Collaboration

Our group actively engages in collaborative research with industries.
We work together to address practical challenges by performing detailed microstructural analyses.

Our group members possess strong expertise in advanced characterization techniques:
Dr. Sasaki specializes in three-dimensional atom probe and electron microscopy; Dr. Hara focuses on three-dimensional analysis using FIB/SEM and TEM; Dr. Ii specializes in TEM-based microstructural analysis.
By integrating multiple advanced techniques within a single group, we achieve comprehensive and precise microstructural characterization across a wide range of length scales, an approach that is difficult to replicate elsewhere and that enables the acquisition of critical insights for problem-solving.

We accept collaborative research projects for which the results can be published in academic journals or presented at conferences.
Please contact us to discuss further details regarding collaboration frameworks.

Selected Collaborative Research Highlights

Surface treatment of aluminum alloys
"Uniform formation of Ti-based conversion coatings on aluminum alloy surfaces by alkaline-acid etch treatment to improve organic coating"
　N. Banjo, T.T. Sasaki, K. Hono, Applied Surface Science, 61 (2024) 160005.
"Microstructure control of Ti-based conversion coatings for optimizing organic coating properties in A6063 and A3003 alloys"
　N. Banjo, T.T. Sasaki, K. Hono, Surface and Coatings Technology, 468 (2023) 129735.
"Microstructural origin of adhesion and corrosion properties of Ti-based conversion coatings on A6063 alloy"
　N. Banjo, T.T. Sasaki, Applied Surface Science, 604 (2022) 154411.

Development of heat-treatable Mg alloys
"Bake-hardenable Mg-Al-Zn-Mn-Ca sheet alloy processed by twin-roll casting"
　M.-Z. Bian, T.T. Sasaki, T. Nakata, Y. Yoshida, N. Kawabe, S. Kamado, K. Hono, Acta Materialia, 158 (2018) 278-288.
"High-speed extrusion of heat-treatable Mg-Al-Ca-Mn dilute alloy"
　T. Nakata, T. Mezaki, R. Ajima, C. Xu, K. Oh-ishi, K. Shimizu, S. Hanaki, T.T. Sasaki, K. Hono, S. Kamado, , Scripta Materialia, 101 (2015) 28-31.

Steel
"Effect of high-temperature heating and cooling rate on the ductility of 19Cr-0.020C-0.015N-0.4Nb stabilized ferritic stainless cast steel"
　R. Nishio, T. Umetani, Y. Nakamura, T.T. Sasaki, A. Shibata, Materials Science and Engineering A, 945 (2025) 148952.

Microstructural analysis and property–structure relationships in permanent magnets
"Substantial coercivity enhancement in Dy-free Nd-Fe-B sintered magnet by Dy grain boundary diffusion"
　Z. Wang, T.T. Sasaki, Y. Une, T. Ohkubo, K. Hono, Acta Materialia, 248 (2023) 118774.
"Formation mechanism of Tb-rich shell in TbH2-grain boundary diffusion processed Nd-Fe-B sintered magnets"
　T.-H. Kim, T.T. Sasaki, T. Ohkubo, Y. Fujikawa, M. Miwa, Y. Enokido, K. Hono, Scripta Materialia, 178 (2020) 433-437.
"Role of Ga on the high coercivity of Nd-rich Ga-doped Nd-Fe-B sintered magnet"
　T.T. Sasaki, Y. Takada, H. Okazaki, T. Ohkubo, T. Nakamura, T. Sato, A. Kato, Y. Kaneko, Journal of Alloys and Compounds, 790 (2019) 750-759.
"Microstructure and coercivity of grain boundary diffusion processed Dyfree and Dy-containing Nd-Fe-B sintered magnets"
　T.T. Sasaki, T. Ohkubo, Y. Takada, T. Sato, A. Kato, Y. Kaneko, K. Hono, Acta Materialia, 172 (2019) 139-149.
"Formation of non-ferromagnetic grain boundary phase in a Ga-doped Nd-rich Nd-Fe-B sintered magnet"
　T.H. Kim, T.T. Sasaki, T. Ohkubo, Y. Takada, A. Kato, Y. Kaneko, K. Hono, Scripta Materialia, 113 (2016) 218-221.
"Effect of Carbon on the Coercivity and Microstructure in Fine-Grained Nd-Fe-B Sintered Magnet"
　T.T. Sasaki, T. Ohkubo, Y. Une, M. Sagawa, K. Hono, Acta Materialia, 84(2015)506-514.