This award funds a planning grant for an Industry/University Cooperative Research Center for Nanostructual Materials Research. The Center plans to perform fundamental research in the characterization of a wide variety of materials at the atomic level. The materials that will be investigated are metallic, ceramic, polymer, semiconductor and biological tissue. The nanostructure of ferrous and non-ferrous alloys have an impact on physical and chemical material properties such as tensile strength, creep resistance, corrosion resistance and fatigue life. In semiconductors trace the impurities have a significant impact on the electrical characteristics and a clearer understanding of the mechanisms and kinetics of impurity origin and transport could have a significant effect on device yield. Characteristics of the kinds to be studied will be also have a significant impact on their utilization in industry. The Program Manager recommends a grant in the amount of $10,000 for six months to plan an Industry/University Cooperative Center for Nanostructural Materials Research.
