Simultaneously probabilistic and deterministic approach (SPADA) for the materials design: methodology and experimental validation

This manuscript presents a relatively simple simultaneously probabilistic and deterministic approach (SPADA) for the experiment organization. To exemplify the efficacy and flexibility of the method, we optimized the conditions for the synthesis of the Al₂O₃–SiC–AlN composite. Optimal synthesis parameters were predicted by evaluation of the impact of five variables (four related to mixture composition and one to annealing duration) on four different levels each. Compressive strength of the resulting composites was monitored as an output parameter for the material characterization. Such optimizations are arduous when done by full-factor experimental design (625 experiments necessary), whereas using SPADA design we accomplished the task by doing only 16 experiments. Maximum compressive strength of the composite was increased by 320% as compared to the starting experiment and by 45% as compared to the highest result produced by direct search; additionally, suggestions for the further improvements were outlined on the basis of calculated correlations.