Proposal to the National Science Foundation (NSF) to research silicon machining

A proposal was submitted to the National Science Foundation (NSF) to study the high pressure phase transformations of silicon, germanium and silicon nitride during manufacturing processes, such as machining. The original proposal was submitted April 1, 1997, a revised proposal, based upon reviewers' feedback from the original, is planned for submission in 1998. This paper reviews the details associated with the research plan for this proposal. The paper also describes contributors, individuals and organizations, to the proposal and research plan. The goals, milestones, and deliverables of the proposed research are also discussed. The purpose of this paper is to generate additional interest, discussion and feedback regarding the proposed research. The proposed research includes experimental work on indenting, scratching and machining (including the effects of temperature and fluid environment) Numerical and analytical modeling, including atomistic and FEA of high pressure phase transformations and machining respectively. Researchers participating in the proposal include professors from Georgia Institute of Technology (GIT), Rice University, North Carolina State University and UNC Charlotte, The expertise of these researchers includes backgrounds in physics, material science, mechanical engineering and manufacturing. Discussion of the proposed research will hopefully alert interested persons to this activity and serve to introduce other researchers to this work. It is hoped that additional industrial organizations will be attracted to, and participate in the proposed research activity.