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Approaching Single Crystal Properties Enhancement of Bulk Properties of Polycrystalline Materials by Orientational Control of their Microstructure

Award Information
Agency: Department of Defense
Branch: Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency
Contract: W31P4Q-13-C-0144
Agency Tracking Number: D131-001-0064
Amount: $99,922.00
Phase: Phase I
Program: SBIR
Solicitation Topic Code: SB131-001
Solicitation Number: 2013.1
Timeline
Solicitation Year: 2013
Award Year: 2013
Award Start Date (Proposal Award Date): 2013-05-01
Award End Date (Contract End Date): 2014-01-31
Small Business Information
MA
Watertown, MA 02472-4699
United States
DUNS: 073804411
HUBZone Owned: No
Woman Owned: No
Socially and Economically Disadvantaged: No
Principal Investigator
 Gary Baldoni
 Senior Scientist
 (617) 668-6801
 gbaldoni@rmdinc.com
Business Contact
 Joanne Gladstone
Title: Vice President of Operations
Phone: (617) 668-6845
Email: jgladstone@rmdinc.com
Research Institution
 Stub
Abstract

The goal of this program is to develop a process for producing ceramic materials with properties approaching or, possibly in some aspects, exceeding those of single crystals. Ceramic processing provides important benefits including lower cost, higher yield, relaxed constraints on size and shape, and the possibility of producing materials that are difficult or impossible to grow as single crystals. The program will investigate control of particle size using mechanical separation and chemical approaches to limit nucleation, increase particle size and eliminate small particles. Orientation along three axes will be achieved by a combination of two or more fundamentally different orientation techniques. BiTiO3 will be the model material. Since the material is available as platelets, one axis can be aligned using mechanical processes. We will investigate the use of magnetic orientation and controlling the crystallographic phase at different temperatures to align the other axes. Phase I will result in a demonstration of the ability to enhance the orientation in three axes. The Phase I Option will further investigate and optimize the process, and Phase II will continue the research and development with the goal of producing ceramic material with a high degree of orientation of all three axes.

* Information listed above is at the time of submission. *

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