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Materials / Composites Research

General
Associated Center
Associated Faculty

Selected Research Profiles

• Improved application of coatings improves equipment performance. . .
  Wear of mechanical devices leads to reductions in equipment lifetime and performance that, in turn, costs the economy billions of dollars each year. Aiming to simultaneously enhance the durability and reduce the costs of high performance surfaces, a unique consortium involving government, industry and UConn faculty members is developing novel coatings at the Storrs campus. The research team - composed of Drs. Maurice Gell, Eric Jordan, Baki Cetegen and Ted Bergman - seeks to understand the fundamental deposition mechanisms and characteristics of ceramic coatings that are formed using a novel solution precursor plasma spray method. The technique involves injecting liquid precursor feedstock into a plasma jet, where it is heated and used to form nanostructured, porous ceramic coatings on metal or ceramic surfaces. The new coatings have applications as thermal barrier coatings, abrasion-resistent coatings, supports for catalytic materials, as well as for use as biocompatible surfaces for biomedical implants.
  
• Method improves jet engine performance. . .
• Fractals aid in design and processing of polymer matrix composites. . .
• Understanding composite formation at the most fundamental level. . .