An Assessment of the National Institute of Standards and Technology Material Measurement Laboratory Fiscal Year 2014 (2015) / Chapter Skim
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6 Materials Measurement Science Division
6 Materials Measurement Science Division
Pages 45-53
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From page 45... ...
The work emphasizes the determination of the composition, structure, and properties of materials. The technical work is divided into eight groups: Microscopy and Microanalysis Research Group, Nano Materials Research Group, Materials for Energy and Sustainable Development Group, Surface and Trace Chemical Analysis Group, Synchrotron Science Group, Materials Structure and Data Group, Nanomechanical Properties Group, and Security Technologies Group.
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From page 46... ...
The group studies the fundamental aspects of the excitation process and addresses quantification, standards development, instrument improvements, and data analysis challenges associated with these analytical methods; the group applies the methods to autoradiography and nuclear track methods, size calibration of particles, trace detection of explosive and narcotic particles, and advanced flow visualization. The Synchrotron Science Group develops and disseminates science and technology pertaining to the measurement of structure, including chemical and electronic, of advanced materials by synchrotron methods.
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From page 47... ...
The prospect of achieving single-grain response and of extending these experiments to other temperature and mean pressure states is exciting and could revolutionize understanding of the mechanical response of all condensed matter. The Security Technologies Group focuses on measurement science as it applies to body armor, the detection of hidden weapons using millimeter-wave imaging, and more exotic technologies such as those for the detection of individuals buried in rubble or obscured by walls.
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From page 48... ...
Overall Assessment of Technical Programs The dispersal of MMSD scientists across eight buildings in Gaithersburg and a separate National Laboratory makes it challenging to grow a coherent division. Cross-cutting thrust areas, such as the Materials Genome Initiative, are of secondary interest to most of the scientists, but much of the work in all the groups fits well into the MML thrust areas.
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From page 49... ...
The Surface and Trace Chemical Analysis Group has an impressive suite of commercially based instruments, including secondary ion imaging and tomographic atom probe analysis coupled with laser excitation of surface atoms. In the Synchrotron Science Group the beamlines currently being supported include the current beamline X23A2 (4.7 to 32 keV)
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From page 50... ...
, and with the broader user community, including numerous industrial partners. Across the MMSD, the internal assessment of output seems satisfactory and recognizes the different expectations placed on individuals, but some staff expressed concern that these division-level assessments were not always understood at the MML level and above.
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From page 51... ...
Roughly a third of new instruments sold worldwide include a NIST standards diffraction package. The MMSD also provides SRD covering crystallographic and structural information, phase diagrams, surface spectroscopy, ceramic properties, and x-ray and image analysis, all of which are used worldwide.
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From page 52... ...
The Materials Structure and Data Group is the acknowledged source of phase diagram and crystal structural information around the world. The Microscopy and Microanalysis Group and the Surface and Trace Chemical Analysis Group have long been recognized as the organizations that set the world standards for quantitative electron imaging, x-ray analysis, and secondary ion imaging and analysis.
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From page 53... ...
Over the past decade, a shift to short-term, customer-driven research and responses to unfunded mandates are eroding this long-term strategy and are promoting more short-term, applied research in areas where the MMSD is less competitive compared to academia and other national laboratories. Recommendation: The Materials Measurement Science Division should encourage long term basic research.
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