An Assessment of the National Institute of Standards and Technology Programs Fiscal Year 1993 (1994) / Chapter Skim
Currently Skimming:
8 MATERIALS SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING LABORATORY
8 MATERIALS SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING LABORATORY
Pages 153-178
The Chapter Skim interface presents what we've algorithmically identified as the most significant single chunk of text within every page in the chapter.
Select key terms on the right to highlight them within pages of the chapter.
From page 153... ...
Strategies · MSEL endeavors to maintain recognition as a leading laboratory for materials science and engineering technology in the United States and to provide U.S. industry and the broader science and engineering communities with access to unique research and metrology capabilities.
|
From page 154... ...
These non-NIST researchers leverage MSEL staff and resources significantly and serve as an effective channel for two-way technology transfer. PROGRESS Cold Neutron Research Facility, a National Facility The laboratory has continued to expand its facilities and research opportunities, especially in the Cold Neutron Research Facility (CNRF)
|
From page 155... ...
The number of nonNIST research participants using facilities for both thermal and cold neutron research has grown rapidly in recent years, especially since the start of the commissioning of CNRF's instruments, and has exceeded 750 since the panel's fiscal year 1992 meeting. Intelligent Processing of Materials Since receiving initial funding in fiscal year 1991, MSEL has expanded its leadership role in the development of the concept of intelligent processing of materials based on the integration of in situ sensing, process modeling, and computerbased systems to control the evolution of materials microstructures.
|
From page 156... ...
ASSESSMENT OF DIVISION PROGRAMS The Materials Science and Engineering Laboratory consists of the Metallurgy, Polymers, Ceramics, and Reactor Radiation divisions located in Gaithersburg, Maryland; the Materials Reliability Division located at the Boulder, Colorado, laboratories; and the Office of Intelligent Processing of Materials, located in Gaithersburg, Maryland, which sponsors cross-cutting research throughout NIST (Figure 8.1~. The panel's review of MSEL core programs carried out by these units includes the observations of progress made since the panel's 1992 program review and its findings and recommendations based on the fiscal year 1993 assessment.
|
From page 157... ...
. Rac rate on Division Reactor Operations and Engineering Process Sensing and Neutron-Condensed Surface Properties Modeling Matter Science Mechanical Structural Cold Neutron Properties Materials Project Electronic Materials Optical Materials Materials Microstructural Characterization FIGURE 8.1 Organization and structure of the Materials Science and Engineering Laboratory.
|
From page 158... ...
An important spin-off in fiscal year 1992 was a separate program established with Crucible Materials Corporation, a consortium member, to pursue an approach patented by NIST for producing high-nitrogen-content stainless steels by the powder method. After completion of the consortium program, the Metallurgy Division plans to shift the main thrust of its research in liquid-solid metal processing to the Osprey process, an emerging technology that has great potential as a means of producing advanced metallurgical materials.
|
From page 159... ...
Thus, laboratory tests on cold- and hot-rolled samples demonstrated good correlation between mechanical properties and Barkhausen data, the latter arising from the pinning of domain walls by dislocations and other defects. In fiscal year 1993, this work will become part of a major American Iron and Steel InstituteDepartment of Energy program on improving process control in the steel industry.
|
From page 160... ...
Polymers Division Overview and Activities Mission. The Polymers Division provides standards for physical measurements, measurement methods, generic technology, and fundamental concepts of polymer science for use by U.S.
|
From page 161... ...
The Chemical Performance Group develops measurement methods, data, and models for the control of polymer processing and for the development of highly functional polymers for use in sensors and fiber-optic "smart" structures. This group has developed excellent technology that could be better related to industrial needs; i.e., the group needs additional interaction with industry.
|
From page 162... ...
The Polymer Blends and Solutions Group develops fundamental understanding, measurement techniques, and characterization methods for the phase behavior of polymer blends and polymer solutions and produces molecular-weight polymer standard reference materials. The group is technically strong, is well organized, and has good external relations.
|
From page 163... ...
Office of Intelligent Processing of Materials Mission The Office of Intelligent Processing of Materials (OIPM) plans, organizes, and leads interdisciplinary research programs in intelligent processing of materials; conducts fundamental and applied research in the areas of nondestructive evaluation of materials, materials process modeling, and expert control system theory; develops standards and methodologies that enhance the transferability of nondestructive evaluation of materials theory, techniques, instrumentation, process modeling, and expert system theory to industrial applications; serves as a national focus to advance the science of intelligent processing of materials through horizontal integration of research activities throughout NIST coupled with broad industry participation and contacts; serves as a NIST focal point for developing industrial support for research in nondestructive evaluation of materials, process modeling, and control systems through individual contracts and consortia; and provides active program management for nondestructive evaluation of materials and intelligent processing of materials research consortia.
|
From page 164... ...
The improvements in process sensing, modeling, and control that are being achieved by OIPM precisely fill this need; however, the OIPM base resources have remained constant. In addition to addressing industrial quality control and productivity, the OIPM integrates a wide range of NIST's technical activities.
|
From page 165... ...
Recommendation for the Office of Intelligent Processing of Materials -- Fiscal Year 1993 · Creation, administration, and technical oversight of consortia should not be allowed to dominate more than half of OIPM's time. Ceramics Division Functions and Activities To address the needs of this country's industrial sector for ceramics infrastructure and generic technology, the Ceramics Division has chosen three primary functions: standard materials development, construction of databases, and research on topics affecting commercialization of advanced ceramics.
|
From page 166... ...
The Mechanical Properties Group is involved in a wide array of activities related to the mechanical properties of ceramics. Perhaps the most significant development within the group has been the initiation of the Advanced Ceramics Machining Consortium, which is providing the measurement methods, data, and mechanistic information needed for cost-effective machining of advanced ceramics.
|
From page 167... ...
industry. Materials Reliability Division Activities The Materials Reliability Division participates in projects of the Office of Intelligent Processing of Materials by developing generic technologies and couples a strong modeling component with its experimental activities, steps that tend to maximize the impact of the division's resources.
|
From page 168... ...
The results showed only a moderate-sized effect and, more importantly, indicated that even with visual macroscopic damage, there was negligible loss in overall stiffness during the expected lifetime. Part of the division's success in measuring the physical properties of materials under extreme temperature conditions derives from the competence and extensive prior experience of the Materials Reliability Division in handling materials at cryogenic temperatures.
|
From page 169... ...
· The improvements anticipated from the division's novel waveform-based ultrasonic techniques based on the use of broadband receiver arrays for characterizing complex, anisotropic materials should be calculated. Reactor Radiation Division Submitted for the Subpanel on Assessment of the Reactor Radiation Division by its Chair, John D
|
From page 170... ...
· Manage the facilities of the NIST research reactor, including the CNRF, as a major national resource to serve the needs of NIST, industry, universities, and other government agencies. Strategy, Activities, and the Subpanel's Comments The Reactor Radiation Division (RRD)
|
From page 171... ...
In order to successfully fulfill this role, the division intends to maintain a continuing flow of temporary staff to directly assist outside researchers at the CNRF, while permanent staff members develop methods, initiate and carry out research programs, oversee instrument development and operation, provide technical guidance, and collaborate with outside researchers. Outside researchers are brought into the facility through a variety of mechanisms, including cooperative research programs, collaboration with RRD staff, independent research programs (long-term agreements with other NIST divisions and outside organizations)
|
From page 172... ...
That the charge of the Program Advisory Committee be expanded to include a periodic review of the research performance of the participating research teams at the CNRF. The PAC now performs such reviews annually.
|
From page 173... ...
During the year the National Science Foundation (NSF) NIST 30-m small-angle neutron scattering instrument, a mediumreso~ution time-of-fight spectrometer, and another cold neutron reflectometer were installed, and fabrication was completed on the NSF-NIST triple-axis spectrometer.
|
From page 174... ...
Subpanel's Conclusions and Recommendations -- Fiscal Year 1993 · The fiscal year 1993 budget has included funding to operate the Cold Neutron Research Facility as a national facility. It is essential that these funds be built into future budgets.
|
From page 175... ...
· The Reactor Radiation Division is undergoing major growth. As the Cold Neutron Research Facility program continues to expand, the types of arrangements for accommodating the users have diversified, as have the procedures developed for access to the various RRD facilities.
|
From page 176... ...
The RRD undertakes standards work only when it is consistent with its unique capabilities. Important examples are the development of American National Standards Institute standards for use in nuclear facilities, improvements in neutron metrology, characterization of standard reference materials, and development of standards for residual stress measurements and of calibration standards for devices for personnel dosimetry.
|
From page 177... ...
This would reduce the time spent generating proposals and allow division managers more flexibility to pursue new opportunities.
|
Key Terms
This material may be derived from roughly machine-read images, and so is provided only to facilitate research.
More
information on Chapter Skim is available.