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Atomic Force Microscopy of Micro-pillars under a Compressive Load
The Laboratory for Mechanics of Materials and Nanostructures is looking for a student in Materials Science or Mechanical Engineering to combine two cutting-edge techniques to help understand how materials deform.
Keywords: Micro-mechanics; Material deformation; Atomic force microscopy; Combinatorial science
Understanding the processes governing material deformation is crucial for designing application-driven material systems. The proposed project combines micro-pillar compression with atomic force microscopy (AFM), in order to probe small volumes of material under a compressive load. Nanoindentation testing equipment allows for the application of very small amounts of force precisely onto a material surface or structure. AFM uses a nanometer-range sharp tip to scan the surface (for example the side of a micro-pillar) to produce a surface-topography map with extremely high XYZ resolution. The candidate will marry existing nano-indentation equipment with an AFM, and design experiments so that the surface of fabricated micro-pillars can be scanned allowing for the elucidation of information on cracking, bulging, grain sliding, and/or slip-plane formation at different applied strains.
The project will require hands-on mechanical work working with specialized equipment, along with active coordination with the scientists at Empa to produce samples for testing. You can expect significant support and guidance from established scientists during the whole of your project. The work will be performed at the Empa laboratories in Thun. The project will go for 4-6 months, and is indented as a bachelor/Master project.
Understanding the processes governing material deformation is crucial for designing application-driven material systems. The proposed project combines micro-pillar compression with atomic force microscopy (AFM), in order to probe small volumes of material under a compressive load. Nanoindentation testing equipment allows for the application of very small amounts of force precisely onto a material surface or structure. AFM uses a nanometer-range sharp tip to scan the surface (for example the side of a micro-pillar) to produce a surface-topography map with extremely high XYZ resolution. The candidate will marry existing nano-indentation equipment with an AFM, and design experiments so that the surface of fabricated micro-pillars can be scanned allowing for the elucidation of information on cracking, bulging, grain sliding, and/or slip-plane formation at different applied strains.
The project will require hands-on mechanical work working with specialized equipment, along with active coordination with the scientists at Empa to produce samples for testing. You can expect significant support and guidance from established scientists during the whole of your project. The work will be performed at the Empa laboratories in Thun. The project will go for 4-6 months, and is indented as a bachelor/Master project.
- The student will first mechanically combine nanoindentation and AFM equipment, requiring the design of holding-pieces and frame support structures in order to facilitate testing.
- Labview-based software will then be developed to control both nanoindenter and AFM from a single system.
- Testing will then be performed on novel materials fabricated at Empa through the application of sequential loadings onto the specimen, with periodic surface measurement using the AFM.
- The student does not require any specific experience in this field, but experience with mechanical instrumentation and materials science is favorable.
- The student will first mechanically combine nanoindentation and AFM equipment, requiring the design of holding-pieces and frame support structures in order to facilitate testing. - Labview-based software will then be developed to control both nanoindenter and AFM from a single system. - Testing will then be performed on novel materials fabricated at Empa through the application of sequential loadings onto the specimen, with periodic surface measurement using the AFM. - The student does not require any specific experience in this field, but experience with mechanical instrumentation and materials science is favorable.
Dr. James Best, Post-doctoral researcher, Laboratory for Mechanics of Materials and Nanostructures, Empa, james.best@empa.ch
Dr. James Best, Post-doctoral researcher, Laboratory for Mechanics of Materials and Nanostructures, Empa, james.best@empa.ch