Wednesday, 5th October 2005 (4071 views)

Gold is one of the metals to be given a boost by the $6.5 million investment in the Materials Research Science and Engineering Centre (MRSEC) at Carnegie Mellon University.

Over the course of the next six years, the National Science Foundation will provide the funds for more research to take place in the centre.

The MRSEC conducts research into the properties of materials such as gold on the nanoscale and their potential applications in various industries.

Researchers have found that the way materials behave in a polycrystalline state is often determined by the different types of grain boundaries they have. Upon alerting the nanoscale grain boundary structure, materials such as gold take on new characteristics, including improved resistance to corrosion.

"We are studying how these nanoscale polycrystals work and what makes them both durable and functional," head of MRSEC Gregory Rohrer explained.

Researchers at Carnegie Mellon are also able to create materials with the necessary properties for a variety of industrial uses, ranging from fortified car fenders to more fuel-efficient aircraft, by using computer-controlled experimental methodology.

Mr Rohrer further commented that the centre's work could enable the future production of smaller, faster computer chips and safer power plants.

 

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