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8 Integration of Research Opportunities
Pages 211-224

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From page 211...
... Design of materials, devices, and systems assisted by computation and phenomenological models of materials and materials behavior; . Convergence, combination, and integration of biological, organic, semiconductor/photonic, and structural materials; · Discovery and characterization of new materials with unique or substantially improved (50 percent)
From page 212...
... Indeed, in some cases, such as development of insensitive energetic materials, computational approaches are leading experiments in new materials synthesis and are reducing the time required to discover and apply new materials. Coupled with the use of phenomenological models to help identify and predict the characteristics and behavior of potentially revolutionary materials, advanced computational approaches offer a rapid and powerful means for discovery.
From page 213...
... Advanced computational techniques combined with phenomenological models should assist in identifying macromolecules for advanced thermoelectric materials that possess higher figures of merit. DoD could then take advantage of waste heat to generate mobile power and could also miniaturize electronic and EO components through use of positive thermal management protocols.
From page 214...
... THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE SHOULD MAKE RESEARCH INVESTMENTS THAT PROMOTE CONVERGENCE, COMBINATION, AND INTEGRATION OF BIOLOGICAL, ORGANIC, SEMICONDUCTOR, PHOTONIC, AND STRUCTURAL MATERIALS. Examples of the most significant opportunities for investments that support the future needs of the DoD are provided below.
From page 215...
... DoD should actively seek first to identify and then to exploit such points of convergence between materials science and biology. Combination Many major advances over the history of materials resulted from synergistic combinations of materials that yield property levels that cannot be obtained in a single material.
From page 216...
... At the macroscale, a traditional structural composite contains more than one material, but it is a combination that has only one primary function, i.e., to carry loads and moments. A more advanced, integrated composite might, in addition to providing structural capability, be able to absorb radar wavelengths or to effect local color change where damage has occurred ("bruising")
From page 217...
... To make these a reality, advanced computational design and then synthesis of durable molecular organic, polymer, and hybrid building blocks will be necessary, coupled with advanced fabrication, connection, and assembly technologies. A key aspect of materials science that must be considered in both combination and integration of multiple materials is the importance of preserving material performance at interfaces.
From page 219...
... Novel salts of polyatomic nitrogen species might be able to provide a 5-6 times mass reduction in energetic material for the same payload mass in missiles, allowing for huge performance increases. While highly nonlinear effects in traditional bulk materials are unlikely, nonlinear optical materials offer the potential for substantially improved optical limiting capabilities.
From page 220...
... . The fundamental science of modeling, synthesis, and processing of membrane materials could lead to smart membrane materials that could report on the local environment and change properties as needed, as well as repair their own defects.
From page 221...
... This will require routine, affordable synthetic processing strategies that reduce chemical and morphological defects to levels that are currently at best barely achievable. The future of macromolecular materials in highperformance DoD applications depends on processing of high-purity, welldefined, reproducible structures that are affordable.
From page 222...
... The activity of enzymes can be controlled over several orders of magnitude by binding specific effecter molecules. Selective activation of enzymes could effect specific chemical conversions in materials for munitions, therapeutic agents, odorants, and other uses.
From page 223...
... The committee strongly recommends that a life-cycle view be taken as soon as possible in the materials design process so that questions about application-relevant characteristics can be formulated and answered early. This will help systems designers to avoid individual materials or materials combinations that are unsuitable and that could lead to major difficulties in a system or subsystem.
From page 224...
... This shift in approach will undoubtedly require a painful cultural change. However, without it the pace of transition to new materials in DoD platforms and weapons systems will remain unacceptably slow, representing lost opportunities to make rapid, dramatic, and far-reaching changes to our military systems that meet constantly evolving and increasinulv more sophisticated threats to the well-being of the nation.


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