Driving Innovation in Additive Manufacturing for Extreme Environments
Unlocking the Future of High-Performance Materials
America Makes, the National Additive Manufacturing Innovation Institute, has unveiled a significant investment in the future of high-performance materials. The organization recently launched two new project calls, committing a total of $8 million, specifically aimed at advancing refractory alloy systems in additive manufacturing (AM). This initiative underscores the critical need for robust, high-temperature materials in various demanding applications, from aerospace and defense to energy.
The Project Calls: A Closer Look
The $8 million funding is strategically distributed across three distinct focus areas, each designed to push the boundaries of AM for refractory alloys:
- Existing Refractory Alloy Systems: Up to two awards, each capped at $2 million, are available under this call. The objective here is to optimize and enhance the performance of refractory alloys that are already known or in use. This could involve improving process parameters, refining material properties, or developing better quality control methods for current systems.
- Novel or Emerging Refractory Alloy Systems: A single award of up to $1.7 million has been allocated to explore truly innovative or nascent refractory alloy compositions and processing techniques for AM. This call encourages groundbreaking research into new material formulations that could unlock unprecedented performance characteristics.
- Refractory Alloy Supply Chain Assessment: Recognizing that innovation in materials must be supported by practical implementation, America Makes is offering one award of up to $300,000 for a comprehensive assessment of the refractory alloy supply chain. This project will identify challenges, gaps, and opportunities within the supply chain, ensuring that advancements can be effectively scaled and commercialized.
This targeted investment highlights America Makes' commitment to accelerating the adoption of additive manufacturing for specialized materials. By fostering innovation across existing, emerging, and supply chain aspects, the institute aims to solidify America's leadership in advanced manufacturing and develop critical materials capable of withstanding extreme operational conditions.
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