Structural Materials Unit
Research Center for Strategic Materials

The Structural Materials Unit will conduct the research and development of advanced structural metallic materials without rare metal elements that can respond to demands at a time when natural resources are becoming depleted. By clarifying the role of these elements in phase transformation and mechanical properties, the reduction and substitution of rare metals can be achieved. Furthermore, attempts will be made to overcome the limitations of materials properties including toughness that have existed till now by introducing new concepts of microstructure control such as “biomimetics”. Joining and surface modifications processing are also investigated to utilize the developed advanced materials into structural forms such as bridges.