A 70-year-old model used to predict the microstructure of materials doesn't work, according to Carnegie Mellon University researchers in Science. A microscopy technique developed by Carnegie Mellon and Argonne National Laboratory yields evidence that contradicts the conventional model and points the way toward the use of new types of characterizations to predict properties — and therefore the safety and long-term durability — of new materials.
If a metallurgist discovered an alloy that could drastically improve an aircraft's performance, it could take as long as 20 years before a passenger would be able to board a plane made of that alloy. With no way to predict how a material will change when it is subjected to the stressors of processing or everyday use, researchers use trial and error to establish a material's safety and durability. This lengthy process is a significant bottleneck to materials innovation.