From science to production: New equipment to enhance scientific results

As part of the "Competition for Guaranteed Equipment/Devices for the Modernization of the Material and Technical Base of Scientific Units" announced by the Higher Education and Science Committee of the RA Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sports, the laboratory has received SAFTherm STD-36-17 chamber furnace and is set to acquire a device for measuring the velocity of elastic waves in the near future.

Previously, the research team carried out the synthesis process at low temperatures. Now, thanks to the new equipment, they can work at temperatures as high as 1600°C, significantly expanding the scope of their experiments.

"After synthesis, the materials are rapidly frozen, transforming into a supersaturated solid solution. During subsequent heat treatment, we form nanoscale crystals within the material, which significantly alter its physicomechanical properties. One of the ways to enhance the ballistic efficiency of ceramic materials is by introducing reinforcing fillers into the ceramics. To ensure that the ceramic matrix incorporates the necessary amount of micro- and nanoscale particles, nanotubes, and other materials, a furnace capable of reaching 1600°C is essential, as at this temperature, the solubility coefficient of mixtures increases sharply. I am convinced that this new furnace, with its 36-liter capacity, meets our needs and will help us increase the number of mixtures and produce high-quality materials," says Petik Petrosyan, Senior Researcher at the Quantum Phenomena Research and Modeling Laboratory and Associate Professor at the Chair of General Physics and Astrophysics named after Academician Victor Hambardzumyan.

The research team at the laboratory studies the physicomechanical properties of nanostructured glass ceramics, focusing on the influence of technological processing conditions and material composition. When conducting research for the defense sector, for example, they dedicate their work to enhancing the hardness of materials.

For the past 10 years, researchers at YSU Quantum Phenomena Research and Modeling Laboratory have been improving material hardness, developing armor plates used in bulletproof vests that are later supplied to the Armenian army.

Moreover, the creators of this material, protected by copyright, received the RA Presidential Prize in 2020.

To further optimize their research, additional devices are necessary for the team, and they plan to acquire them by participating in various competitions.

The integration of new technologies plays a crucial role in the development of the laboratory, opening up new opportunities for both local and international scientific collaborations.