Ames Laboratory's Thiel Featured in Slovenia newspaper article

Ames Lab chemist Pat Thiel, who was lecturing on quasicrystals in Slovenia in May, sat down with Delo reporter Jasna Kontler-Salamon to talk about new materials. The article appeared in the May 29 edition and a translation, by Urska Bukovnik, Department of Biochemistry, Kansas State University, ubukov@ksu.edu, is as follows. (Special thanks to Peter Orazem, University Professor of Economics, Iowa State University).

OUR IMAGINATION IS THE ONLY LIMIT OF OUR DEVELOPMENT

New materials

There are only few scientific areas in the world that have experienced as rapid development in the last few decades as the area of new materials. Our distinguished scientist Dr. Janez Dolinšek said: ‘New materials have characteristics, which not long ago still seemed science fiction.’

In the last 20 years new materials were composed of three or more chemical elements in equal proportions. Till recently, physical, chemical and mechanical properties of some of these materials seemed unrealistic and their existence in known alloys mutually exclusive. An example is an electric conductor that serves also as a thermal isolator. Another similar ‘unbelievable combination’ of material characteristics is a combination of solidity, elasticity and low friction. These characteristics have a convenient low wear-out, especially if used in fast rotating engines. However, even more surprising characteristics are expected to be found in materials that remain to be discovered.
Recently, Slovenia had an opportunity to host the World’s top scientists from the field of development of new materials. We interviewed three of them: Professor Dr. Janez Dolinšek, Dr. Patrizia Thiel, professor and head of Department for materials from Iowa State University in the USA and professor Srinivasa Ranganathan, a well known scientist in the area of new materials. In year 1985, Dr. Srinivasa Ranganathan discovered decagonal artificial crystals; special alloys with crystalographically so called ‘prohibited symmetries’. As mentioned later, such materials can store large quantities of hydrogen, therefore are anticipated to be used in fuel cells of hydrogen driven vehicles. Unfortunately, such vehicles are not expected to be on the market sooner than 30 to 40 years from now.
‘There is only half of percent of free hydrogen, the rest of hydrogen is bound in compounds. The main reason why oil will always have advantage over new fuels is the fact that a lot of energy is needed to bring hydrogen back into an elementary state’: says Dr. Dolinšek. Despite this fact, intensive preparations are in effect for a so called ‘hydrogen economy’ and a large percentage of this economy is based on new materials.

Big discovery every few decades
Development in the area of new materials in most cases comes slowly, said professor Ranganathan. But we see a big step forward in development of new materials nowadays compared to 20 years ago. Bulldozers for example, are half as heavy as the ones from 2 decades ago. Once in a while we discover completely new materials, often as a result of coincidences. Big discoveries are seen on average once every 10 years. According to professor Ranganathan’s predictions we can expect more discoveries which will improve on currently known materials. The only limit is the limit of our imagination. Currently we are using three or four chemical elements, yet there are many more in nature. But with new opportunities, there will be added pressure for new developments.

To the question which are the most desired characteristics of new materials, professor Ranganathan answered, that solidity, toughness and elasticity, were characteristics that were missing in buildings ruined by the earthquake in China. It is most important to find materials that retain strength at the lowest possible weight.

Dr. Thiel mentioned an additional desired characteristic of new materials which is resistance to high temperatures in oxygen environments. While Dr. Dolinšek pointed out that all components of certain material are important, as deficiency of one threatens the use of composition. Materials used to build aircraft materials are expected to be light and resistant to high temperature stress. At 10,000 meters, temperature is minus 50 degrees Celsius, but at the time of landing, temperature on the ground usually fluctuates around 20 degrees Celsius. With every flight the metal contracts and expands and a lack of appropriate characteristics of an alloy may result in development of cracks. Due to limited availability of materials used for aircrafts we still do not have an aircraft that could fly at six to twelve times the speed of sound even though we could build the engine for such a plane. We still do not have the material that could resist high temperatures that result from friction of air layers at such high speed. Because we do not have the material that could be resistant enough, ceramic plates capable of tolerating temperatures are glued to space shuttles. If the ceramic plate unglues, that part of the construction underneath melts and the vessel falls apart, as happened on February 1st 2003 to NASA’s space shuttle Columbia.

The research of Professor Thiel is focused on development of metal materials, especially their surface characteristics. She is one of the few female scientists who achieved such a distinguished status in this area of research. To the question what led her to the research of materials, she answered that she was interested in a wide variety things, besides science also writing, but she chose the research field of material development as the field seemed exciting and very new at the time she started her research.

Technological supremacy
Based on an increased awareness that countries that develop new materials have a technological advantage, more scientists are needed for research in and development of new materials. Many countries therefore strive for educating as much scientists for this area as possible. In Slovenia, as mentioned by professor Dolinšek, the study of new materials represents parts of various study programs, such as the physics of metallurgy, but the number of students is low. There was an attempt to organize a joint study program covering the field of material development, but unfortunately it seems that future Slovene students are still not aware of the rewards from such a program. Prof. Thiel says: ‘We have a very good program of study of new materials at a few U.S. universities. As we wish to have more students for this research area we try to direct more young talented young people to this field.’

Dr. Ranganathan said: ‘We have several universities in India where it is possible to study new materials, but we need more such graduates for our industry. In the last years our government has devoted a lot of money to research of new materials, metal and non-metal. We anticipate more students choosing this rewarding field of research as it promises good income even though it is true that the biggest incomes still are in informatics technology. But I think that this will become balanced.’

Successful Slovenian researchers
What is the situation in the field of new materials in Slovenia? Slovenia has top scientists from this field and therefore owns one of the World’s centers for new material research. Slovenian scientists play role in preparation of the so-called ‘hydrogen economy’ especially when it comes to development of hydrogen storage. Currently, hydrogen in automobile prototypes is stored as compressed gas which is dangerous for a driver. In the future hydrogen is expected to be stored in metal hybrids at normal pressure of oxygen.

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