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Dr. Afsaneh Rabiei
Research Group

Research

Manufacturing, characterization, and failure analysis of advanced materials.

  • Materials for extreme environment
  • Metallic foams
  • Coatings and thin films
  • Thermal barrier coatings
  • Composites
  • Materials for MEMS structures
  • Shape memory alloys
  • Biomaterials/ materials for biomedical applications
  • Advanced steel and nickel alloys
  • Surface modification

Coatings, biomedical and nanoscale materials

This research focuses on the processing and characterizing of a new Functionally Graded Hydroxyapatite coating (FGHA) material that can significantly impact the next generation of orthopedic and dental implants.
Ongoing research includes developing a new processing technique for improving osseointegration of polymeric biomedical implants using Functionally Graded Hydroxyapatite coating and further study of the biomedical response of implants coated with FGHA with an antimicrobial component.

Structural & Mechanical Materials

Composite metal foams and metallic bubble wraps are new ultra-light, high-strength materials developed in our group to address the increasing needs of the aerospace, naval, automotive, medical, and nuclear engineering industries for advanced materials to provide lightweight and high-strength components. Composite metal foam combines steel hollow spheres with an aluminum or steel matrix to produce a composite with outstanding strength-to-density ratio and energy absorption capability.

Current research includes:

  • Studying the dynamic properties of metal foam materials under impact loadings of various speeds.
  • Studying thermal properties of metal foams
  • Evaluating several potential structural applications
  • Continued improvements to metal foam processing techniques

Mechanical and Microstructural Characterization of Advanced Materials

Real-time creep and creep-fatigue crack growth mechanisms are being researched by utilizing an in-situ heating-loading stage mounted within a Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) chamber. Crack propagation modes will be studied and compared at different temperatures (up to 1000°C) and loads.

Combining the real-time data with fractography and Electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) maps, characterization of the material, analysis, and prediction of its creep and creep-fatigue behavior can be achieved.

Patents

  • “Metallic Bubble Wraps and Methods for their Manufacture”
    Provisional Patent
    Inventor(s): RABIEI A.
  • “Method of preparing composite metallic foam, involves solidifying liquid metal, so that composite metallic foam having solid metal matrix around hollow metallic spheres is formed”
    Patent Number: US2012132387-A1
    Inventor(s): RABIEI A.
  • “Composite metallic foam for e.g. blast panel, comprises hollow metallic pieces with interstitial space filled with solid metal matrix having specified void volume”
    Patent Number: US2010098968-A1; US8105696-B2
    Inventor(s): RABIEI A.
  • “Preparation of biocompatible coated substrate, preferably implants, by providing substrate having surface comprising polymeric material, and applying calcium phosphate coating to substrate at below melting point of polymeric material”
    Patent Number: WO2010009390-A2; US2010016985-A1; WO2010009390-A3
    Inventor(s): RABIEI A.
  • “Composite metallic foam preparing method, involves arranging hollow metallic spheres in mold such that interstitial spaces are formed between spheres, and filling interstitial spaces with metal matrix-forming material to form metallic foam”
    Patent Number: US2010158741-A1; US8110143-B2
    Inventor(s): RABIEI A.
  • “Biocompatible coating layer, useful in a substrate e.g. dental implant, comprises a biphasic calcium phosphate material and the coating layer comprising antimicrobial agent (silver) having a first surface and a second, opposing surface”
    Patent Number: US2009304761-A1
    Inventor(s): RABIEI A.
  • “Composite metallic foam useful in e.g. marine structures, space vehicles, automobiles, and buildings, and in e.g. blast panels for military applications, comprises hollow metallic pieces and solid metal matrix around hollow metallic pieces”
    Patent Number: US2006140813-A1; WO2006083375-A2; US7641984-B2; WO2006083375-A3
    Inventor(s): RABIEI A.
  • “Biocompatible coating, for coating dental/orthopedic implants, comprises calcium phosphate film having multiple layers functionally graded in crystallinity and crystal diameter”
    Patent Number: US2006210494-A1
    Inventor(s): RABIEI A; CUOMO J J; THOMAS B C.