The Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD), Innovation Capability and Modernization (ICAM) Office, in collaboration with the National Center for Defense Manufacturing and Machining (NCDMM), is currently soliciting technical White Papers for a Request for Information (RFI) to explore the development and transition of metallic alloys and manufacturing processes that can enhance the capabilities of current and future defense platforms and weapon systems.

A 3D printer at ORNL's Manufacturing Demonstration Facility was used to print an unusual crack-free alloy for use in turbines that operate at extreme temperatures. 

Researchers at Oak Ridge National Laboratory and the National Energy Technology Laboratory have developed and 3D printed the lightest crack-free alloy capable of operating without melting at temperatures above 2,400 °F. This milestone could enable additively manufactured turbine blades to better handle extreme temperatures, reducing the carbon footprint of gas turbine engines such as those used in airplanes.

The National Science Foundation (NSF) has awarded a $445,000 grant to a research team to investigate the fatigue behavior of additive manufactured (AM) nickel-titanium shape memory alloys (SMAs), which can "remember" their original shape after deformation. The grant will fund the acquisition of equipment to assess the dynamic stiffness and longevity of materials under external forces.

The demand for large-scale components, weighing at least 10,000 lbs., has surged across sectors such as aerospace, defense, nuclear, oil, gas, renewables, and construction. However, traditional manufacturing techniques like casting and forging have declined in the U.S., leading to supply chain shortages as production increasingly shifts overseas. Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) researchers are initiating advanced manufacturing technologies to revitalize the production of these large metal parts via powder metallurgy-hot isostatic pressing (PM-HIP).

The global PM industry was in full force as individuals from 27 countries visited the WORLD PM2024 Congress in Yokohama, Japan, to “Make a better world with PM.”  The biennial World Congress included presentations on the latest PM technologies, suppliers introducing cutting edge products and services, and networking events to welcome the international community.