Vision
Lead emerging opportunities in processing metals and composites for a renaissance in domestic manufacturing for energy, defense, and scientific discovery.
Mission
Conventional and novel processing routes to enable production and scale up of next generation structural and functional alloys.Support advanced mission roles while contributing to the development of emerging technologies related to refractory alloys, powder metallurgy, smart manufacturing and advanced manufacturing.
R&D Scope
The Metals and Composites Processing Group executes on transforming advanced alloy compositions into tangible forms for physical, mechanical, environmental, and microstructural assessments and end use. The High Bay Metals Processing Facility can produce quantities suitable for prototype demonstration and special mission applications. In keeping with these objectives, the Group has begun a collaboration with the Manufacturing Development Facility to bridge capabilities. Special mission roles include producing iridium alloy components in a final form to encapsulate plutonium oxide fuel for Radioisotope Space Power Systems for NASA deep space missions. The Group is presently developing and producing prototype hardware for a second target design for the Spallation Neutron Source. The Group periodically produces control plates for the High Flux Isotope Reactor. Alloy development successes continue to take form in the Group prior to being adopted by industries[MOU1].
Core Competencies
- Melt processing of alloys: Arc Melting, VAR, Electron Beam, Induction, Furnace
- Thermo-Mechanical Processing: Rolling, Extrusion, Forging, Powder Consolidation
- Thermal Processing: High Temperature Furnaces – Air, Vacuum, Hydrogen, Inert Gas