20
Nano and Atomic Scale Analysis Laboratory
Associate Professor / HOMMA Tomoyuki
- Living for others and for oneself are the true forms of engineering.
- Failure is an opportunity to start again so keep going.
- Explore the nano-scale world with TEM.
Associate Professor / HOMMA Tomoyuki
Our professor is a cheerful and also an optimistic person. His optimism motivates us to never give up and strive to be a useful person in the community. He gives full attention to all students' research and always gives feedback or suggestions while giving some hints to persuade us to think. He is the best educator one could ever have.
Research Content
Our laboratory focuses on improving the mechanical properties of materials from observation with an optical microscope to nano-scale observation with a transmission electron microscope (TEM). The materials that we are using are aluminum (Al) and titanium (Ti) alloys, nickel (Ni) base superalloys, and thermoelectric materials. The use of Al alloys for car body parts is increasing drastically to improve fuel efficiency and catch up with hybrid and electric cars development. Meanwhile, improvement of the creep properties of Ti alloys and the heat resistance properties of Ni base superalloys for higher performance in jet engines is essential. Lastly, we are developing thermoelectric materials to transform heat waste into power in an effort to combat global warming.
Excellent strength and ductility of the new β-type Ti alloys by microstructure control
A Day in the Lab
We are doing our research on our own time management. In other words, we don’t have a core time. However, we are trained to start our day at least at 9 a.m. to prepare ourselves as members of society in the future. We have a research seminar once a week but will present every 2 weeks as we will be divided into 2 groups. The graduate students are required to make presentation slides in English to improve their English proficiency. In addition, we actively participate in conferences to build confidence and gain new knowledge while receiving valuable advice from professionals. Due to COVID-19, a lot of activity has been suspended, but our professor always finds some time for a one-on-one coffee break to have some discussion and refresh.
Normal situation in our laboratory
Thesis Subjects
- (M)Effects of twins on the heat resistance of powder metallurgical Ni-Co base superalloy
- (M)Effects of Ge substitution on thermoelectric properties of CoSi thermoelectric materials
- (M)Improvement in mechanical properties by elemental substitution for β-type Ti alloys sintered by pulsed electric current sintering
The number of
PhD Graduates
0
Major employers of Graduates
- Ahresty Corporation
- Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd
- Mazda Motor Corporation
- Daido Steel Co., Ltd.
- YKK AP Inc.
- Hitachi Metals, Ltd.
- Mitsubishi Motors Corporation
- Rengo Co., Ltd.
- Union Tool Co.
- Nippon Steel Logistics Co., Ltd.
