FMS Meeting Addresses Materials R&D Role in the U.S. Scientific Innovation Process
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the development of oxidation-resistant coatings to "enable the development of CMCs suitable for applications that demand longer component lifetimes" such as thermally loaded gas turbine engine components; and the development of a viable interface for oxide CMCs, focusing on "weakly bonded, thermally stable oxide coatings (e.g., rare-earth phosphates of the general formula M3+PO4) [and] the development of oxide composites that do not require fiber coatings (e.g., porous
matrices)." To enhance creep resistance, the committee recommends studies on "mechanism(s) by which SiC nanoparticle dispersions inhibit creep in bulk oxide ceramics," the mechanism by which "certain solutes lower the creep rate of bulk polycrystalline oxides (e.g., yttria in alumina)," and the use of "multiphase microstructures to promote increased high temperature microstructural stability (e.g., resistance to grain growth)." Of a lower priority, the committee recommends con-
tinued studies on Si-B-N-C amorphous fibers in the area of non-oxide fibers; according to the report, "for many applications, adequate properties have already been attained" in this area. To obtain a copy of the report, Ceramic Fibers and Coatings: Advanced Materials for the Twenty-First Century, contact National Academy Press, Box 285,2101 Constitution Ave., N.W., Washington DC 20055; 800624-6242; website http: / / www.nap.edu. •
PUBLIC AFFAIRS FORUM An analysis of public policy issues and how they affect MRS members and the materials community...
FMS Meeting Addresses Materials R&D Role in the U.S. Scientific Innovation Process The 15th Biennial Conference on National Materials Policy, held in Georgetown on May 17-19, 1998, addressed the topic, "Maximizing Return on U.S. Research and Development," with a focus on case studies in materials. The conference was sponsored by the Federation of Materials Societies (FMS), an umbrella organization whose members and affiliates represent the professional societies, universities, and National Research Council organizations which are involved with materials science, engineering, and technology. The topic was chosen for its importance and timeliness. The end of the cold war and the globalization of science, technology, and the marketplace have placed new importance on federal sponsorship of research and development. These global currents have raised new questions about what R&D should be done and who should pay for it. They have already had a profound impact on materials R&D in the United States. They will continue to affect what materials researchers do, how they go about it, and how effective they can be in serving the national interest. The conference began with overviews from Senator Jeff Bingaman (D-NM); Ray Kammer, Director, National Institute of Standards and Technology; and Joseph Bordogna, Acting Deputy Director, National Science Foundation. These talks stressed the importance of the innovation process and the special role of materials R&D in this process. Bingaman spoke of his efforts to strengthen R&D overall, providing S.
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