Optimization of Performance through Microstructural Design

The Gordon Research Conference on Solid State Studies in Ceramics, August 13th to 18th, 2005 will focus on the Optimization of Properties through Microstructure Design. While one of the basic principles of Ceramic Science has been that the properties and performance of ceramic materials can be manipulated through control of the microstructure, the ability to predict the performance of specific microstructures remains limited. A more critical problem is that the ability to design a realistic microstructure which will optimize the performance of a material is virtually nonexistent. With the recent interest in thin film applications and nanostructured materials, question naturally emerge of how their microstructures can be modified for these systems and the relationship of specific microstructural details to the properties have taken on an important role. In addition, recent research has shown that there are local measures of the microstructure which may strongly correlate with the properties but which are difficult or not usually measured. These local measures are the next step in microstructure characterization beyond the standard metrics such as grain size and grain size distribution; crystallographic texture, phase content and phase distribution; and porosity, pore size and pore location. For example, the grain boundary character distribution which gives a measure of the energy of the grain boundaries formed and pair correlation functions which yield information on the local grain texture both have potential to extend our understanding of the interaction of microstructure and properties and offer directions for processing research to control these metrics. Another advance is in understanding the distribution of second phases at interfaces where critical wetting models, surface adsorption and partial wetting all have been shown to occur, but the design of microstructures using these models has not yet been accomplished. In order to address these issues, this conference will bring together a wide range of researchers who are developing modeling techniques to understand how the microstructure develops, researchers who are producing new and unique microstructures, and researchers who are measuring the properties of these advanced materials with the goal of being able to design unique microstructures which will led to optimum properties.