DURIP-Environmental Scanning Electron Microscope for Research in Additive Manufacturing, Materials Development, and Plastic Waste Recycling
Abstract
Publicly Releasable Project SummaryA scanning electron microscope (SEM) is central to any advanced materials research effort and provides the invaluable ability to image materials at extremely high resolution and to perform specific analytical techniques that provide chemical and physical information about the material. This proposal seeks to purchase a field emission environmental scanning electron microscope (FE-ESEM), which will not only enable researchers at Michigan Technological University (Michigan Tech) to visualize materials such as metal alloys and polymer nanocomposites used in aircraft development, it will also enable visualization of numerous other materials such as underwater adhesives and biomaterials that need to be imaged in their native, hydrated state. The instrument will be equipped with an energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy (EDS) system for qualitative and quantitative chemical microanalysis, as well as back-scattered diffraction (EBSD) for qualitative and quantitative chemical micro-crystallographic analysis. This instrument will greatly enhance the scanning electron microscopy capabilities at Michigan Tech and will be utilized in research projects currently funded by the Office of Naval Research (ONR), Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), and Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR). These active projects funded by Department of Defense agencies include the development of an underwater smart adhesive, metal alloys for developing hypersonic vehicles, lubricants and food products recycled from plastic wastes, and polymer composite materials for aerospace structures. The proposed FE-ESEM will also be utilized in planned research proposals that will be submitted to various DoD agencies, including the Peer Reviewed Medical Research Program solicited by the U.S. Army Medical Research Acquisition Activity, AFOSR, and DARPA for the development of portable hemostatic agents for treating combat wounds, fuel cell systems for all-electric aircraft, and engineered biomaterials for repairing concrete structures, respectively. Additionally, theproposed instrument will greatly impact other existing research projects, many with DoD relevance, funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the National Science Foundation (NSF), the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the Federal Railway Administration (FRA), and the Department of Energy (DOE). The proposed instrument will be integrated into existing education programs such as capstone design courses and will also be utilized to train researchers and engineers from multiple disciplines across the Michigan Tech campus.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Apr 12, 2023
- Source ID
- N000142312209
Entities
People
- Bruce P Lee
Organizations
- Michigan Technological University
- Office of Naval Research
- United States Navy