9453446 Lewis Principal Investigator would pursue new areas of research and instrumentation which are emerging in materials science and engineering. In particular, the proposed research and educational plan would focus on developing a fundamental understanding of cross-disciplinary interactions in polymer-stabilized nanosized ceramic systems. Novel materials with unusual properties are expected at the size and scale of nanosized particles, which are greatly different or improved over conventional bulk ceramics. Efforts will be directed to design organic processing aids their effects on microstructural development. The specific research objectives are to study the role of "free" and adsorbed polymeric species on interparticle forces, suspension stability and rheology, and the influence of such properties on the resulting microstructures of ceramic forms and coatings derived from these systems. The educational component of the proposed plan would focus mainly on two activities: new course and text development. The Principal Investigator plan to develop a new graduate level course entitled "Sol-Gel and Nanosized Particulate Ceramic Processing Science" to be taught in the Spring, 1995. These course notes and those developed for a senior level course "Ceramics Processing and Microstructural Development" which the Principal Investigator currently teach will serve as a basis for preparing a much needed text book -- Colloidal Processing of Advanced Ceramics. %%% The specific research objectives are to study the role of 'free' and adsorbed polymeric species on interparticle forces, suspension stability and rheology and the influence of such properties on the resulting microstructure of ceramic forms and coating derived from these systems. The Principal Investigator also plan to develop a new graduate level course and may prepare a text book in the field in the near future. ***
