Oregon State Mechanical Engineering Materials Area

MATERIALS AREA

Materials science involves understanding what gives materials their properties---and then using this knowledge to engineer new and better materials that can meet wide-ranging societal and environmental needs.

Materials scientists study how to fabricate new materials, predict their behavior, and control their structure and properties over length-scales spanning from meters down to the atomic scale.

The scope of materials science is immense: It encompasses diverse materials classes (metals, polymers, composites, glasses, and ceramics) and covers applications ranging from structural materials such as those used in bridges and aircraft to electronic, magnetic and optical materials used in computing, communications, and new electronic devices.

The MIME materials science faculty at OSU are engaged in research in many areas:

  • Electroceramics
  • Mechanical properties of materials
  • Micro- and nanoelectro mechanical devices.
  • Multifunctional materials
  • Nanomaterials
  • Piezoelectric materials
  • Superconducting materials
  • Thin films
  • Thermal properties of materials

Together their efforts address applications in areas ranging from sustainable energy to medicine and public health.