Model for NanoDomain Structure of PDCs

1. Unusual Stability of Amorphous Polymer Derived Ceramics (PDCs)at High TemperaturesRishi Raj, University of Colorado at Boulder, DMR 0502781 Alexandra Navrotsky, University of California Davis, DMR 0502446    Model for NanoDomain Structure of PDCs High Temperature Calorimetric Measurements In contrast to metalllic glasses, the amorphous structure of PDCs is thermodynamically stabilized by the low interfacial energy of the domain walls. Thermodynamically Stable SixOyCz Polymer–Like Amorphous Ceramics T. Varga1, A. Navrotsky1, J. L. Moats1, R. M. Morcos1, F. Poli2, K. Müller2, A. Saha3and R. Raj3, J. Am. Ceram. Soc., 90[10], 20071UC–Davis, 2U Colorado, 3U Stuttgart, Germany

2. PDC-2006 Unusual Stability of Amorphous Polymer Derived Ceramics (PDCs)at High TemperaturesRishi Raj, University of Colorado at Boulder, DMR 0502781 Alexandra Navrotsky, University of California Davis, DMR 0502446    •International Collaboration and Training:University of Stuttgart and the Technical University of Darmstadt are working together with University of Colorado and University of California at Davis. Two Ph.D. students, two post-docs, and four undergraduate students in the US are working closely with two post-docs and one Ph.D. student in Germany. •PDCs are Unique New Materials: PDCs are the first example of “metastable” ceramics, akin to the advent of metallic glasses. They have similarity to organic polymers but are stable at high temperatures and harsh environments. They can be expected to have a huge technological impact in the next 10-20 years. The discovery of the thermodynamic stability of amorphous PDCs, under this grant, is of seminal significance for a scientific foundation to explain and to design of the multifunctional properties of the PDCs from a molecular scale. • PDC-2006: A week long workshop dedicated to PDC research was attended by ~50 researchers from Europe and United States was held in Boulder. Industrial interest was strong. http://spot.colorado.edu/~rajr/PDC2006/ • PDC-2008: Preparations have begun for a two week long workshop from July 27 - August 9, 2008. Experts from adjacent fields such as electrochemistry, electrooptics, coatings, graphene structures will be invited to expand the scope of PDC research.