The technologies underlying the creation of superhard materials – from diamond synthesis to high-precision machining of complex parts – were demonstrated during the visit of the leadership of the NAS of Ukraine to the V.M. Bakul Institute for Superhard Materials.
The Institute is a leading materials science institution conducting fundamental and applied research in the field of synthesis, study of properties, and application of superhard materials, tools, and technologies based on them. It carries out comprehensive studies of the physicochemical processes of diamond and cubic boron nitride synthesis under high pressures and temperatures, develops new types of high-strength technical ceramics, composite and nanostructured materials, as well as cutting and diamond-abrasive tools.
An important area of work is computer modeling of crystal growth processes, creation of precision tools for various industries, and the search for effective technological solutions for machining hard-to-process materials.
During the visit, the President of the NAS of Ukraine, academician Anatoliy Zahorodniy, together with the First Vice-President of the NAS of Ukraine, academician Vyacheslav Bohdanov, Acting Chief Scientific Secretary of the NAS of Ukraine, Doctor of Philosophy Oleh Kubalskyi, academician-secretary of the Department of Materials Science of the NAS of Ukraine, academician Ihor Krivtsun, scientific secretary of the Section of Physical-Technical and Mathematical Sciences of the NAS of Ukraine, Doctor of Technical Sciences Serhiy Bespalov, and scientific secretary of the Department of Materials Science of the NAS of Ukraine, Candidate of Chemical Sciences Tetyana Sydorenko, familiarized themselves with the scientific infrastructure of the institution and its developments.
The Director of the Institute, academician Volodymyr Turkevych, presented the structure of the institution, its personnel potential, and current research directions. The Institute is working on creating new superhard composites, developing ceramic materials based on MAX phases, studying how to improve the efficiency of tool materials, as well as creating technologies for high-precision finishing of parts for various industries.
Significant attention during the visit was paid to the scientific laboratories and production units of the Institute. The Academy’s leadership visited the high-pressure laboratory, where diamond single crystals are synthesized, as well as the shared use center "Analytical Center for Materials Research and Nanodiagnostics."
The center is equipped with modern analytical equipment, including a Nicolet 6700 infrared Fourier spectrometer with a Nicolet Continuum microscope, a ZEISS EVO 50 XVP scanning electron microscope with an Ultim Max 100 energy-dispersive analyzer, an HKL CHANNEL 5 reflected electron diffractometer (Oxford Instruments), as well as a multifunctional Rigaku SmartLab SE X-ray diffractometer.
During the meeting, the development of international cooperation, expansion of the experimental and technological base, support for scientific teams, and involvement of young scientists in research projects were also discussed. The Institute pays attention to updating the staff and creating conditions for the professional growth of researchers.
Following the visit, the leadership of the NAS of Ukraine noted that the V.M. Bakul Institute for Superhard Materials is one of the key institutions in the field of materials science, whose work results are important for the development of modern technologies and the implementation of scientific developments in industry.
According to information from the V.M. Bakul Institute for Superhard Materials
Photo: Press Service of the NAS of Ukraine
