Magnetics Researchers Earn Wohlleben-Hochwalt Award for Outstanding Work;
Outstanding Technician and Support Person Honored
University of Dayton Research Institute researchers Shiqiang (Sam) Liu and Don Lee, who have been drawing international attention for recent breakthroughs in permanent magnet technology, have been named winners of the 2005-2006 Wohlleben-Hochwalt Outstanding Professional Research Award. Liu, a distinguished research engineer and leader of the magnetic materials group in UDRI’s Metals and Ceramics division, and Lee, a senior materials scientist in the same group, will be recognized April 13 at the Research Institute’s annual awards banquet.
Their work will have significant impact to the permanent magnet industry, which has become a multi-billion dollar business in recent years. That market is expected to more than double within the next eight years as hybrid vehicles – which contain a significantly higher proportion of magnetic materials than traditional cars – grow in popularity. “Permanent magnet materials play critical roles in countless commercial and military applications, such as computer, automobile, communication, medical-imaging, power and navigation systems,” Liu said. “Most people are unaware of how prevalent magnets are in their everyday lives. For instance, every automobile uses 40 to 60 magnets, while the average American household uses 50 to 200 magnets. Creating a better magnet means creating a smaller, lighter and better electromagnetic device.”
Liu and Lee drew media and peer attention in 2003 when they developed a new type of rare-earth permanent magnet whose potential power level exceeded that of any magnet of its kind in the world, and Sam presented their findings at the International Magnetics Conference in Boston a short time later. These magnets included materials at the nanoscale (one nanometer equals one-billionth of one meter), and the breakthrough was significant because researchers around the world had not been able to successfully synthesize this type of bulk, textured nanocomposite magnet, which scientists believed would have not only great magnetic strength, but would be lightweight and highly durable as well. Working with other researchers in UDRI’s magnetics lab, the pair found a way to align nanometer-sized particles of magnetic materials – overcoming one of the biggest hurdles to creating a nanocomposite magnet in bulk form (previous nanocomposite magnetic materials came in only powders, ribbons or thin films) and that was “anisotropic,” or textured, with grains aligned in one direction – facilitating the magnet’s strength and durability.
Since then, with the continued support of the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, the Air Force, the Office of Naval Research, the Army Research Office and the Department of Energy, Liu and Lee have further refined their research, achieving ever-higher magnetic energy levels at a pace that has exceeded even their own expectations – and that remain well ahead of nanocomposite permanent magnet energy levels reported around the world. In addition, efforts are underway to transition their technology to industry for commercial use.
“Because of the many advantages of this new technology and the nanograin composite magnets developed at UDRI, such as high magnetic performance, low production cost, improved corrosion resistance, enhanced fracture toughness and improved thermal stability, it is highly anticipated that these magnets will have a significant impact on the magnet industry and our society,” Sam said.
Since 1981, 31 UDRI researchers have won the Wohlleben-Hochwalt award, which commemorates the late Brother William Wohlleben, S.M., founder of the University of Dayton’s chemistry and chemical engineering departments, and late UD alumnus Ted Hochwalt, who was a successful researcher for General Motors and the Monsanto Chemical Co.
James Shardo, chief research technician in the engineering services group in Energy and Environmental Engineering, was named Outstanding Technician for his work operating and maintaining the Advanced Reduced Scale Fuel System Simulator system at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, as well as his work in helping his group obtain management and support of the base system known as the S-Fuel Farm – a network of underground tanks, storage areas and dispersing functions critical to Air Force research in combustion, fuels and lubrication areas.
Supervisor Ted Williams and nominator Gordon Dieterle credited James’ exceptional work and reputation with the Air Force for helping secure additional contract funding. “Jim has always been an outstanding asset to UDRI, and this has been especially true in the last year,” Ted wrote. “His effort was above and beyond his normal responsibilities. The paperwork involved with the safe operation of the (fuel farm) is staggering. Not only did Jim take this on voluntarily, he also streamlined a great portion of the current system by working with several government groups.”
Marla McCleskey, senior administrative assistant in Structural Integrity, was named Outstanding Support Person for her “dedicated support in administering the Pcard (a new company credit card process) for the Structural Integrity division,” wrote colleague Gloria Hardy in her nomination of Marla. “Along with support provided beyond the scope of her current position, Marla was responsible for establishing and administering all processes of the Pcard, and her success with this card will pave the way for introducing it to other divisions in UDRI.”
Gloria said Marla gave tremendous effort and personal attention to the process of administering the card, although she had no previous experience with it.
“Marla established a streamlined process for using the Pcard, and this process has minimized time and effort for the professional and administrative staff. The fact that this additional task was performed in a timely and meticulous manner, while performing other administrative responsibilities for the division, demonstrated Marla’s professional attitude for excellence. Marla’s cheerful and likable personality is a significant contribution to a positive and productive working environment.”
Others nominated for awards this year were: Steve Patton (Nonmetallic Materials), Wohlleben-Hochwalt award, and John Buhrmaster (Materials Engineering) and Hung Nguyen (Research Computing), Outstanding Technician award.
March 23, 2006
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