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Materials Science and Engineering
J. H. Weaver, Head
201 Materials Science and Engineering Building, 1304 W. Green St., MC-246, Urbana, IL 61801-2920
217-333-1441 • http://www.mse.uiuc.edu

A materials science and engineering revolution is under way, and it will be a key factor in determining the outcome of global economic competition in the years ahead. Within the last several decades, many of the dominant materials of our society have been supplemented or replaced by new and better systems. Computer modeling and simulation are playing increasingly important roles in improving designs of advanced materials and processes. The ability to tailor properties for function makes improved products possible at minimal cost.

Knowledge of the atomic, crystalline, and microstructural characteristics of materials and use of this knowledge in the design and synthesis of new materials receive major emphasis in the research programs of the department. Equally challenging is the understanding of how these materials can be formed into useful shapes and devices.

In the area of ceramics, new scientifically based methods of fabricating optimized ceramic microstructures and macrostructures provide the underpinning for a wide range of research topics, such as new high-temperature superconductors and ultrahard coatings.

Work in the area of metals ranges from studies on high-performance steels to basic research on intermetallic compounds and nanophase materials. Fundamental studies of corrosion of metals in gaseous environments are under way to interpret the complex surface reactions between metals and gases such as oxygen, hydrogen, or nitrogen.

Polymer research is directed at materials that tend to self-assemble in the melt or solution and can then be fabricated into shapes with outstanding mechanical properties. New kinds of biodegradable polymers are being studied with the goal of designing systems that facilitate disposal of plastics.

Studies of electronic materials include advanced research on processes to deposit single layers of molecules to tailor the properties of semiconductor devices. This knowledge is of great value in the design of optical and magnetic devices.

New kinds of composites consisting of high-strength fibers embedded in metal, ceramic, or organic matrices are being explored with the goal of providing the foundations for the next generation of high-performance structural materials.

To meet the challenges of educating materials scientists for the future, a curriculum has been designed for undergraduate and graduate students. As part of this program, collaborative research is pursued with groups in electrical, mechanical, civil, and chemical engineering, as well as physics and chemistry.


Summary of Engineering Research