Summer Experience in Earth and Mineral Sciences (SEEMS)
SEEMS
is offered to participants in the Upward Bound Math
and Science (UBMS) Program, one of the federally funded TRIO Programs designed
to support and motivate students from disadvantaged backgrounds. The program
focuses on first-generation college students, providing academic enrichment
throughout the year as well as an intensive six-week program each summer while
the student is still in high school. Penn State UBMS holds a 100 percent
postsecondary education acceptance rate and a 100 percent high school
graduation rate for participants in the program.
Phases Research Lab has participated in the SEEMS since 2004.
2004 Team F, Phases Research Lab Advisor: Zhi-Jie Liu, UBMS Instructor: Kevin Harman
2005 Team A, Phases Research Lab Advisor: Yu Zhong, UBMS Instructor: Kevin Harman
2006 Team A, Phases Research Lab Advisor: Sara Prins, UBMS Instructor: Kevin Harman
2007 Team O, Phases Research Lab Advisor: Swetha Ganeshan, Hui Zhang, UBMS Instructor: Pamela Monk
2008 Team K: Phases Research Lab Advisor: Arkapol Saengdeejing, UBMS Instructor: Joshua Harper
2009 Team H: Phases Research Lab Advisor: Sung Hoon Lee, UBMS Instructor: Joshua Harper
Click here to see photos of SEEMS activities
Our
project will examine how computational thermodynamics and kinetics can be used
to solve practical problems. Students will be introduced to some basic
thermodynamics and kinetics knowledge and will be guided to use professional
software such as Thermo-Calc and Dictra to solve real
application problems. They will learn how to make diffusion couples and
investigate the experimental data on solid phase equillibria
and phase relationships in some binary systems or pseudo-binary systems
provided by diffusion couples. They will select the initial isothermal holding
temperature and time based on thermodynamic calculations (by Thermo-Calc) and
phase transformation simulations (by Dictra).
Metallographic samples will be prepared. A number of different methods will be
used to characterize the intermediate phases presented in the diffusion
couples, including optical microscopy, microhardness
measurement, EPMA and X-ray diffractions. SEM, OIM, and TEM will also be used
if needed. The overall goal of the program is to provide a preview of what a
career in materials science and engineering might be like and the new trend of
in the materials sciences research.
|
Student |
Grade |
School |
|
Jamael Boynes Derrick Artis Lakeisha Farlow Eduardo Lipe Joseph Mercer |
12 10 11 10 10 |
Harrisburg William Penn Germantown-Lankenau Motivational High School Reading Mahanoy Area High School |
Our project
will examine how computational thermodynamics and kinetics can be used to solve
practical problems. Students will be introduced to some basic thermodynamics
and kinetics knowledge and will be guided to use professional software such as
Thermo-Calc and Dictra to solve real application
problems. They will learn how to make diffusion couples and investigate the
experimental data on solid phase equilibria and phase
relationships in some binary systems or pseudo-binary systems provided by
diffusion couples. They will select the initial isothermal holding temperature
and time based on thermodynamic calculations (by Thermo-Calc) and phase
transformation simulations (by Dictra).
Metallographic samples will be prepared. A number of different methods will be
used to characterize the intermediate phases presented in the diffusion
couples, including optical microscopy, microhardness
measurement, EPMA and X-ray diffractions. SEM, OIM, and TEM will also be used
if needed. The overall goal of the program is to provide a preview of what a
career in materials science and engineering might be like and the new trend of
in the materials sciences research.
|
Student |
Grade |
School |
|
Francisco Martinez |
12 |
Kennett HS |
|
Brittany Brandon |
12 |
Germantown HS (Philadelphia) |
|
Kim Larrabee |
11 |
Reading HS |
|
Katharine Hickey |
12 |
Central HS (Martinsburg) |
|
Randi Patterson |
12 |
Harrisburg HS |
Group Presentation by 2005 Team A
Faculty: Prof. Zi-Kui Liu
Graduate Student: Sara Prins
UBMS Instructor: Kevin Harman
Platinum-based alloys (¥ã-Pt / ¥ã¢-Pt3Al) have been identified as potential ultra-high temperature structural alloys for hot components in jet turbine engines and rockets. Platinum is one of the most expensive metals, and also one of the densest (21.3 g/cm3). To alleviate the high cost and lower the density, the Pt is alloyed with Ni, which behaves crystallographically similar to Pt, and is the base-element in Ni-based superalloys used to manufacture jet turbine blades. Though these alloys received a lot of attention recently, there is still some uncertainty in the phase equilibria, which hinders the refinement of the thermodynamic model. In this study, we propose to prepare various diffusion couples between alloys with different compositions. The diffusion couples will be heat-treated at temperatures based on theoretic predictions to study the formation of various phases. The information obtained will provide better understanding of phase relations in Pt alloys and be used to refine the thermodynamic model for Pt alloys.
|
Student |
Grade |
School |
|
Chris Hassler |
11 |
Reading High School, Reading, PA |
|
Ryeheim Magobet |
12 |
William Penn High School, Philadelphia, PA |
|
Estrillita Olvera |
12 |
Avon Grove High School, Avon Grove, PA |
|
Robert Stewart |
11 |
Selma Early College High School, Selma, AL |
|
Dahiana Tejada |
12 |
Reading High School, Reading, PA |
Faculty: Prof. Zi-Kui Liu
Graduate Student: Swetha Ganeshan, Hui Zhang
UBMS Instructor: Pamela Monk
Today, Mg is one of the most widely used element in several industrial applications, including transportation and aerospace due to its attractive properties like light weight and high fuel-efficiency. The immensely growing consumption of Mg alloys in the automobile industries has increased the need for a better understanding of the factors affecting their properties and for a wider range of Mg alloys with low thermal expansion and high creep strength. Mg-Ca-Zn is one of the many Mg based ternary systems developed so far in accordance to the aforementioned needs. A computationally calculated phase diagram [1] of the Mg-Ca-Zn system in the past, showed almost a complete agreement with the available experimental data. Based on their results, the authors [1] speculated the presence of a new ternary phase Ca2Mg5Zn13 in this system. The main objective of this year¡¯s SEEMS project is to validate the existence of this proposed phase with the help of experiments based on a diffusion couple approach. During the course of this project, the students will be introduced to the fundamentals of thermodynamics and diffusion kinetics that are some of the crucial topics in Materials Science. This will not only help them in visualizing the goal of their current project in the right perspective but also build a strong foundation for their future endeavors in the field of Materials Science and Engineering. Hands-on experience with some of the most advanced characterization techniques will be an included part of this project. To put it in a nut shell, the ultimate goal of the current project is to give the students an overview of the materials world in a manner that is comprehensible by them, and thereby inspire them to become proficient scientists and engineers in future.
[1] C. O. Brubaker and Z. K. Liu, "A computational thermodynamic model of the Ca-Mg-Zn system," J. Alloy. Compd., Vol.370, 2004, 114-122.
|
Student |
Grade |
School |
|
Ryan Robinson |
12 |
|
|
Hakeem |
11 |
|
|
Marleen Polanco |
10 |
|
|
Shanae Henry |
10 |
|
Group Presentation by 2007 Team O
Faculty:
Prof. Zi-Kui Liu
Graduate
Student: Arkapol Saengdeejing
UBMS
Instructor: Joshua Harper
Al-Mg
is the most important binary alloys system for both Al alloys and Mg
alloys. This alloy, known for its
light weight characteristic, has a combine good room temperature strength and
ductility with satisfying corrosion resistance and excellent castability. Based on Al-Mg binary alloy, it
application varies from aircraft, aerospace, automotive, and shipbuilding to
household products including pots, pans, and cooking utensils. Understanding the phase diagram is very
important for the development of this alloy. In the Al-Mg binary system, there are
three intermetallic phases (¥â-Al140Mg89, ¥å-Al30Mg23
and ¥ã-Al12Mg17).
Investigate the phase equilibrium between those phases is the first step
to understand the Al-Mg system. In
this summer experience, the student will be introduced to the basic concept of
phase diagram and the important of phase diagram for the development of
materials. The student will learn
how to investigate the phase equilibrium using diffusion couples method, the
methodology to prepare the sample, how to use the equipments and how to use the
optical microscope to investigate the microstructure.
|
Student |
Grade |
School |
|
Tavia Campbell |
12 |
|
|
Maldonado Daley |
11 |
|
|
Joshua Bennett |
12 |
|
|
Karl Mareth |
12 |
|
|
Wanming Wen |
11 |
Fels High School |
Faculty:
Prof. Zi-Kui Liu
Graduate Student: Sung Hoon Lee
UBMS
Instructor: Joshua Harper
Mg based alloys have a good room temperature strength and
ductility with satisfying corrosion resistance and castability. Creep resistance at elevated temperature
is also required for the special application such as engine blocks or powertrain components.
For these applications, Mg-Ca-Zn alloys were discussed as a major
candidate material. Therefore,
understanding the phase diagram is very important for the development of this
alloy. Computationally predicted
phase diagram of this system showed a good agreement with the available
experimental data but they assumed no ternay solubilities of the binary solid phases. Instead, recently suggested model
includes the ternary phases in this system. Therefore, the main objective of this
project is to validate the presence of the ternary compounds and its solubility
based on a diffusion couple approach.
The basic concept of thermodynamics and kinetics will be introduced to
the students with phase diagram. From
the sample preparation to the sample characterization, hands-on experiences
will be included in this project.
|
Student |
Grade |
School |
|
Sloan Dantzler |
11 |
|
|
Alan Dorsinville |
11 |
|
|
Vanay Joynes |
12 |
|
|
Khadija
Washington |
11 |
|
Group
Presentation by 2009 Team H