(June 25, 2015) Potential
solutions to big problems continue to arise from research that is revealing how
materials behave at the smallest scales.
The results of a new study to understand the interactions of
various metal alloys at the nanometer and atomic scales are likely to aid
advances in methods of preventing the failure of systems critical to public and
industrial infrastructure.
Research led by Arizona State University materials science
and engineering professor Karl Sieradzki is uncovering new knowledge about the
causes of stress-corrosion cracking in alloys used in pipelines for
transporting water, natural gas and fossil fuels — as well as for components
used in nuclear power generating stations and the framework of aircraft.
Sieradzki is on the faculty of the School for Engineering of
Matter, Transport and Energy, one of ASU’s Ira A. Fulton Schools of
Engineering.