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Yongho Sohn
Develops tomorrow's materials today to promote a better understanding of thermodynamics and kinetics

Yongho Sohn Pegasus Professor

Dept of Materials Science and Engineering
407-882-1181
Office: Eng I, Room 211

He is Also:

Associate Director of AMPAC Materials Characterization Facility

"The level of efficiency in our materials determines and drives the development of society overall."

Research

Sohn is dedicated to making new and better materials for everything from automobile and airplanes to nuclear and electrical power plants. While his topics of research are diverse in terms of applications, the overall goal is to provide a fundamental understanding of thermodynamics and kinetics, as well as practical solutions. Sohn’s research focuses on the development, testing and characterization of materials subjected to extreme temperatures and stresses, with an emphasis on metallic alloys, metal matrix composites and protective ceramic coatings for metallic components.

Societal Impact

The 1986 NASA space shuttle Challenger explosion was a major influence to Sohn’s field of study. The disaster led him a lifelong quest to advance the knowledge of materials science and engineering. Today, he takes great pride in the lab activities that offer essential tools to educate and train the next generation of engineering students. Sohn and his research team work to provide the U.S. military with technology that will contribute to the readiness and safety of soldiers worldwide, as well as 3-D printing technology to create critical metal components on-demand and in the field.

Graduate Students and Achievements

Advising four Ph.D. students and two post-doctoral scholars. His former students are now materials scientists and engineers for employers that include Lockheed Martin, Siemens, Mitsubishi Hitachi Power Systems and U.S. Army Research Laboratory.

Education

Ph.D. in Materials Science and Engineering, Purdue University

MS in Materials Science and Engineering, Worcestor Polytechnic Institute

BS with Honors in Mechanical Engineering, Worcestor Polytechnic Institute

Current Projects

Sohn and his group are currently researching failure mechanisms, non-destructive inspection (NDI) techniques, and improved durability/reliability of thermal barrier coatings (TBCs). He also oversees a multicomponent diffusion (under multiple gradients) research program and is investigating metal matrix composites by incorporating nanostructured materials.

Courses He Teaches

EGN 3365: Structure and Properties of Materials

EGN 3365H: Honors Structure and Properties of Materials

EMA 3012C: Experimental Techniques in Materials and Mechanics

EMA 4102: Thermodynamics and Kinetics of Materials

EMA 5104: Intermediate Structure and Properties of Materials

EMA 5317: Kinetics of Materials

EMA 5705: High-Temperature Materials

EMA 6126: Physical Metallurgy

EMA 6136: Diffusion in Solids

Laboratory

Materials and Coating for Extreme Environment (MCEE)

Lab Equipment and Capabilities:

SLM 125HL Selective Laser Melting Additive Manufacturing Unit

Centorr 5BJ Arc Melting Furnace with Drop-Cast Capability

DYIF Gas Atomization System with Induction Melting Furnace (1650ºC)

Several High-Temperature Furnace (600~1700ºC) with Environmental Control and Vertical Cycling Capability

Hysitron PI Premium NanoIndentor System

Beckman-Coulter LS 13 320 Laser Diffraction Particle Size Analyzer

Perkin-Elmer and TA Instrument Thermal Analysis Instruments (TGA, DSC, DMA, DTA)

Discoveries/Publication Highlights

Sohn has 3,784 citations and an h-index of 33.

View Sohn's Google Scholar Page

In the News

Awards/Grants

Highlights include:

Lockheed Martin Professorship, College of Engineering and Computer Science, University of Central Florida, August 2018 – July 2023.

UCF Research Incentive Award, 2017

UCF Pegasus Professorship, 2016

Outstanding (Alumni) Materials Engineer, School of Materials Engineering, Purdue University, 2016

Fellow of ASM International (FASM), ASM International, Class of 2015

UCF Teaching Incentive Program Award, 2013

UCF Research Incentive Award, 2012

UCF Faculty Excellence Award (Full-Professor Level) in Research, 2011

National Science Foundation CAREER Award and Grant, Division of Materials Research, 2003-2008