Elizabeth J. Opila
Department Chair, Rolls Royce Commonwealth Professor of Engineering
Professor of Materials Science and Engineering
Director, Rolls Royce University Technology Center on Advanced Material Systems
Professor, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering (Courtesy)
About
Our research focuses on materials for use in extreme environments and can be applied to materials for use in aircraft engines, rocket engines, energy conversion technologies, and thermal protection systems. We first create critical aspects of the use environment in the lab such as high temperatures (up to 2000°C), reactive gases (oxygen, water vapor), and high flow rates ( hundreds of meters per second). We characterize materials before and after exposure using techniques as simple as weight change to sophisticated state-of-the-art microscopies and spectroscopies. Experiments are linked with theory and computational techniques where possible. We ask these questions about material behavior: What reactions occur and why? How fast do they occur? Can we predict material lifetimes? How can we make better materials?
Education
Ph.D. Materials Science and Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 1991
M.S. Materials Science and Engineering, University of California Berkeley, 1983
B.S. Ceramic Engineering, University of Illinois, 1981
Research Scientist, NASA Glenn Research Center, 1991-2010
I joined the faculty of UVA Engineering for the opportunities to interact with students in the classroom and lab, to collaborate with faculty in MSE, MAE and SEAS, and to participate in the Rolls-Royce University Technology Center on Advanced Material Systems.
Research Interests
Corrosion and Electrochemical Sciences and Engineering
High Temperature Materials Science and Oxides
Advanced materials for transportation applications
Selected Publications
“Interactions of Na2SO4 and yttrium-silicate environmental barrier coatings at 825°C, Journal of the American Ceramic Society, 106, 7776-7788 (2023).
K.D. Ardrey, H. Heinrich, E.J. Opila
Abs
"In-situ observation of micro-cracking in a SiC/BN/SiC ceramic matrix composite under tension." Open Ceramics 14, 100366 (2023).
K. Detwiler, R. Hunt, E. Opila
Abs
“Design rules for the thermal and elastic properties of rare-earth disilicates,” Materialia, 101729 (2023).
C. Toher, M.J. Ridley, K.Q. Tomko, D.H. Olson, S. Curtarolo, P.E. Hopkins, E.J. Opila
Abs
“High-temperature oxidation of BN-coated Sylramic SiC fibers in dry and wet atmosphere,” Journal of the American Ceramic Society, 106(6), 3704-3719 (2023).
V.A. Avincola, E. Opila
Abs
“Tailoring Thermal and Chemical Properties of a Multi-component Environmental Barrier Coating Candidate (Sc0.2Nd0. 2Er0.2Yb0.2Lu0.2)2Si2O7.” Materialia, 101557 (2022).
M.J. Ridley, K.Q. Tomko, J.A. Tomko, E.R. Hoglund, J.M. Howe, P.E. Hopkins, E.J. Opila
Abs
“Oxidation of SiC/BN/SiC Ceramic Matrix Composites in Dry and Wet Oxygen at Intermediate Temperatures,” Journal of the European Ceramic Society, 42 (10), 4110-4120 (2022).
K.N. Detwiler, E.J. Opila
Abs
“Viscosity of CaO-MgO-Al2O3-SiO2 (CMAS) melts: Experimental measurements and comparison to model calculations.” Journal of Non-Crystalline Solids, 584, 121508 (2022).
R.I. Webster, E.J. Opila
Abs
“High-temperature water-vapor reaction mechanism of barium strontium aluminosilicate (BSAS),” Journal of the European Ceramic Society 42 (7), 3305-3312 (2022).
M.J. Ridley, E.J. Opila
Abs
“Variable thermochemical stability of RE2Si2O7 (RE = Sc, Nd, Er, Yb, or Lu) in high-temperature high-velocity steam,” Journal of the American Ceramic Society 105 [2] 1330-1342 (2022).
M.J. Ridley, E.J. Opila
Abs
"YbPO4: A novel environmental barrier coating candidate with superior thermochemical stability." Materialia 21 (2022): 101289.
M.J. Ridley, B. McFarland, C. Miller, E.J. Opila
Abs
“Quantitative Evaluation of (0001) Sapphire Recession in High-Temperature High-Velocity Steamjet Exposures, Journal of the European Ceramic Society 42 [2] 631-637 (2022).
M.J. Ridley, E.J. Opila
“High Temperature Na2SO4 Interaction with Air Plasma Sprayed Yb2Si2O7 + Si EBC System: Topcoat Behavior,” Journal of the American Ceramic Society 104 [12] 6496-6507 (2021).
L.A. Herweyer, E.J. Opila
“Na2SO4 Deposit-Induced Hot Corrosion of SiC Fibers Relevant for SiC CMCs,” Journal of the American Ceramic Society 104 [11] 5908-5922 (2021).
L.A. Herweyer, E.J. Opila
“Interfacial Reactions Between B2O3 and Spark Plasma Sintered Yb2Si2O7,” Journal of the American Ceramic Society 104 [10] 5392-5401 (2021).
R. Guarriello, E. Hoglund, H. Heinrich, E.J. Opila
“Na2SO4 Deposit-Induced Hot Corrosion of BN-Coated α-SiC,” Journal of the American Ceramic Society 104 [3] 1539-53 (2021).
L. Herweyer, E.J. Opila
“Thermomechanical and Thermochemical Stability of HfSiO4 for Environmental Barrier Coating Applications” Journal of the American Ceramic Society 104 (7), 3593-3602 (2021).
M.J. Ridley, E.J. Opila
M.J. Ridley, E.J. Opila
“Thermochemical stability and microstructural evolution of Yb2Si2O7 in high-velocity high-temperature water vapor,” Journal of the European Ceramic Society 41 (5) 3141-3149 (2021).
M.J. Ridley, E.J. Opila
M.J. Ridley, E.J. Opila
“Hot Corrosion of Shipboard Gas Turbine Blades,” Oxidation of Metals (2020).
K.J. Meisner, E.J. Opila
“Part I: Theoretical Predictions of Preferential Oxidation in Refractory High Entropy Materials,” Acta Materialia 197, 20-27 (2020).
L. Backman, J. Gild, J. Luo, E.J. Opila
Abs
“Part II: Experimental Verification of Computationally Predicted Preferential Oxidation in Refractory High Entropy Ultra-High Temperature Ceramics,” Acta Materialia 197, 81-90 (2020).
L. Backman, J. Gild, J. Luo, E.J. Opila
Abs
“Mixed phase ytterbium silicate environmental barrier coating materials for improved CMAS resistance,” Journal of Materials Research 35 [17] 2358-2372 (2020).
R. Webster, E.J. Opila
Abs
“Tailoring Thermal Properties of Multi-component Rare Earth Monosilicates,” Acta Materialia 195, 698-707 (2020).
M. Ridley, J.T. Gaskins, P.E. Hopkins, E.J. Opila
Abs
“Investigations into the thermal stability of sol-gel derived glasses as models for thermally grown oxides,” Journal of the American Ceramic Society 103 [12]] 7041-55 (2020).
B. McFarland, E.J. Opila
Abs
"Identification of a new oxidation/ dissolution mechanism for boria-accelerated SiC Oxidation,” Journal of the American Ceramic Society 103 [9] 5214-5231 (2020).
B. McFarland, V.A. Angelici, M. Morales, E.J. Opila
Abs
“Thermochemical Stability of Y2Si2O7 in High-Temperature Water Vapor, Journal of the American Ceramic Society 103 [8] 4517-35 (2020).
R. Golden, K. Mueller, E.J. Opila
Abs
Characterization of Thermochemical and Thermomechanical Properties of Eyjafjallajökull Volcanic Ash Glass, Coatings 10 [2] 100 (2020).
R.I. Webster, N.P. Bansal, J.A. Salem, E.J. Opila, V.L. Wiesner
Abs
"Stability of the Y2O3-SiO2 System in High-Temperature, High-Velocity Water Vapor," Journal of the American Ceramic Society (2020).
C.G. Parker, E.J. Opila
Abs
“Thermochemistry of volatile metal hydroxides and oxyhydroxides at elevated temperatures,” Journal of Materials Research, 34 [3] 394-407 (2019).
D.L. Myers, N.S. Jacobson, C.W. Bauschlicher, E.J. Opila
Abs
“Thermodynamic Assessment of the Group IV, V and VI Oxides for the Design of Oxidation Resistant Multi-Principal Component Materials,” Journal of the European Ceramic Society 39, 1796 (2019).
L. Backman, E.J. Opila
Abs
"The Effect of TiO2 Additions on CaO-MgO-Al2O3-SiO2 (CMAS) Crystallization Behavior from the Melt," Journal of the American Ceramic Society, 102 [6] 3354-3367 (2019).
R.I. Webster, E.J. Opila
Abs
“High Temperature Oxidation of Yttrium Silicides,” Journal of Material Science 53 [6] 3981-4000 (2018).
R.A. Golden, E.J. Opila
Abs
“Oxygen Diffusion Mechanisms During High Temperature Oxidation of ZrB2-SiC,” Journal of the American Ceramic Society 101, 1765-1779 (2018).
K.S. Cissel, E. Opila
Abs
"Silicon Carbide Fiber Oxidation Behavior in the Presence of Boron Nitride,” Journal of the American Ceramic Society, 101 [12), 5534-5551 (2018).
B. McFarland, E.J. Opila
Abs
"Computational and Experimental Study of Thermodynamics of the Reaction of Titania and Water at High Temperatures," Journal of Physical Chemistry A, 121, 9508-9517 (2017).
Q. Nguyen, C. Bauschlicher, D. Myers, N. Jacobson, E.J. Opila
Abs
“High Temperature Na2SO4 Deposit-Assisted Corrosion of Silicon Carbide – II: Effects of B, C, and Si,” Journal of the American Ceramic Society 100, 761-773 (2017).
J.M. Hagan, E.J. Opila
Abs
“Hafnium nitride films for thermoreflectance transducers at high temperatures: Potential based on heating from laser absorption,” Applied Physics Letters 111, 151902 (2017).
C. Rost, J. Braun, K. Ferri, L. Backman, A. Giri, E.J. Opula, J.P. Maria, P.E. Hopkins
Abs
“Sol-gel Derived Borosilicate Glasses and Thin Film Coatings on SiC Substrates: Boron Loss and Carbon Retention due to Processing and Heat Treatment,” Journal of Non-Crystalline Solids 449, 59-69 (2016).
B. McFarland, E.J. Opila
Abs
“Thermodynamics and kinetics of gaseous metal hydroxide formation from oxides relevant to power and propulsion applications,” Calphad 55, 32-40 (2016).
E.J. Opila
Abs
"Borosilicate Glass‐Induced Fiber Degradation of SiC/BN/SiC Composites Exposed in Combustion Environments." International Journal of Applied Ceramic Technology 13 [3] 434-442 (2016).
E.J. Opila, R.C. Robinson, M.J. Verrilli
Abs
“A Review of SiC Fiber Oxidation with an Oxidation Study of Hi-Nicalon SiC Fibers,” Advanced Engineering Materials, 18 [10] 1698-1709 (2016).
M.E. Wilson, E.J. Opila
Abs
“A Method for Assessing the Volatility of Oxides in High-Temperature High-Velocity Water Vapor,” J. Eur. Cer. Soc. 36, 1135-1147 (2016).
R.A. Golden, E.J. Opila
Abs
“High Temperature Na2SO4 Deposit-Assisted Corrosion of Silicon Carbide – I: Temperature and Time Dependence,” J. Am. Ceram. Soc. 98 [4] 1275-1284 (2015).
J.M. Hagan, E.J. Opila
Abs
“SiC Depletion in ZrB2-30 vol% SiC at Ultra-High Temperatures, J. Am. Ceram. Soc. 98 [5] 1673-1683 (2015).
K. Shugart, E.J. Opila
Abs
“Determination of Retained B2O3 Content in ZrB2-30 vol% SiC Oxide Scales,” J. Am. Ceram. Soc. 98 [1] 287-295 (2015).
K. Shugart, S. Liu, F. Craven, E.J. Opila
Abs
“Initial Stages of ZrB2 30vol% SiC Oxidation at 1500°C," J. Am. Ceram. Soc. 97 [5] 1645-51 (2014).
K. Shugart, W. Jennings, E.J. Opila
Abs
“Mechanisms for Variability of ZrB2 30 vol% SiC Oxidation Kinetics,” J. Am. Ceram. Soc. 97 [7] 2279-85 (2014).
K. Shugart, B. Patterson, D. Lichtman, S. Liu, E. Opila
Abs
“Water Vapor Mediated Volatilization of High Temperature Materials,” Annual Review of Materials Research, 43, 559-88, (2013).
P.C. Meschter, E.J. Opila, N.S. Jacobson
Abs
Courses Taught
MSE 6230, Thermodynamics of Materials
MSE 3101, Materials Science Investigations
MSE 6592, High Temperature Oxidation
MSE 6240, Kinetic Processes in Materials Science
Awards
Arthur L. Friedberg Award, Ceramic Engineering Tutorial and Lecture, American Ceramic Society
2021
Mercatur Fellow, Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) Research Training Group, Materials Compounds from Composite Materials for Applications in Extreme Conditions
2020
Fellow of the American Ceramic Society
2014
Fellow of the Electrochemical Society
2013
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