Material structures seen through microscopes and statistics

Research Project, 2014 – 2019

Materials with new, unique, unforeseen and optimized properties lead to spectacular advances in technology for the health, energy, transportation, water management and food industries. In this project we will analyze and model soft material structures to reveal structure-mass transport relationships with large relevance to the Swedish drug, wound care and hygiene industries. Microscopy combined with quantitative image analysis provides a powerful tool for the analysis of the microstructure of materials. Stochastic models can be used to study the dependence between the geometry and the properties of a material. We will develop new statistical tools in order to construct materials with tailored mass transport properties. Since size distribution of the largest pores, percolation through the material structure, and connectivity of clusters of the largest pores play an important role in mass transport, we will develop tools based on extreme value theory and construct new spatial and spatio-temporal models for the microstructure of materials. Using such models we will be able to combine experimental characterization of a 3D structure and mass transport properties with systematic computer simulations of 3D structures. This knowledge will be used for structure design of soft materials with optimized properties. The project will be performed in collaboration with the VINN excellence centre SuMo Biomaterials at Chalmers and its industrial partners.