Our group initially focused solely on elucidating structure-property relationships for metallic thin films. Since then, our work has broadened to encompass a wider array of structural materials and also expanded into new engineering education research. Our work takes part both in traditional experimental laboratories, where testing is done, and in our offices, where we read literature, analyze data, discuss our findings, and think. In addition to research, I also spend time designing professional development opportunities for students, faculty, and teachers.
To learn more about our work, you can find our publications here:
Current Research Collaborators
- Ryan Erminio, PhD Student Materials Science and Engineering (Co-advised w/ Dr. Pataky, Mechanical Engineering)
- Jeffery Haas, PhD Candidate Mechanical Engineering (Co-advised w/ Dr. Pataky, Mechanical Engineering)
Former Group Members
Each of the following students played an important role on our research team:
- Katherine Hafner, MS (co-advised), Bioengineering, May 2017.
- Colton Katsarelis; MS, Materials Science & Engineering, December 2017.
- Robert Houliston; MS, Materials Science & Engineering, December 2017.
- Bradley Schultz, PhD, Materials Science and Engineering, August 2016.
- David R. Economy, PhD, Materials Science and Engineering, August 2015.
- Golnaz Najaf T, MS (co-advised), Materials Science and Engineering, August 2015.
- Akeem Cruickshank, MS (co-advised), Materials Science and Engineering, December 2014.
- Julia Reid, MS, Materials Science and Engineering, August 2012.
- David R. Economy, MS, Materials Science and Engineering, May 2013.
- Nathan Mitchell, MS, Materials Science and Engineering, August 2012.
- Xue Chen, MS, Materials Science and Engineering, August 2011.
- Bonnie Zimmerman, MS, Materials Science and Engineering, December 2009.
Laboratory Tools & Resources
Most of our research team’s time is spent reading articles, analyzing results and thinking about how our results fit within the established literature. Only 20% of our time is spent within experimental research laboratories. When we do go into the laboratory, we work in experimental laboratories on the main Clemson University campus or user facilities located at national laboratories. Some key pieces of our instrumentation include:
Edwards Sputter Coater ESM100 (Olin Hall, Rm. 103)
The Edwards Sputter Coater has an E306A vacuum coater, with a sputtering module and control system within an adjoining 19-inch console. The E306A pumping unit is fitted with an Edwards E04 diffusion pump, backed by a direct drive Edwards E2M8 rotary pump. Between the diffusion and the chamber is a polycold trap to prevent hot oil from entering the chamber. The system has two gas inlets, and a rotating sample holder for four wafers for DC or RF magnetron sputtering of 4-inch targets. A heater can be attached to heat the substrates if needed.
Digital Instruments Multimode Atomic Force Microscope (Olin Hall, Rm. 210)
Designed for surface topography measurements for grain size and roughness determination, the Digital Instruments multimode AFM may be used in either contact or tapping mode to accommodate a range of samples. Precise sample positioning is possible using a stage micrometer and video camera.
Hysitron Triboscope Nanoindenter (Olin Hall, Rm. 210)
The Hysitron™ Triboscope transducer is used in conjunction with the modified Digital Instruments Multimode AFM to measure the mechanical response of thin films. This system has quasistatic loading capability. The quasistatic mode can reliably measure mechanical properties as shallow as 40 nm.
Pin-on-Disk Wear Testing System (Olin Hall, Rm. 210)
This pin-on-disk tribometer is capable of unidirectional sliding at loads up to 50 N and velocities up to 2 m/s. Environmentally controls (23-300 ºC and 10-95 RH) permit testing of either ball-on-flat or flat-on-flat tribotesting under different environmental conditions. This system was built by Nathan Mitchell as part of his thesis work.
