Topic:  Relations between Interfacial Structure and Properties of Ceramic Materials

Abstract

An important task of materials research covers the determination of the relation between microstructure and properties of a material or material system. Since most technical materials are polycrystalline in nature, grain boundaries and interfaces within the material play an important, sometimes controlling, role for the properties. An understanding of the relation requires measurements of the relevant properties and an analysis of the interfaces’ structure and properties.

The required quantitative analysis of the grain boundaries can be done by quantitative microscopy studies, properties (mechanical, electrical) can be measured and the relevant relationships revealed.

Examples will be shown for the mechanical and electrical properties of strontium titanate (SrTiO3) and for other ceramic materials and composites.

 

Curriculum Vitae -- Manfred Rühle