The Engineered Microstructures and Radiation Effects Laboratory (EMREL) at Stony Brook
University explores the science of interface engineered alloys with particular emphasis
on high-strength and radiation-tolerant nanomaterials for extreme environment applications.
Research couples novel processing techniques and in situ characterization tools with
large-scale atomistic simulations in the design of hierarchically structured alloys
with characteristic structural length scales spanning orders of magnitude from the
nanometer to microscale regime. Materials are synthesized through a variety of methods
selected specifically to introduce key microstructural features for improved properties
that include electroforming, sputter and pulsed laser deposition, additive spray deposition,
and laser additive manufacturing techniques. The common theme among all material systems
studied involves tailoring interfaces (e.g., grain and phase boundaries) across multiple
length scales ranging from the atomic (solute segregation at grain boundaries) and
nanoscale (chemical inhomogeneities in multiphase systems and interface network effects)
to collective responses of tailored microstructures that ultimately govern thermal
stability, mechanical behavior, and radiation tolerance. Our research is supported
by the National Science Foundation through the Division of Materials Research and
the Civil, Mechanical and Manufacturing Innovation Division, the Department of Energy
Office of Fusion Energy Sciences and Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E),
and the Office of Naval Research.
Research Highlights
Professor Trelewicz discusses nanostructured metal alloys for fusion energy applications. This work is supported by the Department of Energy Office of Fusion Energy Sciences.
Recent Publications
Prof. Sprouster's and Prof. Snead's paper "Linking Lattice Strain and Fractal Dimensions to Non-monotonic Volume Changes in Irradiated Nuclear Graphite" was published in Interdisciplinary Materials.
Cormac's paper "Microstructurally Informed Synchrotron X-Ray Analysis Revealing Helium Defect Transitions in Ultrafine Grained Tungsten" published in Journal of Nuclear Materials.
Prof. Sprouster's paper "Low temperature neutron irradiation stability of Zirconium hydride and Yttrium hydride" was published in Journal of Nuclear Materials.
Abhinav's paper "High-temperature nanoindentation creep studies on castable and sintered nanostructured low-activation ferritic-martensitic alloys" was published in Journal of Nuclear Materials.
News Highlights
Collaboration between EMREL, MIT, and ORNL was Highlighted in Nuclear Newswire
ASI Announces the FACET Lab of EMREL as Beta Test Site for of First-of-a-Kind New Gleeble UHTC System.
EMREL Successfully Teams on Three 20 M$ DOE-Office of Fusion Energy Awarded FIRE Grants.