Advancing Metal Additive Manufacturing

We specialize in adjusting the microstructure of materials for specific industry applications. The microstructure, the tiny internal arrangement of a material, is key to its properties, such as strength or flexibility. This is crucial in areas like aerospace, automotive, and biomedical engineering, where materials must perform exceptionally well under extreme conditions.

We use advanced electron microscopy, such as Scanning Electron Microscopy and Transmission Electron Microscopy, to observe these microstructures down to the atomic level. This gives us detailed images and data, allowing us to understand how a material’s inner structure impacts its overall properties.

With this knowledge, we experiment with manufacturing processes and additives to develop materials with custom-made microstructures, pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in material science. For instance, we’ve recently used these methods to study and improve an alloy for Aeroflux. It’s used in their aircraft braking systems that don’t need contact to work, making planes lighter (reducing their carbon footprint), safer, more efficient, and reliable.

Selected projects include:

•  Improving the Strength of Lightweight and Hardened Metals: We are researching how the small, internal structures of lightweight materials like copper, magnesium, and aluminum, as well as tougher metals like hardened steel, influence their ability to withstand intense squeezing and stretching.
• Developing Materials with Enhanced Heat and Electrical Properties: We are researching the microscopic structures of materials to enhance their ability to conduct heat and electricity effectively.