Graduate School of Engineering
Department of Materials Processing

Microsystems Design and Processing
Micro-powder Processing and Systems (Prof. Nomura, Assoc. Prof.Zhou)

Research Topics

Microsystems by 3-D assembling of micro-particles

Various micro-devices, such as micro-ball solar cells, micro-thermoelectric elements and photonic crystals for terahertz wave manipulation need functional material particles those every particle has unique properties. Micro-assemblies of these particles with two and three-dimensional structures would have higher performance due to periodical or graded structure, smaller in size and new assembly techniques. This research focused on processing of mono-sized particles in the range of 30 to 500 micrometers of various materials and on investigating the properties of artificial material structures, those are fabricated by computer- aided intelligent 3-D assembling of these micro-particles and on investigating an especially introduced isotropy or anisotropy of structure including functional gradients of mechanical, chemical and physical properties. The basic research includes theoretical studies of physical-chemical properties of isotropic and anisotropic micro-assemblies, a fundamental base for design and processing, and experimental evaluation of these micro-assemblies.

Designing and fabricating of intelligent materials

The approach of this research is investigation of intelligent properties of energy-activated Nb-Al materials for preventing or development control of micro-crack through a phase transition of Nb-Al and functionally graded layers. We expect the Nb-Al materials performs well on instantaneous phase transition when they are exposed under a high-energy collision. The final product of phase-transited zone performable a micro-crack barrier and functionally graded layers are expected to guide the direction of macro damage from collision. Mechanical alloying and spark plasma sintering under high pressure are main process and then followed by functional and mechanical properties evaluations.

Development of carbon nano-tube/aluminum composite

Carbon nano-tube has low gravity, extremely high strength and combined with good electric properties compared with other materials. On the other hand, the aluminum is a most popular metal used in airplanes, motorcars and a lot of industrial and daily necessities. To combine the carbon nano-tube with aluminum may drastically improve aluminum properties and may obtain new functions from the composite. The purpose of this research is to investigate basic phenomena when carbon nano-tube mixed with aluminum alloy and to develop strengthened aluminum composite by several fabrication processes, consecutively evaluate their properties.

Fig. 1:
TTypical monosized functional particles

Fig. 2:
Micro-systems constructed by monosized functional particles.