In the Materials Science area, the research emphasis is on the relationship between microstructure and physical properties with special attention to mechanical properties. We have extensive and multidisciplinary collaboration in the area of Optics Manufacturing with emphasis on the mechanics and materials issues associated with the manufacturing of high precision surfaces in glasses and crystals. Graduate research topics span a wide range, including deterministic microgrinding, lapping and polishing of glasses and optical crystals; properties of piezoelectric and nano-crystalline materials and laser damage of bulk glasses and thin films.
The Department has extensive experimental facilities including scanning, atomic force, and optical microscopes, servohydraulic and screw-driven mechanical testing systems, a nanoindenter and an x-ray diffraction facility.
General research topics for faculty members working in Materials Science are listed below. Click on a faculty name for a link to their web page with more detail about their research.
Associated Faculty
- Stephen Burns (Fracture, Adhesion, Electro-wetting, Cutting, Slitting, Polishing and grinding)
- Paul Funkenbusch (Precision grinding, Powder processing, Deformation processing, Design of experiments)
- John Lambropoulos (Optics manufacturing, Laser damage, Nanoindentation, Crystal growth)
- James Li (Adhesion, Tin whiskers, Nanowires, Nanocrystalline materials, Polymers, Combustion synthesis)
- David Quesnel (Particle adhesion, Piezoelectric materials, Corrosion, Molecular dynamics). Quesnel's Research Group.
Maps and Directions | UofR Home Page | College Home Page |
