Department of Materials Science and Engineering

Matthew Kramer

Adjunct Professor
Iowa State University
Materials Science and Engineering
225 Wilhelm Hall
Ames, IA 50011-3020
Phone: 515-294-0276
Fax: 515-294-4291
mjkramer@ameslab.gov

Education

    Ph.D., Iowa State University

Research Interests

  • Electron microscopic characterization (analytical and transmission) of metals, minerals and ceramics
  • Experimental, numerical, and theoretical analysis of deformed ceramics, quasicrystals, and minerals
  • Materials processing of intermetallics and high temperature ceramic superconductors

Grants and Contracts

  • Kramer, M. J., Sordelet, D. J., Thiel, P. A., Goldman, A. I., & Lograsso, T. A., U.S. Department of Energy--Office of Basic Energy Sciences, October 1995 to September 1999, $2,225,000 "Surface and Interface Properties of Quasicrystals."
    Quasicrystals are well-ordered structures that fall outside the realm of conventional crystallography. Essentially, the materials were regarded as useless curiosities following their discovery in 1984 although the fact of their existence was highly controversial. While practical uses for the bulk materials remain elusive today, recent work has shown that coatings of quasicrystals can have spectacular properties. The properties of interest friction, adhesion, corrosion- and wear-resistance are all determined by phenomena at surface or interfacial regions. However, very little is known about these underlying phenomena. Elucidating them is the focus of our project. Our investigations revolve around three main questions: (1) What is the structure of the clean surface? In particular, what is the arrangement of atoms at the surface? The important aspects here are the local atomic motifs at the surface and how they differ from those found in the bulk. (2) What is the surface and interface chemistry involved in corrosion resistance, friction, fracture, and adhesion? For instance, does the surface form a passivating oxide layer, and is this layer responsible for friction at "dry" (unlubricated) surfaces? What is the role of grain boundaries in oxidation at poly-grain and multi-phase materials? (3) How are the surface and interface properties of quasicrystalline materials distinct from the properties of metallic alloys with similar composition? In other words, which of the interesting properties discovered so far are due to quasicrystallinity, and which are due simply to chemical composition? Here, comparisons between crystalline and quasicrystalline materials will provide the answers. (Administered by Institute for Physical Research and Technology/Ames Laboratory)
  • Kramer, M. J., & Akinc, M., Department of Energy- Synthesis and Processing Center, September 30, 1998 to September 30, 1999, $40,000 "Processing of Intermetallics"
  • Kramer, M. J., Unal, O., & Cook, B., Department of Energy-Advanced Energy Projects Agency, January 1, 1997 to September 30, 1999, $896,000 "Development of Next Generation Heat Exchangers and Heating Elements,"
  • Kramer, M. J., & McCallum, R. W., "Solidification Microstructures"
  • Kramer, M. J., & Jiles, D., Seagate Technologies, April 1, 1998 to March 31, 1999, $118,000 "Characterization of the Magnetic Properties of Recording Head Materials," This project involves magnetic and structural characterization of soft magnetic materials for magnetic hard disk read heads. The idea is to enable storage densities on magnetic computer hard disk drives to continue to be increased by providing new technology for shielding of sensors from stray magnetic fields. The project is also developing computer models of the materials in order to ascertain how stress affects their performance in disk drives.
  • Kramer, M. J., & McCallum, R. W., Department of Energy-Office of Basic Energy Sciences, "Fundamentals of Processing Bulk High Tc Superconductors"