The materials tetrahedron has a "digital twin"

Area of Science:

• Materials Science and Engineering
• Information Science
• Computational Science

Background:

• The traditional materials tetrahedron (processing, structure, properties, performance) has guided materials science for decades.
• Modern computational and data-intensive techniques necessitate a new framework for materials research and development.
• Collaboration among stakeholders is crucial for advancing materials science and engineering.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce a contemporary extension of the materials tetrahedron, termed the materials-information twin tetrahedra (MITT).
• To provide a dual framework that merges materials science and information science, inspired by the digital twin concept.
• To offer a platform for stakeholders to contextualize and direct efforts in materials science and technology.

Main Methods:

• Augmenting the classic materials tetrahedron with principles from information science.
• Adapting the concept of a "digital twin" to create a dual framework.
• Incorporating sustainability and FAIR data principles into the framework.

Main Results:

• The proposed materials-information twin tetrahedra (MITT) framework offers a holistic perspective on materials science and engineering.
• MITT integrates data and information flows critical for knowledge generation.
• The framework facilitates communication and collaboration among academia, industry, and government.

Conclusions:

• The MITT framework provides a contemporary and comprehensive approach to materials science and engineering.
• It serves as a vital communication tool for guiding the design, development, and deployment of future materials.
• This integrated approach is essential for capitalizing on advances in digital tools and data-intensive research.