National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST) This page is a page of the former research institute. We stopped updating on March 31.2001.
E-mail to webmaster (Japanese) E-mail to webmaster (English)

High-Performance Materials Section


- Researchers -

Head Researcher:　 Norio SANADA, Dr. Eng.
Senior Researcher: Yoshiaki KURATA
Senior Researcher: Hiroshi NANJO, Dr. Eng.
Senior Researcher: Takashi IIJIMA, Dr. Eng.


- RESEARCH OUTLINE OF THE LABORATORY -

　Engineering devices and materials are often forced to be in operation under severe conditions, which might be in microscopic domain, corrosive environments. In the laboratory section elements for electrical memory and micro mechanical devices, which are expected for electronic industry, are tried to be developed by thin film fabrication methods like sol-gel method, sputtering method. Through the development microscopic surface analysis methods like Scanning Tunnel Microscope technique could be useful for designing and evaluating the fabricated products.

- MAIN RESEARCH RESULTS -

Integrated Functional Materials for Ferroelectrics

　Preparation of lead titanate (PbTiO3) and PZT thin film, that are typical ferroelectric materials, is investigated using sol-gel method. We found out that Al substituted lead titanate, Pb(Ti, Al)O3, kept good ferroelectric properties whereas the film thickness decreased to 100nm, and expect that Pb(Ti, Al)O3 thin film can be applied to sensor or memory devices. On the other hand, texture control of PZT thin film is attempted and possibility of the piezoelectric micro mechanical devices is considered. Furthermore according these results, we are composing the multi layer film of shape memory, ferromagnetic and ferroelectric thin films to integrated these functions and create new materials that have some "intelligence".

Corrosion Performance of Metallic Materials

　Metallic materials resistance to chemical actions in severe environments such as geothermal acidic water, super-critical water, etc., is dependent on the interaction between corrosive environ-ment and the material. In many cases, the resistance is not easily determinable in advance. When selecting materials to be used in corrosive environments, it is necessary to have an adequate under-standing of the corrosive conditions and material characteristics. At present, research is being carried out on material selection technology, in conjunction with NEDO's (New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization) development of energy resources in volcanic environments and deep-seated reservoirs.

To organization-e to Japanese