Innovative Technique for Micro and Nano Materials Testing and International Collaboration

The objective of this proposal is to develop collaborative research in the testing of MEMS materials with the colleagues in South Africa at University of Witwatersrand (Wits) and University of Cape Town. The focus of this research is on working jointly in the design and manufacture of a testing jig which features the integration of a load cell, high resolution displacement device, mounting and loading of test specimen, and data acquisition with analysis. The completion of the proposed collaborative research will result in the design and fabrication of the jig for conducting collaborative research at both the US and South Africa. The potential technical application of this project is the jig for material testing for MEMS materials. In broader impact, the teaching and research collaboration with the colleagues in South Africa will enable us to work together and to utilize expertise and resources on both sides to use this jig setup as the basis for further research expansion in MEMS material testing. The colleagues in South Africa can also use this testing jig to investigate the fracture properties of MEMS test specimen (their expertise). Such research collaboration will benefit us, and also will benefit research program of our colleagues in South Africa. More importantly, this will lead to the introduction of MEMS technology to the universities and industries in South Africa. The expected outcomes of the research and teaching collaboration also include the development of MEMS courses and curriculum in South Africa which will be the first of its kind at the universities in South Africa.