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VAMAS stands for ''Versailles Project on Advanced Materials and Standards''. It is a collaborative project that was initiated at the 1982 G7 Economic Summit in
Versailles The Palace of Versailles ( ; ) is a former royal residence commissioned by King Louis XIV located in Versailles, Yvelines, Versailles, about west of Paris, in the Yvelines, Yvelines Department of Île-de-France, Île-de-France region in Franc ...
to develop and promote standards for the characterisation of advanced materials, including
surfaces A surface, as the term is most generally used, is the outermost or uppermost layer of a physical object or space. Surface or surfaces may also refer to: Mathematics *Surface (mathematics), a generalization of a plane which needs not be flat * Sur ...
,
interfaces Interface or interfacing may refer to: Academic journals * ''Interface'' (journal), by the Electrochemical Society * '' Interface, Journal of Applied Linguistics'', now merged with ''ITL International Journal of Applied Linguistics'' * '' Inter ...
,
thin films A thin film is a layer of materials ranging from fractions of a nanometer ( monolayer) to several micrometers in thickness. The controlled synthesis of materials as thin films (a process referred to as deposition) is a fundamental step in many ...
, and nanostructures. Using interlaboratory studies, the VAMAS project has developed a number of standard test methods and reference materials for a wide range of materials. These standards have been widely adopted by industry and academic researchers, and have contributed to the development of new materials and technologies.


History


G7 summits proposals

The Versailles project on advanced materials and standards (VAMAS) was first proposed, among 18 other projects, at the 1982 G7 Economic Summit held at the
Palace of Versailles The Palace of Versailles ( ; ) is a former royal residence commissioned by King Louis XIV located in Versailles, Yvelines, Versailles, about west of Paris, in the Yvelines, Yvelines Department of Île-de-France, Île-de-France region in Franc ...
. However the proposal materialised during the 1983 G7 summit in the US where there was a focus on issues related to science and technology. During that meeting, the attendees acknowledged the importance of collaborating in the field of science and technology. The proposals for cooperation came from the French President
François Mitterrand François Maurice Adrien Marie Mitterrand (26 October 19168 January 1996) was a French politician and statesman who served as President of France from 1981 to 1995, the longest holder of that position in the history of France. As a former First ...
, which were presented in a lengthy speech highlighting the necessity of creating a new international division of labour for technology. The proposal was met with scepticism from the US, but George A. Keyworth, director of the White House's
Office of Science and Technology Policy The Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) is a department of the United States government, part of the Executive Office of the President of the United States, Executive Office of the President (EOP), established by United States Congres ...
(OSTP), was enthusiastic about the idea of international cooperation in science and technology. He argued that the massive cost of experimental facilities in areas such as high-energy physics and fusion research made international collaboration desirable. Both Europe and the United States were spending approximately half a billion dollars a year on controlled fusion, with Japan spending another quarter of a million dollars. Keyworth believed that this highly redundant research could be avoided with greater collaboration. "The single most important outcome f the initiativeis that science and technology have been discussed at two successive summits by the heads of state," says Robin Nicholson, chief scientific adviser to British Prime Minister
Margaret Thatcher Margaret Hilda Thatcher, Baroness Thatcher (; 13 October 19258 April 2013), was a British stateswoman who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1979 to 1990 and Leader of the Conservative Party (UK), Leader of th ...
. "That has never happened before, and it must be significant for science and technology that it is happening now." The French, under the guidance of President Mitterrand's personal adviser, Jacques Attali, who chaired the Versailles working group, provided a more pragmatic approach to the working groups to bridge the political gap between Mitterrand's interventionist position, broadly supported by Japan and Italy, and the United States'
free-trade Free trade is a trade policy that does not restrict imports or exports. In government, free trade is predominantly advocated by political parties that hold economically liberal positions, while economic nationalist political parties general ...
position, adopted by
West Germany West Germany was the common English name for the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG) from its formation on 23 May 1949 until German reunification, its reunification with East Germany on 3 October 1990. It is sometimes known as the Bonn Republi ...
and the United Kingdom. The working group included a reference to the need to restrict the transfer of militarily technology to
Soviet bloc The Eastern Bloc, also known as the Communist Bloc (Combloc), the Socialist Bloc, the Workers Bloc, and the Soviet Bloc, was an unofficial coalition of communist states of Central and Eastern Europe, Asia, Africa, and Latin America that were a ...
. During the summits, the Working Group on Science and Technology proposed 18 specific cooperation projects, with one or more of the seven nations and the European Economic Community taking organising responsibility for each project. The projects included
high-energy physics Particle physics or high-energy physics is the study of fundamental particles and forces that constitute matter and radiation. The field also studies combinations of elementary particles up to the scale of protons and neutrons, while the stu ...
, solar system exploration,
remote sensing Remote sensing is the acquisition of information about an physical object, object or phenomenon without making physical contact with the object, in contrast to in situ or on-site observation. The term is applied especially to acquiring inform ...
from space, advanced robotics, biological sciences, photosynthesis, the impact of new technologies on mature industries, high-speed ground transportation, public acceptance of new technologies, and aquiculture. The United States declined to participate in projects in which it claimed government actions could impinge on the interests of the private sector, including the
biotechnology Biotechnology is a multidisciplinary field that involves the integration of natural sciences and Engineering Science, engineering sciences in order to achieve the application of organisms and parts thereof for products and services. Specialists ...
project, which was led by France and generated the most controversy. Initially, France and Japan argued strongly for the internationalisation of biotechnology research. The UK requested to co-lead the biotechnology subject with France, but France's interest in the subject was criticised as "
idiosyncratic An idiosyncrasy is a unique feature of something. The term is often used to express peculiarity. Etymology The term "idiosyncrasy" originates from Greek ', "a peculiar temperament, habit of body" (from ', "one's own", ', "with" and ', "blend ...
" by the UK Chief Scientist. The UK also nominated a Working Group to report on the theme of collaborative projects relating to "Technology, Growth and Employment," which developed the "Materials research and development" project that was jointly led by the UK and the US. This last project became the "Versailles Project on Advanced Materials and Standards", or VAMAS.


Inception

The VAMAS project was proposed by Robin Nicholson. Nicholson presented the proposal at IUVSTA meeting in
Brighton Brighton ( ) is a seaside resort in the city status in the United Kingdom, city of Brighton and Hove, East Sussex, England, south of London. Archaeological evidence of settlement in the area dates back to the Bronze Age Britain, Bronze Age, R ...
, UK, in 1982, where it was well-received and subsequently led to the establishment of the VAMAS project. Nicholson and his colleagues recognised the need for international standards for the characterisation of surfaces and interfaces using
X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) is a surface-sensitive quantitative spectroscopic technique that measures the very topmost 50-60 atoms, 5-10 nm of any surface. It belongs to the family of photoemission spectroscopies in which electro ...
(XPS) and Auger electron spectroscopy (AES), and proposed the idea for a collaborative project to develop and promote such standards. The proposal was a result of a collaboration between the National Physical Laboratory and the UK Department of Trade and Industry, and it received significant support from the international scientific community. Then, the proposal was put forward by Nicholson (Government Chief Scientist) to Prime Minister Thatcher to consider on 8 October 1982. In his letter, Nicholson outlined UK capabilities in excelling in Materials science research and development but "failed to reap the commercial rewards" VAMAS was meant to address the "entire materials cycle
hich Ij () is a village in Golabar Rural District of the Central District in Ijrud County, Zanjan province, Iran Iran, officially the Islamic Republic of Iran (IRI) and also known as Persia, is a country in West Asia. It borders Iraq ...
is a fundamental component of economic production and technological innovation" (said President Regan), including the lack of agreed standards, test procedures, etc., which prevents the European Community from being taken as a
single market A single market, sometimes called common market or internal market, is a type of trade bloc in which most trade barriers have been removed (for goods) with some common policies on product regulation, and freedom of movement of the factors of pr ...
for a new product involving the use of new materials. On 15 October 1982, Thatcher agreed to the proposed approach, and during the early stages of the project, the Margaret Thatcher government provided significant financial and political support. Thatcher herself was reported to have taken a keen interest in its progress. The United States expressed its intention to play an active role. The United Kingdom and the United States became the leading countries. Out of the original 18 projects, VAMAS is the only project that continues to this date.


Formation

The first VAMAS meeting was held at the National Physical Laboratory (NPL) in
Teddington Teddington is an affluent suburb of London in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames. Historically an Civil parish#ancient parishes, ancient parish in the county of Middlesex and situated close to the border with Surrey, the district became ...
, London, in 1983. There, Ernest Hondros was selected as the Chair for the Steering Committee. VAMAS founding countries are (1982-1983): Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, UK, USA, and
European Economic Community The European Economic Community (EEC) was a regional organisation created by the Treaty of Rome of 1957,Today the largely rewritten treaty continues in force as the ''Treaty on the functioning of the European Union'', as renamed by the Lisbo ...
. Brazil, Mexico,
Chinese Taipei "Chinese Taipei" is the term used in various international organizations and tournaments for groups or delegations representing the Republic of China (ROC), a country commonly known as Taiwan. Due to the One China principle stipulated by the ...
, South Africa, Australia, South Korea, and India joined later between 2007 and 2008, and China joined in 2013. VAMAS is supported by leadership in National measurement institutes (NMI) including NPL, National Institute for Materials Science (NIMS), National Bureau of Standards (today's
National Institute of Standards and Technology The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is an agency of the United States Department of Commerce whose mission is to promote American innovation and industrial competitiveness. NIST's activities are organized into Outline of p ...
, NIST), The British measurement and testing association (BMTA),
International Bureau of Weights and Measures The International Bureau of Weights and Measures (, BIPM) is an List of intergovernmental organizations, intergovernmental organisation, through which its 64 member-states act on measurement standards in areas including chemistry, ionising radi ...
(BIPM), and
Federal Institute for Materials Research and Testing The Federal Institute for Materials Research and Testing (), or BAM, is a German research institute in the field of materials science. History The institute's origins start in 1871, the year in which Germany was unified, as the ''Mechanisch-Tec ...
(BAM). VAMAS signed a memorandum with
International Organization for Standardization The International Organization for Standardization (ISO ; ; ) is an independent, non-governmental, international standard development organization composed of representatives from the national standards organizations of member countries. M ...
(ISO) in 1993,
International Electrotechnical Commission The International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC; ) is an international standards organization that prepares and publishes international standards for all electrical, electronics, electronic and related technologies. IEC standards cover a va ...
(IEC) in 1995,
International Bureau of Weights and Measures The International Bureau of Weights and Measures (, BIPM) is an List of intergovernmental organizations, intergovernmental organisation, through which its 64 member-states act on measurement standards in areas including chemistry, ionising radi ...
(BIPM) and Asia Pacific Metrology Programme (APMP) in 2020. First VAMAS technical groups included "
Wear Wear is the damaging, gradual removal or deformation of material at solid surfaces. Causes of wear can be mechanical (e.g., erosion) or chemical (e.g., corrosion). The study of wear and related processes is referred to as tribology. Wear in ...
Test Methods" led by (Germany), "Surface Chemical Analysis" led by Cedric J Powell (US), "Polymer Blends" led by Lechoslaw Utracki (Canada), and "Ceramics" led by Phillipe Boch (France). The first round-robin test was held for Wear test methods and the results were reported in 1987.


Objectives

Using new materials is crucial in advancing technology in fields such as electronics, energy, aerospace, and biotechnology. However, these materials have different qualities compared to traditional materials, which poses a challenge in standardisation and testing methods. In order to promote their use and distribution, it is important to consider the international division of labour and future product distribution. Developing
international standards An international standard is a technical standard developed by one or more international standards organizations. International standards are available for consideration and use worldwide. The most prominent such organization is the International O ...
for new materials effectively removes technical barriers to trade and promotes global information circulation and data sharing. Unlike conventional materials, new materials must be standardised before the production of the object is standardised, or the use of the method has been socially accumulated. Thus, standardisation for new materials is considered pre-emptive rather than follow-up. VAMAS initiative emerges from these needs as a collaborative endeavour involving national
metrology Metrology is the scientific study of measurement. It establishes a common understanding of Unit of measurement, units, crucial in linking human activities. Modern metrology has its roots in the French Revolution's political motivation to stan ...
institutes, universities, research institutions, and industry, with the primary goal of promoting international cooperation and accelerating technological advancement by facilitating the exchange of information and standardising measurement methods related to
advanced materials ''Advanced Materials'' is a weekly peer-reviewed scientific journal covering materials science. It includes communications, reviews, and feature articles on topics in chemistry, physics, nanotechnology, ceramics, metallurgy, and biomaterials. Accor ...
. VAMAS support pre-standards research by providing the technical basis for measurements, testing, specifications, and standards. Using interlaboratory studies, this will lead to new improved test procedures, reference materials and data, or algorithms and software with the researchers being drawn from VAMAS and non-VAMAS countries. Results of these activities are submitted to ISO, Regional or National Standards bodies. The project has generated a wealth of technical reports that offer detailed guidance on various aspects of
materials characterisation Characterization, when used in materials science, refers to the broad and general process by which a material's structure and properties are probed and measured. It is a fundamental process in the field of materials science, without which no scien ...
, including sample preparation, measurement conditions, data analysis, and reporting. These reports are publicly accessible and widely utilised as a reference by researchers, instrument manufacturers, and testing laboratories. In addition to its efforts to establish materials characterisation standards, the VAMAS project has also contributed to the development of international standards for other areas of materials science, such as
mechanical testing Mechanical testing covers a wide range of tests, which can be divided broadly into two types: # those that aim to determine a material's mechanical properties, independent of geometry. # those that determine the response of a structure to a given ...
,
thermal analysis Thermal analysis is a branch of materials science where the properties of materials are studied as they change with temperature. Several methods are commonly used – these are distinguished from one another by the property which is measured: * D ...
,
powder diffraction Powder diffraction is a scientific technique using X-ray, neutron, or electron diffraction on powder or microcrystalline samples for structural characterization of materials. An instrument dedicated to performing such powder measurements is ca ...
,
X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) is a surface-sensitive quantitative spectroscopic technique that measures the very topmost 50-60 atoms, 5-10 nm of any surface. It belongs to the family of photoemission spectroscopies in which electro ...
(XPS), Auger electron spectroscopy (AES), and
secondary ion mass spectrometry Secondary-ion mass spectrometry (SIMS) is a technique used to analyze the composition of solid surfaces and thin films by sputtering the surface of the specimen with a focused primary ion beam and collecting and analyzing ejected secondary ions ...
(SIMS). Its endeavours have led to the emergence of new materials and technologies and fostered international collaboration in research and development. More than 85 national, regional or international standards, 50 VAMAS reports, 5 ISO technology trends assessments (TTA), and 600 publications were resulted from VAMAS work.


Structure


Steering Committee

VAMAS has a Steering Committee and a Technical Working Groups, with the latter responsible for conducting research cooperation activities in each technical field and managing research projects. The majority of joint research themes adopted by the Steering Committee focus on standardising testing and evaluation techniques. The Steering Committee, which includes representatives from Member States and the European Commission, has approves the launch of several sector working parties to promote the use of advanced materials in high-technology products and encourage international trade. This can be achieved through either national experts agreeing on compatible standards or through multilateral research to establish scientific and metrological bases for standardisation. The Steering Committee has a Chair and secretariat both from the same host institute, and they are elected every 5 years. The secretariat publishes announcements of the Technical Working Group's activities. The Steering Committee meets annually.


Technical work areas

VAMAS technical work areas (TWA) are list for active and completed.


International Interlaboratory Comparison

International Interlaboratory Comparison is a method of ensuring the accuracy and reliability of testing results by comparing the measurements made by different laboratories worldwide. In this method, a sample is sent to multiple laboratories in round-robin tests, and each laboratory measures the same sample using their respective methods and equipment. The results are then compared to identify any differences or discrepancies, and to evaluate the consistency and reliability of the methods used by each laboratory. This process helps to ensure that the testing and measurement methods used by laboratories are accurate, and that the results obtained can be trusted and used confidently.


References

{{Authority control__NOTOC__ Standards (metrology) Research institutes Materials science institutes