PREFACE

The “mille-feuille structure” constructed by microscopic stack of hard and soft layers is able to provide excellent mechanical properties through the kink deformation process, and therefore universal understanding of kink phenomena will lead to further development of lightweight structural materials. Along with this novel concept, we launched a Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research on Innovative Areas “Materials Science on Mille-Feuille Structure” in FY2018-2022. In the research area, by aiming at the elucidation of kink-strengthening mechanism that leads to a new material-strengthening theory, we organized a research group extended across the various fields of materials, mechanics, structural physics, chemistry, mathematics and geology, in order to consolidate and combine knowledges for the birth of a new leading academic field. We further attempt to apply the kink-strengthening to develop new structural materials by extending into three major materials: metals, ceramics and polymers.

This special issue provides a partial summary of our Mille-Feuille project, containing papers from the various fields including the one from polymer researchers. We sincerely hope that the present special issue gives a first step to encourage that Materials Transactions will be truly a world-leading, comprehensive materials science journal, which covers all the three major materials as a flagship of the Japan Institute of Metals and Materials (JIMM).

• February 27, 2023
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• Guest Editors:
• Eiji Abe, Professor, The University of Tokyo
• Toshiyuki Fujii, Professor, Tokyo Institute of Technology
• Yoshihito Kawamura, Professor, Kumamoto University