408 19.What Does the Future Hold? ing,for example,of zirconia or Ni-Cr-Al-Y are anticipated to pre- vent the respective alloys in turbine blades from melting or creep- ing.In other words,a change in research support from "exotic' materials to new alloys is presently thought to be more in the na- tional interest.In essence,a shift from structural materials (such as ceramics,composites,etc.)to functional materials (such as smart materials,electromagnetic materials,and optical materials)will probably take place in the next couple of years.Specifically,future funding is anticipated for the development of compact lasers,solid- state lighting through inorganic and organic light-emitting diodes, holographic data storage,thermoelectric materials (used for cool- ing of high Te superconductors,microprocessors,IR detectors,etc.) and for smart materials(which involve a series of sensors that con- trol actuators).Further,a shift from empirical materials selection towards one based on model calculations and on a fundamental understanding of the physics and chemistry of materials science will probably take place.Finally,the exploration of nanostructures and nanotechnology will probably play a major role in future re- search funding. Materials Science has expanded from the traditional metallurgy and ceramics into new areas such as electronic polymers,com- plex fluids,intelligent materials,organic composites,structural composites,biomedical materials (for implants and other medical applications),biomimetics,artificial tissues,biocompatible mate- rials,"auxetic"materials(which grow fatter when stretched),elas- tomers,dielectric ceramics (which yield thinner dielectric layers for more compact electronics),ferroelectric films (for nonvolatile memories),more efficient photovoltaic converters,ceramic su- perconductors,improved battery technologies,self-assembling materials,fuel cell materials,optoelectronics,artificial diamonds, improved sensors (based on metal oxides,or conducting poly- mers),grated light valves,ceramic coatings in air (by plasma de- position),electrostrictive polymers,chemical-mechanical polish- ing,alkali metal thermoelectric converters,luminescent silicon, planar optical displays without phosphors,MEMS,and super- molecular materials.Some materials scientists are interested in green approaches,by entering the field of environmental-biologi- cal science,by developing environmentally friendly processing techniques and by inventing more recyclable materials. Another emerging field is called Nanomaterials by severe plas- tic deformation(SPD)which involves the application of very high strains and flow stresses to work pieces.As the name implies,the re- spective new process yields microstructural features and properties in materials(notably metals and alloys)that differ from those known for conventional cold-worked materials.Specifically,pore-free grain refinements down to nanometer dimensions,and dislocation accu-ing, for example, of zirconia or Ni–Cr–Al–Y are anticipated to pre￾vent the respective alloys in turbine blades from melting or creep￾ing. In other words, a change in research support from “exotic” materials to new alloys is presently thought to be more in the na￾tional interest. In essence, a shift from structural materials (such as ceramics, composites, etc.) to functional materials (such as smart materials, electromagnetic materials, and optical materials) will probably take place in the next couple of years. Specifically, future funding is anticipated for the development of compact lasers, solid￾state lighting through inorganic and organic light-emitting diodes, holographic data storage, thermoelectric materials (used for cool￾ing of high Tc superconductors, microprocessors, IR detectors, etc.) and for smart materials (which involve a series of sensors that con￾trol actuators). Further, a shift from empirical materials selection towards one based on model calculations and on a fundamental understanding of the physics and chemistry of materials science will probably take place. Finally, the exploration of nanostructures and nanotechnology will probably play a major role in future re￾search funding. Materials Science has expanded from the traditional metallurgy and ceramics into new areas such as electronic polymers, com￾plex fluids, intelligent materials, organic composites, structural composites, biomedical materials (for implants and other medical applications), biomimetics, artificial tissues, biocompatible mate￾rials, “auxetic” materials (which grow fatter when stretched), elas￾tomers, dielectric ceramics (which yield thinner dielectric layers for more compact electronics), ferroelectric films (for nonvolatile memories), more efficient photovoltaic converters, ceramic su￾perconductors, improved battery technologies, self-assembling materials, fuel cell materials, optoelectronics, artificial diamonds, improved sensors (based on metal oxides, or conducting poly￾mers), grated light valves, ceramic coatings in air (by plasma de￾position), electrostrictive polymers, chemical-mechanical polish￾ing, alkali metal thermoelectric converters, luminescent silicon, planar optical displays without phosphors, MEMS, and super￾molecular materials. Some materials scientists are interested in green approaches, by entering the field of environmental-biologi￾cal science, by developing environmentally friendly processing techniques and by inventing more recyclable materials. Another emerging field is called Nanomaterials by severe plas￾tic deformation (SPD) which involves the application of very high strains and flow stresses to work pieces. As the name implies, the re￾spective new process yields microstructural features and properties in materials (notably metals and alloys) that differ from those known for conventional cold-worked materials. Specifically, pore-free grain refinements down to nanometer dimensions, and dislocation accu- 408 19 • What Does the Future Hold?