Ultrahigh Temperature Heat-treatments of Refractory Multi-Principal Element Alloys for Defense Applications
Abstract
The development of next generation, high-performance structural materials for the Department of Defense (DoD) will require in-depth, fundamental understanding of high temperature materials and knowledge about how to process them in bulk. Nickel and cobalt alloys used for advanced turbine engines cannot be operated above 1100.C without coatings and sophisticated cooling channels that reduce efficiency. To improve engine efficiencies and achieve greater power densities and develop materials for hypersonics, a step change in base metal temperature capability must be realized, beyond those currently exhibited by existing alloys. For ultrahigh temperature performance and continuous operation above 1200°C, refractory multi-principal element alloys (RMPEAs) that form single phase, body centered cubic solid solutions of suitable elements are desired. Significant opportunity also exists for multiphase RMPEAs designed for short-use and/or expendable environments below 1200 °C.--Mines seeks to enhance our materials processing capabilities beyond thermomechanical-processing and additive manufacturing to include ultrahigh temperature heat treating capabilities-in controlled environments up to 2000°C for fundamental microstructure development and-processing and in-service studies of refractory alloys, RMPEAs, and ceramics. These types of-experiments are crucial for understanding important microstructure aspects like recrystallization,-phase stability, and dislocation substructure evolution, to understand the role of interstitials, to-generate thermodynamic data needed for Integrated Computational Materials Engineering of-RMPEAs, and to develop materials processing strategies for manufacturing of bulk materials.-The proposed new ultrahigh temperature furnace, in combination with Mines# track record of-excellence in physical and process metallurgy, will accelerate and improve existing, proposed,-and future research and research-related education funded by the DoD on the prediction, control,-and development of advanced and new materials and processes with designed microstructures-and properties for performance in extreme environments.--Mines has a strong legacy in use-inspired metallurgical and materials engineering, with strengths-in the development of industrially relevant metallic alloys and ceramics for structural-engineering applications. Mines Principal Investigators and established collaborators are-currently supporting the DoD#s mission by performing fundamental and applied research on-topics such as thermomechanical processing of RMPEAs for ultrahigh temperature performance,-additive manufacturing of high-temperature alloys, and processing of ceramics. The proposed-high temperature furnace will enhance the speed, quality, and breadth of materials research and-research-related education of over 20 graduate students and postdocs currently underway or on-the horizon for DoD applications, in alignment with aims of the Office of Naval Research#s-(ONR) propulsion, structural metals, and materials and processes for AM technology areas, Air-Force Office of Scientific Research#s (AFOSR) Physical Sciences topical area in materials with extreme properties, and the Army Research Office#s (ARO) interests in the synthesis and processing of materials, mechanical behavior of materials, and physical properties of materials, particularly the design and manufacture of multi-component and complex materials.-This abstract is publicly releasable.--
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Aug 11, 2023
- Source ID
- N000142312759
Entities
People
- Amy Clarke
Organizations
- Colorado School of Mines
- Office of Naval Research
- United States Navy