Observations on the structural degradation of silver during simultaneous exposure to oxidizing and reducing environments

The structural stability of silver (Ag) in dual atmosphere exposure conditions, which are representative of solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) current collector and gas seals, has been examined in the 600–800 °C temperature range. Experiments conducted on Ag tubular sections exposed to flowing H₂-3% H₂O (inside the tube) and air (outside the tube) showed extensive porosity formation along the grain boundaries in the bulk metal. Similar tubular sections, when exposed to air only (both inside and outside the tube), showed no bulk porosity or structural changes. It is postulated that the porosity formation in the bulk metal is related to the formation of gaseous H₂O bubbles due to simultaneous diffusion of hydrogen and oxygen followed by subsequent interaction resulting in the formation of steam. Thermochemical processes that are responsible for structural degradation are presented and discussed. Based on experimental observations, it is concluded that Ag metal may not provide adequate long-term structural stability under a dual-environment condition that is typical of interconnects or gas seals in intermediate temperature SOFCs. This paper was presented at the Fuel Cells: Materials, Processing, and Manufacturing Technologies Symposium sponsored by the Energy/Utilities Industrial Sector & Ground Transportation Industrial Sector and the Specialty Materials Critical Technologies Sector at the ASM International Materials Solutions Conference, October 13–15, 2003, in Pittsburgh, PA. The symposium was organized by P. Singh, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, S.C. Deevi, Philip Morris USA, T. Armstrong, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, and T. Dubois, U.S. Army CECOM.     

High-temperature electrical testing of a solid oxide fuel cell cathode contact material

The development of high-temperature solid-state devices for energy generation and environmental control applications has advanced remarkably over the past decade. However, there remain a number of technical barriers that still impede widespread commercial application. One of these, for example, is the development of a robust method of conductively joining the mixed-conducting oxide electrodes that lie at the heart of the device to the heat resistant metal interconnect used to transmit power to or from the electrodes and electrochemically active membrane. This study investigated the high-temperature electrical and microstructural characteristics of a series of conductive glass composite paste junctions between two contact materials representative of those used in solid-state electrochemical devices, lanthanum calcium manganate, and 430 stainless steel. This paper was presented at the Fuel Cells: Materials, Processing, and Manufacturing Technologies Symposium sponsored by the Energy/Utilities Industrial Sector & Ground Transportation Industrial Sector and the Specialty Materials Critical Technologies Sector at the ASM International Materials Solutions Conference, October 13–15, 2003, in Pittsburgh, PA. The symposium was organized by P. Singh, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, S.C. Deevi, Philip Morris USA, T. Armstrong, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, and T. Dubois, U.S. Army CECOM.     

Chemical stability of glass seal interfaces in intermediate temperature solid oxide fuel cells

In intermediate temperature planar solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) stacks, the interconnect, which is typically made from cost-effective, oxidation-resistant, high-temperature alloys, is typically sealed to the ceramic positive electrode-electrolyte-negative electrode (PEN) by a sealing glass. To maintain the structural stability and minimize the degradation of stack performance, the sealing glass has to be chemically compatible with the PEN and alloy interconnects. In the present study, the chemical compatibility of a barium-calcium-aluminosilicate (BCAS) based glass-ceramic (specifically developed as a sealant in SOFC stacks) with a number of selected oxidation resistant high temperature alloys (and the yttria-stabilized zirconia electrolyte) was evaluated. This paper reports the results of that study, with a particular focus on Crofer22 APU, a new ferritic stainless steel that was developed specifically for SOFC interconnect applications. This paper was presented at the Fuel Cells: Materials, Processing, and Manufacturing Technologies Symposium sponsored by the Energy/Utilities Industrial Sector & Ground Transportation Industrial Sector and the Specialty Materials Critical Technologies Sector at the ASM International Materials Solutions Conference, October 13–15, 2003, in Pittsburgh, PA. The symposium was organized by P. Singh, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, S.C. Deevi, Philip Morris USA, T. Armstrong, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, and T. Dubois, U.S. Army CECOM.     

Using CrAlN multilayer coatings to improve oxidation resistance of steel interconnects for solid oxide fuel cell stacks

The requirements of low-cost and high-temperature corrosion resistance for bipolar interconnect plates in solid oxide fuel cell stacks has directed attention to the use of metal plates with oxidation resistant coatings. The performance of steel plates with multilayer coatings, consisting of CrN for electrical conductivity and CrAlN for oxidation resistance, was investigated. The coatings were deposited using large area filtered arc deposition technology, and subsequently annealed in air for up to 25 hours at 800 °C. The composition, structure, and morphology of the coated plates were characterized using Rutherford backscattering, nuclear reaction analysis, atomic force microscopy, and transmission electron microscopy techniques. By altering the architecture of the layers within the coatings, the rate of oxidation was reduced by more than an order of magnitude. Electrical resistance was measured at room temperature. This paper was presented at the Fuel Cells: Materials, Processing, and Manufacturing Technologies Symposium sponsored by the Energy/Utilities Industrial Sector & Ground Transportation Industrial Sector and the Specialty Materials Critical Technologies Sector at the ASM International Materials Solutions Conference, October 13–15, 2003, in Pittsburgh, PA. The symposium was organized by P. Singh, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, S.C. Deevi, Philip Morris USA, T. Armstrong, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, and T. Dubois, U.S. Army CECOM.     

Evaluation of ferritic stainless steel for use as metal interconnects for solid oxide fuel cells

Interconnect development for planar solid oxide fuel cells is considered a vital technical area requiring focused research to meet the performance and cost goals. A commercial ferritic stainless steel composition for oxidation resistance properties was investigated by measuring the weight gain due to air exposure at fuel cell operating temperature. A surface treatment process was found to produce a dense, adherent scale and to reduce the oxide scale growth rate significantly. A process was also identified for coating the surface of the alloy to reduce the in-plane resistance and potentially to inhibit chromium oxide evaporation. The combination of treatments provided a very low resistance through the scale. The resistance measured was as low as 10 mΩ-cm² air. The resistance value was stable over several thermal cycles. The treated samples were exposed to a variety of atmospheres that were relevant in fuel cell operation to evaluate changes in scale morphology. Analysis of the scale after such exposure showed the presence of a stable composition. When exposed to a dual atmosphere (air and hydrogen on opposite sides of the metal sheet), however, the scale composition contained a mixture of phases. Additional process modifications are planned to reduce the effect of dual-atmosphere exposure. This paper was presented at the Fuel Cells: Materials, Processing, and Manufacturing Technologies Symposium sponsored by the Energy/Utilities Industrial Sector & Ground Transportation Industrial Sector and the Specialty Materials Critical Technologies Sector at the ASM International Materials Solutions Conference, October 13–15, 2003, in Pittsburgh, PA. The symposium was organized by P. Singh, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. S.C. Deevi, Philip Morris USA, T. Armstrong, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, and T. Dubois, U.S. Army CECOM.     

Development of metal supported solid oxide fuel cells for operation at 500–600 °C

A novel metal-supported solid oxide fuel cell has been developed that is capable of operating at temperatures of 500–600 °C. The rationale behind the materials used to construct this fuel cell type is given, and results are presented from cell testing on hydrogen and reformed natural gas, including durability trials of some 2500 h duration. This new fuel cell variant is shown to be tolerant of carbon monoxide, durable, robust to thermal and redox cycling, and capable of delivering technologically relevant power densities. This paper was presented at the Fuel Cells: Materials, Processing, and Manufacturing Technologies Symposium sponsored by the Energy/Utilities Industrial Sector & Ground Transportation Industrial Sector and the Specialty Materials Critical Technologies Sector at the ASM International Materials Solutions Conference, October 13–15, 2003, in Pittsburgh, PA. The symposium was organized by P. Singh, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, S.C. Deevi, Philip Morris USA, T. Armstrong, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, and T. Dubois, U.S. Army CECOM.     

An experimental evaluation of the effects of ripple current generated by the power conditioning stage on a proton exchange membrane fuel cell stack

In this article, an impedance model of the proton exchange membrane fuel cell stack (PEMFCS) is proposed. The proposed study employs an equivalent circuit of the PEMFCS derived by the frequency response analysis technique. An equivalent circuit for the PEMFCS is developed to evaluate the effects of ripple currents generated by the power-conditioning unit. The calculated results are then verified by means of experiments using a commercially available PEMFCS. The relationship between ripple current and fuel cell performance, such as power loss and fuel consumption, is investigated. Experimental results show that the ripple current can contribute up to a 6% reduction in the available output power. This paper was presented at the Fuel Cells: Materials, Processing, and Manufacturing Technologies Symposium sponsored by the Energy/Utilities Industrial Sector & Ground Transportation Industrial Sector and the Specialty Materials Critical Technologies Sector at the ASM International Materials Solutions Conference, October 13–15, 2003, in Pittsburgh, PA. The symposium was organized by P. Singh, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, S.C. Deevi, Philip Morris USA, T. Armstrong, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, and T. Dubois, U.S. Army CECOM.     

Development of proton conductors using pyrochlore-perovskite phase boundaries

The pyrochlore-perovskite binary systems La₂Zr₂O₇-SrZrO₃ and La₂Zr₂O₇-LaYO₃ were studied as potential high-temperature proton conductors. X-ray diffraction and direct current conductivity measurements were used to develop empirical relationships between structure and conductivity. The solubilities of Sr in La₂Zr₂O₇ and La in SrZrO₃ were low, less than 0.1 mol fraction. The solubility of Zr in LaYO₃ was at least 0.125 mol fraction, and the solubility of Y in La₂Zr₂O₇ was at least 0.25 mol fraction. Y-doped La₂Zr₂O₇ had the highest electrical conductivity, though no composition exceeded σ=3×10⁻⁴ S/cm at the target temperature of 600 °C. The effectiveness of Y as a dopant in La₂Zr₂O₇ was limited because Y substituted for both La on the A-site and Zr on the B-site. This paper was presented at the Fuel Cells: Materials, Processing, and Manufacturing Technologies Symposium sponsored by the Energy/Utilities Industrial Sector & Ground Transportation Industrial Sector and the Specialty Materials Critical Technologies Sector at the ASM International Materials Solutions Conference, October 13–15, 2003, in Pittsburgh, PA. The symposium was organized by P. Singh, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, S.C. Deevi, Philip Morris USA, T. Armstrong, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, and T. Dubois, U.S. Army CECOM.     

Polarization study on doped lanthanum gallate electrolyte using impedance spectroscopy

Alternating current complex impedance spectroscopy studies were conducted on symmetrical cells of the type [gas, electrode/La_1−x Sr _x Ga_1−y Mg _y O₃ (LSGM) electrolyte/electrode, gas]. The electrode materials were slurry-coated on both sides of the LSGM electrolyte support. The electrodes selected for this investigation are candidate materials for solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) electrodes. Cathode materials include La_1−x Sr _x MnO₃ (LSM), La_1−x Sr _x Co _y Fe_1−y O₃ (LSCF), a two-phase particulate composite consisting of LSM and doped-lanthanum gallate (LSGM), and LSCF + LSGM. Pt metal electrodes were also used for the purpose of comparison. Anode material investigated was the Ni + Ce_0.85Gd_0.15O₂ composite. The study revealed important details pertaining to the charge-transfer reactions that occur in such electrodes. The information obtained can be used to design electrodes for intermediate temperature SOFCs based on LSGM electrolytes. This paper was presented at the Fuel Cells: Materials, Processing, and Manufacturing Technologies Symposium sponsored by the Energy/Utilities Industrial Sector & Ground Transportation Industrial Sector and the Specialty Materials Critical Technologies Sector at the ASM International Materials Solutions Conference, October 13–15, 2003, in Pittsburgh, PA. The symposium was organized by P. Singh, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, S.C. Deevi, Philip Morris USA, T. Armstrong, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, and T. Dubois, U.S. Army CECOM.     

Results of testing various natural gas desulfurization adsorbents

This article presents the results of testing many commercially available and some experimental sulfur adsorbents. The desired result of our testing was to find an effective method to reduce the quantity of sulfur in natural gas to less than 100 ppb volume (0.1 ppm volume). An amount of 100 ppb sulfur is the maximum limit permitted for Siemens Westinghouse solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs). The tested adsorbents include some that rely only on physical adsorption such as activated carbon, some that rely on chemisorption such as heated zinc oxide, and some that may use both processes. The testing was performed on an engineering scale with beds larger than those used for typical laboratory tests. All tests were done at about 3.45 barg (50 psig). The natural gas used for testing was from the local pipeline in Pittsburgh and averaged 6 ppm volume total sulfur. The primary sulfur species were dimethyl sulfide (DMS), isopropyl mercaptan, tertiary butyl mercaptan, and tetrahydrothiophene. Some tests required several months to achieve a sulfur breakthrough of the bed. It was found that DMS always came through a desulfurizer bed first, independent of adsorption process. Since the breakthrough of DMS always exceeds the 100 ppb SOFC sulfur limit before other sulfurs were detected, an index was created to rate the adsorbents in units of ppm DMS × absorbent bed volume. This index is useful for calculating the expected adsorbent bed lifetime before sulfur breakthrough when the inlet natural gas DMS content is known. The adsorbents that are included in these reports were obtained from suppliers in the United States, the Netherlands, Japan, and England. Three activated carbons from different suppliers were found to have identical performance in removing DMS. One of these activated carbons was operated at four different space velocities and again showed the same performance. When using activated carbon as the basis of comparison for other adsorbents, three high-performance adsorbents were found that removed about 100 to 150 times as much DMS as activated carbon before breakthrough. This paper was presented at the Fuel Cells: Materials, Processing, and Manufacturing Technologies Symposium sponsored by the Energy/Utilities Industrial Sector & Ground Transportation Industrial Sector and the Specialty Materials Critical Technologies Sector at the ASM International Materials Solutions Conference, October 13–15, 2003, in Pittsburgh, PA. The symposium was organized by P. Singh, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, S.C. Deevi, Philip Morris USA, T. Armstrong, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, and T. Dubois, U.S. Army CECOM.     

High-temperature seals for solid oxide fuel cells (SOFC)

A functioning solid oxide fuel-cell (SOFC) may require all types of seals, such as metal-metal, metal-ceramic, and ceramic-ceramic. These seals must function at high temperatures between 600 and 900 °C and in the oxidizing and reducing environments of fuels and air. Among the different types of seals, the metal-metal seals can be readily fabricated using metal joining, soldering, and brazing techniques. However, metal-ceramic and ceramic-ceramic seals require significant research and development because the brittle nature of ceramics/glasses can lead to fracture and loss of seal integrity and functionality. Consequently, any seals involving ceramics/glasses also require significant attention and technology development for reliable SOFC operation. This paper is prepared to primarily address the needs and possible approaches for high-temperature seals for SOFC and seals fabricated using some of these approaches. A new concept of self-healing glass seals is proposed for making seals among material combinations with a significant expansion mismatches. This paper was presented at the ASM Materials Solutions Conference & Show held October 18–21, 2004 in Columbus, OH.     

New sealing concept for planar solid oxide fuel cells

A key element in developing high-performance planar solid oxide fuel-cell stacks is the hermetic seal between the metal and ceramic components. Two methods of sealing are commonly used: (a) rigid joining and (b) compressive sealing. Each method has its own set of advantages and design constraints. An alternative approach is currently under development that appears to combine some of the advantages of the other two techniques, including hermeticity, mechanical integrity, and minimization of interfacial stresses in the joint substrate materials, particularly the ceramic cell. The new sealing concept relies on a plastically deformable metal seal; one that offers a quasi-dynamic mechanical response in that it is adherent to both sealing surfaces, i.e., non-sliding, but readily yields or deforms under thermally generated stresses. In this way, it mitigates the development of stresses in the adjacent ceramic and metal components even when a significant difference in thermal expansion exists between the two materials. The pre-experimental design of the seal, initial proof-of-principle results on small test specimens, and finite-element analyses aimed at scaling the seal to prototypical sizes and geometries are described herein. This paper was presented at the ASM Materials Solutions Conference & Show held October 18–21, 2004 in Columbus, OH.     

非晶复合材料制备与性能

总结了近年来本课题组在外加强化相非晶复合材料制备方面取得的主要研究结果。通过制备过程凝固控制获得了性能优异的非晶复合材料,其中金属W／Zr基非晶合金双连续相复合材料压缩强度达到3450MPa,压缩应变为48％;金属Ti／Mg基非晶合金双连续相复合材料压缩强度达到1750MPa,塑性应变为30％;8％Nb颗粒／Mg基非晶复合材料压缩强度达到900MPa,塑性应变为12．1％;6％SiC颗粒／Zr基非晶复合材料压缩强度达到2230MPa,塑性应变为3％。     

The Effects of Pre-Oxidation and Alloy Chemistry of Austenitic Stainless Steels on Glass/Metal Sealing

An oxidation treatment is often performed on austenitic stainless steel prior to joining to alkali barium silicate glass to produce hermetic seals. The thin oxide formed during this pre-oxidation step acts as a transitional layer and a source of Cr and other elements that diffuse into the glass during the subsequent bonding process. Pre-oxidation is performed in a low pO₂ atmosphere to avoid iron oxide formation; the final oxide is composed of Cr₂O₃, MnCr₂O₄ spinel, and SiO₂. Significant heat-to-heat variations in the oxidation behavior of austenitic stainless steel were observed in this work, resulting in inconsistent glass/metal seal behavior. Twenty-five (25) stainless steel heats were examined including 304L, 316L, and experimental high sulfur alloys similar to 303SS. The objectives were to characterize the oxidation kinetics, the oxide morphologies, and compositions that affect glass/metal adhesion. It was found that poor glass sealing is associated with a more continuous layer of SiO₂ at the metal/oxide interface. The effects of alloy chemistry, in particular Mn and Si concentrations, on glass/metal sealing behavior were empirically determined. A criterion based on the Mn/Si ratio was developed for use in selecting heats with good glass/metal bonding characteristics. To test this criterion, four other austenitic stainless steels were evaluated: 21-6-9 (also known by original Armco Steel Co. trade name Nitronic^® 40), 22-13-5 (Nitronic^® 50), Nitronic^® 60, and Gall-Tough^® (Carpenter Technology Corp.). These alloys have compositions significantly different from 300-series alloys, but they were still found to comply with the compositional guidelines developed for predicting glass/metal adhesion.     

重金属污染土防渗注浆材料的力学性能

采用水泥基复合注浆材料对有色金属矿区重金属污染土进行防渗隔离处理。水泥、粉煤灰和矿渣等主要材料分别以不同组分与水玻璃混合形成3种复合注浆材料。采用倒杯法试验、无侧限抗压强度试验等方法研究不同水玻璃掺量、波美度以及粉煤灰和矿渣掺量对复合注浆材料凝胶时间和抗压强度等力学性能的影响规律。此外,采用XRD和SEM等测试方法,从材料的物相组成及微观结构方面进一步分析了复合注浆材料的力学特性。研究结果表明：凝胶时间随着水玻璃掺量和波美度的增大而延长;粉煤灰可以显著延长凝胶时间,但使用矿渣代替部分粉煤灰会使凝胶时间略有减少。当水玻璃掺量在20%以下时,复合注浆材料抗压强度随着水玻璃掺量的增加而增加,当水玻璃掺量超过20%,抗压强度显著降低;抗压强度随波美度的增加而增大;粉煤灰和矿渣可提高复合注浆材料的抗压强度。     

The corrosion of materials in spallation neutron sources

Efforts to measure the real-time corrosion rates of alloy 718 during 800 MeV proton radiation at currents up to 1 mA are reported. Specially designed corrosion probes, which incorporate ceramic seals, were mounted in a water manifold that allowed samples to be directly exposed to the proton beam at the Los Alamos Neutron Science Center. The water system that supplied the manifold provided a means for controlling water chemistry, measuring dissolved hydrogen concentration, and measuring the effects of water radiolysis and water quality on corrosion rate. Real-time corrosion rate measurements during proton irradiation showed an exponential increase in corrosion rate with proton-beam current. These results are discussed within the context of water radiolysis at the diffusion boundary layer/beam-spot interface. However, additional factors that may influence these parameters, such as oxide spallation and charge build-up in the passive film, are not ruled out. Scott Lillard earned his Ph.D. in materials science and engineering from Johns Hopkins University in 1992. He is currently a technical staff member at the Materials Corrosion and Environmental Effects Laboratory, Los Alamos National Laboratory. Darryl P. Butt earned his Ph.D. in ceramic science from Pennsylvania State University in 1991. He is currently a technical staff member at the Non-Proliferation and International Security Division, Los Alamos National Laboratory.     

Performance of candidate gas turbine abradeable seal materials in high temperature combustion atmospheres

The development of abradeable gas turbine seals for higher temperature duties has been the target of an EU‐funded R&D project, ADSEALS, with the aim of moving towards seals that can withstand surface temperatures as high as ～ 1100°C for periods of at least 24,000 h. The ADSEALS project has investigated the manufacturing and performance of a number of alternative materials for the traditional honeycomb seal design and novel alternative designs. This paper reports results from two series of exposure tests carried out to evaluate the oxidation performance of the seal structures in combustion gases and under thermal cycling conditions. These investigations formed one part of the evaluation of seal materials that has been carried out within the ADSEALS project. The first series of three tests, carried out for screening purposes, exposed candidate abradeable seal materials to a simulated natural gas combustion environment at temperatures within the range 1050–1150°C in controlled atmosphere furnaces for periods of up to ～ 2,500 h with fifteen thermal cycles. The samples were thermally cycled to room temperature on a weekly basis to enable the progress of the degradation to be monitored by mass change and visual observation, as well as allowing samples to be exchanged at planned intervals. The honeycombs were manufactured from PM2000 and Haynes 214. The backing plates for the seal constructions were manufactured from Haynes 214. Some seals contained fillers or had been surface treated (e.g. aluminised). The second series of three tests were carried out in a natural gas fired ribbon furnace facility that allowed up to sixty samples of candidate seal structures (including honeycombs, hollow sphere structures and porous ceramics manufactured from an extended range of materials including Aluchrom YHf, PM2Hf, Haynes 230, IN738LC and MarM247) to be exposed simultaneously to a stream of hot combustion gas. In this case the samples were cooled on their rear faces to produce a temperature gradient through the seals and the samples were thermally cycled by switching the natural gas off every three hours. The total exposure period for each test was ～ 1,000 h, with seal face temperatures of 1000–1180°C. The performance of the materials in these tests was evaluated using visual observations and cross‐sectional examinations using optical and SEM/EDX techniques. The data gathered have included measurements of oxide thickness and metal‐loss on the exposed samples. A wide range of materials performances has been observed in these studies from minimal damage through to total destruction of samples. Overall, this study has shown that there is still a lot of development work required in order to move to higher temperature sealing systems structures in gas turbine applications.     

The fundamentals of nanostructured materials processed by severe plastic deformation

Nanostructured materials produced by severe plastic deformation (SPD) are 100% dense, contamination-free, and sufficiently large for use in real commercial structural applications. These materials are found to have high strength, good ductility, superior superplasticity, a low friction coefficient, high wear resistance, enhanced high-cycle fatigue life, and good corrosion resistance. This article reviews the structures and properties of nanostructured materials produced by SPD and reports recent progress in determining the deformation mechanisms that lead to these superior mechanical properties. For more information, contact Yuntian T. Zhu, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Materials Science and Technology Division, Los Alamos, NM 87545; (505) 667-4029; fax (505) 667-2264; e-mail yzhu@lanl.gov.     

Tensile properties of nicalon fiber-reinforced carbon following aerospace turbine engine testing

The durability of coated Nicalon silicon carbide fiber-reinforced carbon (SiC/C) as the flap and seal exhaust nozzle components in a military aerospace turbine engine was studied. Test specimens machined from both a flap and a seal component were tested for residual strength following extended ground engine testing on a General Electric F414 afterburning turbofan engine. Although small amounts of damage to the protective exterior coating were identified on each component following engine testing, the tensile strengths were equal to the as-fabricated tensile strength of the material. Differences in strength between the two components and variability within the data sets could be traced back to the fabrication process using witness coupon test data from the manufacturer. It was also observed that test specimens machined transversely across the flap and seal components were stronger than those machined along the length. The excellent retained strength of the coated SiC/C material after extended exposure to the severe environment in the afterburner exhaust section of an aerospace turbofan engine has resulted in this material being selected as the baseline material for the F414 exhaust nozzle system.     

Metal forming at the center of excellence for the synthesis and processing of advanced materials

The U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Basic Energy Sciences recently established the Center for Excellence in the Synthesis and Processing of Advanced Materials. Projects at the center typically include several national laboratories, industrial partners, and universities; metal forming is one of eight projects within the center. This article describes the center’s metal forming project, which emphasizes aluminum alloy forming, particularly as applicable to the automotive industry. D.A. Hughes earned her Ph.D. in materials science at Stanford University in 1986. She is a principal member of the technical staff at Sandia National Laboratories. M.E. Kassner earned his Ph.D. in materials science at Stanford University in 1981. He is Northwest Aluminum Professor at Oregon State University. M.G. Stout earned his Ph.D. in materials science at the University of Minnesota in 1976. He is a staff member at Los Alamos National Laboratory. J. Vetrano earned his Ph.D. in metallurgy at the University of Illinois in 1990. He is a senior research scientist at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. Editor’s Note: A hypertext-enhanced version of this article can be found on the TMS web site at www.tms.org/pubs/joumals/JOM/9806/Hughes-9806.html.