MSE Team

Faculty | Staff | Grad Students | Undergrad Students | Others

Donald E. Mikkola

Research Professor
Professor Emeritus
Department of Materials Science and Engineering
508 M&M Building
Shipping/Mailing Address

906.487.2636
906.487.2934 Fax
demikkol@mtu.edu

Education

BS (Metallurgical Engineering), Michigan Technological University
MS (Materials Science and Engineering), Northwestern University
PhD (Materials Science and Engineering), Northwestern University

Research Interests

Structure-property-processing relationships, deformation and strengthening mechanisms, intermetallics, shape memory alloys, composites, materials characterization with diffraction and microscopy.

Teaching Interests

Materials science, materials characterization, x-ray diffraction, senior design.

Research on intermetallic alloys

Current research emphasizes several aspects of intermetallic alloys. New cubic trialuminides based on titanium have been formed recently by selective alloying with chromium or manganese. These new low density alloys have good strength at high temperatures and excellent oxidation resistance. Further property improvements are now being sought through carefully chosen alloying additions to specific atom sites. A basis for ductility enhancement is being established through determination of the nature of the dislocations carrying the deformation by means of transmission electron microscopy and computer simulation of images. Exploitation of these materials as thermally sprayed protective coatings for a variety of materials is also being studied, as is their use in intermetallic composites formed with various ceramic reinforcements. Finally, ultrahigh pressure hot isostatic pressing of mechanically alloyed trialuminides is being examined as a means of producing nanostructured versions of these materials.

High transition temperature shape memory alloys

Selected site substitution alloying is also being used to develop new high transition temperature shape memory alloys. Currently available alloys are restricted in their use to temperatures of the order of 100°C or less. Most potential high transition temperature shape memory alloys based on intermetallics are brittle, but in many cases can be ductilized through selected alloying. Similarly, the shape-memory effect can be enhanced by manipulating the balance between deformation by slip and twinning.

Computer simulation of dislocations

Dislocation studies play an important role in understanding deformation, strengthening, and failure mechanisms of materials. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) has been commonly used in these studies. Improved computer simulation methods, recently developed in our department, have enhanced our ability to identify dislocations quantitatively.

Top