The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) yesterday awarded a joint venture, including Oshkosh Corp. [OSK], nearly $5 million over five years in Technology Innovation Program (TIP) funding for metals research.
Other research team members include project leader, the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Eck Industries Inc. of Manitowoc, Wis., Nanostructured & Amorphous Materials Inc. of Houston, Texas and the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation (WARF) of Madison, Wis.
With the team providing in-kind contribution of engineering resources, the project’s total value is approximately $10 million.
The goal of this project is to produce lighter weight metal castings of aluminum and magnesium that will have the strength of cast steel for commercial-scale production. This will improve performance and energy efficiency. The properties of these alloys can be enhanced considerably if nanoparticles, usually ceramics, are used as a reinforcement to form so-called metal matrix nanocomposites (MMNCs), NIST information on the topic said. To date, the use of these nanocomposites has been limited to relatively small and uncomplicated shapes because of the difficulty of evenly dispersing the nanoparticles.
Through NIST funding, Oshkosh and its partners can explore the use of nanocomposites beyond their current use in simple, uncomplicated moldings into larger, more complex metal castings.
The work will expand on laboratory tests conducted by the University of Wisconsin-Madison The team plans to scale up an experimental technique that uses high intensity ultrasonic waves to disperse the nanoparticles through molten metal. While lab tests at Wisconsin are promising, there are significant and fundamental challenges and risks in scaling up the system to mass produce premium-quality aluminum and magnesium MMNC components for practical applications, NIST said.
If successful, however, commercial scale production of these metal nanocomposites will enable transformative changes in multiple industries, defense and commercial truck manufacturing, directly addressing the critical national needs of reducing oil dependency, lowering greenhouse gas emission, and maintaining U.S. leadership in manufacturing, a statement from Oshkosh said.
The team proposed its research on transformational casting technology for the fabrication of ultra-high performance lightweight aluminum and magnesium nanocomposites under the category of practical application of advanced materials including nanomaterials, advanced alloys and composites in manufacturing.
The TIP competition seeks to support, promote and accelerate innovation in the United States through high-risk, high-reward research in areas of critical national need.
Entries were selected based on merit via a multidisciplinary peer-review process. NIST is a non-regulatory agency of the Commerce Department that promotes U.S. innovation and industrial competiveness by advancing measurement science, standards and technology in ways that enhance economic security and improve our quality of life.