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Title: Nanotribology: Modeling atoms when surfaces collide

Abstract

Molecular tribology, or nanotribology, provides an atomic-scale understanding of the fundamental processes that take place when surfaces in relative motion interact. Researchers at LLNL and elsewhere need to know more about these processes to design and build many ultra-precise components, including optical devices, very smooth surfaces, and computer chips. A type of realistic computer modeling developed at LLNL, called molecular dynamics modeling is used to study what happens when different materials, such as metals and glass, undergo cutting, grinding, cracking, and other processes associated with fabrication. It has been found, for example, that both metals and ceramics behave in a ductile manner when machining is simulated on the nanometer length scale. However, the mechanisms underlying deformation are quite different in the two types of materials. Metals, such as copper, remain crystalline and deform through dislocation mechanisms. In contrast, covalent materials, such as silicon, transform into an amorphous state, which flows. Such information is being applied to develop more practical engineering guidelines for researchers at LLNL and in the industrial community.

Publication Date:
OSTI Identifier:
28893
Resource Type:
Journal Article
Journal Name:
Energy and Technology Review
Additional Journal Information:
Other Information: PBD: Aug-Sep 1994
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
36 MATERIALS SCIENCE; TRIBOLOGY; RESEARCH PROGRAMS; COPPER; SURFACE PROPERTIES; SILICON; COMPUTERIZED SIMULATION; SURFACES

Citation Formats

. Nanotribology: Modeling atoms when surfaces collide. United States: N. p., 1994. Web.
. Nanotribology: Modeling atoms when surfaces collide. United States.
. 1994. "Nanotribology: Modeling atoms when surfaces collide". United States.
@article{osti_28893,
title = {Nanotribology: Modeling atoms when surfaces collide},
author = {},
abstractNote = {Molecular tribology, or nanotribology, provides an atomic-scale understanding of the fundamental processes that take place when surfaces in relative motion interact. Researchers at LLNL and elsewhere need to know more about these processes to design and build many ultra-precise components, including optical devices, very smooth surfaces, and computer chips. A type of realistic computer modeling developed at LLNL, called molecular dynamics modeling is used to study what happens when different materials, such as metals and glass, undergo cutting, grinding, cracking, and other processes associated with fabrication. It has been found, for example, that both metals and ceramics behave in a ductile manner when machining is simulated on the nanometer length scale. However, the mechanisms underlying deformation are quite different in the two types of materials. Metals, such as copper, remain crystalline and deform through dislocation mechanisms. In contrast, covalent materials, such as silicon, transform into an amorphous state, which flows. Such information is being applied to develop more practical engineering guidelines for researchers at LLNL and in the industrial community.},
doi = {},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/28893}, journal = {Energy and Technology Review},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Mon Aug 01 00:00:00 EDT 1994},
month = {Mon Aug 01 00:00:00 EDT 1994}
}