Little things. big impact.

Dr. Kaoru Sato

Revealing the hidden architecture of surfaces

Research Fellow | JFE Techno-Research Corp.

Redefining surface design through microstructure analysis.

Dr. Kaoru Sato is an expert on electron microscopy. His focus is on material surface design based on microstructure analysis, and his work has led to   awards and innovations in many manufacturing sectors, including the auto industry and the world of microscopy itself.

About Dr. Sato

Patent applications
Awards
Papers, presentations & lectures

Breakthroughs by Dr. Sato

Sweet spot imaging

A new way to see.

High-powered imaging is even more powerful when employed with indepth know-how. Dr. Kaoru Sato is an expert at experimenting withelectron microscopy techniques that achieve game-changing results.

Using SEM to examine high strength steel and surface modification, Dr. Sato discovered that the highest accelerating voltage doesn’t result in the best resolution. Contrary to conventional wisdom, using low kilovolt imaging, coupled with a shorter working distance from the specimen, enables a dramatically improved picture.

Learning how to optimize working distance and voltage based on the material is what Dr. Sato refers to as the “sweet spot.” His insight is helping scientists across a variety of disciplines fine tune their approach to microscopy.

Discover ZEISS GeminiSEM

From Dr. Sato's Lab

Big surprises at low kV

Backscattered electron image at 1kV gives detailed chemical inhomogeneity of non-metallic inclusion.
Focused on the Sweet Spot

In-lens Secondary Electron detector gives magnetic
contrast when viewing at 1kV.

It is not easy to find something in the total darkness. Microscopy  
is like light.

Dr. Kaoru Sato JFE Techno-Research Corp

Breakthroughs by Dr. Sato

Lighter, stronger steel

The gold standard of steel.

The quest for lighter, stronger steel drives innovation in the auto industry. Lighter cars are more fuel efficient, while stronger means safer. Dr. Kaoru Sato was part of the team that developed innovative steel thatuses nanotechnology.

Using electron microscopy and analytics, the team successfully incorporated nanometer sized precipitates in the matrix. The finer particles make it stronger than conventional steel. This mix yields a thinner, lighter steel that performs better in crashworthiness tests.

The innovative steel masterfully combines strength, stiffness and formability in automobile parts. It has won many awards and paves the way for new applications across a variety of industries.

More nanoscience applications

From Dr. Sato's Lab

Seeing everything come together

Low collection-angle BSE (backscattered electrons) gives channeling contrast aiding in the development of high-tensile strength steel.
Diffusionless transformation

High collection-angle BSE (backscattered electrons) contrast allows visualization of hard martensite phase in steel manufacturing.

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