-ROM technology. %%% This is a CAREER grant to a new faculty member. In the research component advanced simulation techniques will be developed and used to study the formation and evolution of complex microstructures during thermal processing of high- temperature oxide-based sensor materials, nanostructured ceramic composites and titantium-based intermetallic alloys. The research should reveal the fundamental mechanisms, morphology and kinetics of the microstructure development; provide a means to predict microstructure formation during processing; and suggest novel processing schedules to improve material performance for a wide range of applications. The methodology to be used is the field computational approach to nonlinear pattern dynamics. The proposed research will form the basis of new courses at the undergraduate and graduate level in which students can design alloys and see how microstructure evolves during processing and how it dete rmines materials properties. The course will be embedded in world-wide web and CD-ROM technology. ***
