The Johns Hopkins University

University of California

Reactive Nanotechnologies, Inc.

US Government As Represented by the Secretary of the Army

Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLC

Nanofoil Corporation

Saertex Usa, LLC

Timothy P Weihs

Omar Knio

David Van Heerden

Michael Reiss

Troy W Barbee, Jr

Kevin J Hemker

James Kevin Guest

Stephen Ryan

Gregory M Fritz

Timothy Ryan Rude

Todd Hufnagel

Seunghyun Ha

Dale Deger

Yong Zhang

Etienne Besnoin

Adam Stover

Longyu Zhao

Alexander E Gash

Peter C Searson

Melanie Will Cole

Chia-Ling Chien

Ronald L Spraker

Howard S Feldmesser

Jesse E Newson

Robert Cammarata

Sen Lin

Ellen Heian

Stefan Szyniszewski

David Michael Lunking

Ramzi Vincent

John S Sze

Karsten Woll

Jiaping Wang

David Gibbins

Changhe Shang

Justin A Grzyb

Keith Sharp

Adrian B Mann

Jessica Krogstad

Gi-Dong Sim

Gianna Valentino

Kyle Overdeep

Robert Allen Knepper

Albert Joseph Swiston, Jr

Somasundaram Valliappan

Alex H Kinsey

Kyle A Slusarski

Yuping Lin

The present invention is directed to the synthesis of metallic nickel-molybdenum-tungsten films and coatings with direct current sputter deposition, which results in fully-dense crystallographically textured films that are filled with nano-scale faults and twins. The as-deposited films exhibit linear-elastic mechanical behavior and tensile strengths above 2.5 GPa, which is unprecedented for materials that are compatible with wafer-level device fabrication processes. The ultra-high strength is attributed to a combination of solid solution strengthening and the presence of the dense nano-scale faults and twins. These films also possess excellent thermal and mechanical stability, high density, low CTE, and electrical properties that are attractive for next generation metal MEMS applications. Deposited as coatings these films provide protection against friction and wear. The as-deposited films can also be heat treated to modify the internal microstructure and attendant mechanical properties in a way that provides a desired balance of strength and toughness.

Method of depositing nanotwinned nickel-molybdenum-tungsten alloys

The present invention is directed to a manifold for directing cooling fluid and/or gas to a heat exchanger in a flow configuration designed to optimize heat transfer from the heat exchanger. The manifold can take many different forms such as a layered construction with distributed inlet paths, local outlet paths, a central collection changer and a path for fluid removal. The manifold can be formed from a metal, plastic, rubber, ceramic, or other heat resistant material known to or conceivable by one of skill in the art. The manifold can also be combined with any type of heat exchanger known to or conceivable by one of skill in the art to form a thermal management unit. To optimize overall properties such as low pressure drop, high heat transfer, and excellent temperature uniformity of the thermal management unit, the manifold can be graded, expanded and scaled as needed.

Combining complex flow manifold with three dimensional woven lattices as a thermal management unit

The present invention is directed to devices formed from three dimensional (3D) structures composed of wires, yarns of wires, or 3D printed structures. The devices of the present invention offer the potential for 3D structures with multiple properties optimized concurrently, using optimization within the 3D manufacturing constraints. The 3D structures of the present invention include multiple properties that are optimized for heat transfer applications. The present invention also includes the methods for optimization of the 3D woven lattices as well as methods of use of the 3D woven lattices in heat transfer applications.

Three dimensional woven lattices as multi-functional heat exchanger

The present invention is directed to embodiments of reactive material (RM) and an associated chemical time delay that includes an RM, according to an embodiment of the present invention. One embodiment includes a delay material that is an RM patterned on a substrate using lithographic techniques. Another embodiment includes a delay material that is an RM deposited on a patterned substrate such as a mesh. The present invention also includes a chemical time delay that includes either embodiment of the delay material, or any variation on the delay material that would be known to or conceivable to one of skill in the art.

Reactive materials for manipulating propagation rates and a resulting chemical time delay

The present invention is directed to three dimensional weaves composed of wires or yarns that offer the potential for damping not achievable with solid materials, including high temperature damping. Three damping mechanisms have been identified: (1) Internal material damping, (2) Frictional energy dissipation (Coulomb damping), and (3) inertial damping (tuned mass damping). These three damping mechanisms can be optimized by modifying the wire material chemistries (metals, ceramics, polymers, etc.), wire sizes, wire shapes, wire coatings, wire bonding, and wire architecture (by removing certain wires). These have the effect of modifying the lattice and wire stiffnesses, masses, coefficients of friction, and internal material damping. Different materials can be used at different locations in the woven lattice. These design variables can also be modified to tailor mechanical stiffness and strength of the lattice, in addition to damping.

Three dimensional lattice weaves with tailored damping properties

A method of producing a reactive powder includes providing a bulk structure of reactive material comprising a first reactant and a second reactant, the bulk structure having a preselected average spacing between the first and the second reactants; and mechanically processing the bulk structure of reactive material to produce a plurality of particles from the bulk structure such that each of the plurality of particles comprises the first and second reactants having an average spacing that is substantially equal to the preselected average spacing of the bulk structure of reactive material. The first and second materials of the plurality of particles react with each other in an exothermic reaction upon being exposed to a threshold energy to initiate the exothermic reaction and remain substantially stable without reacting with each other prior to being exposed to the threshold energy.

Mechanical processing of reactive laminates

A reactive composite foil, including metallic fuel particles, oxidizer particles, and a diluent, which, when ignited, produces a self-propagating thermite reaction to produce a molten metal.

Reactive composite foil

An embodiment in accordance with the present invention provides a method for creating and consolidating fragments and a useable structure formed from said consolidated fragments. The method includes swaging a metal powder into a first consolidated structure. The consolidated structure is ground to form particles and the particles are sifted to select those with a predetermined diameter. The particles having the predetermined diameter can then be swaged into a second consolidated structure. The resultant second consolidated structure is therefore configured to fragment controllably. The second consolidated structure can also be formed from reactive metal laminates such that the structure also has chemical energy.

Structural component that will fragment into particles of selected geometry and reactivity

An energetic composite having a plurality of reactive particles each having a reactive multilayer construction formed by successively depositing reactive layers on a rod-shaped substrate having a longitudinal axis, dividing the reactive-layer-deposited rod-shaped substrate into a plurality of substantially uniform longitudinal segments, and removing the rod-shaped substrate from the longitudinal segments, so that the reactive particles have a controlled, substantially uniform, cylindrically curved or otherwise rod-contoured geometry which facilitates handling and improves its packing fraction, while the reactant multilayer construction controls the stability, reactivity and energy density of the energetic composite.

Layered reactive particles with controlled geometries, energies, and reactivities, and methods for making the same

Applicants have discovered that electrostatic discharge (ESD) may, in some circumstances, result in current densities sufficient to ignite unprotected reactive composite materials. They have further discovered that a reactive composite material (RCM) can be protected from ESD ignition without adversely affecting the desirable properties of the RCM by the application of conducting and/or insulating materials at appropriate locations on the RCM. Thus ESD-protected RCM structures can be designed for such sensitive applications as ignition of propellants, generation of light bursts, and structural materials for equipment that may require controlled self-destruction.

Reactive composite material structures with electrostatic discharge protection and applications thereof

The invention includes a method of joining two components. The method includes providing at least two components to be joined, a reactive multilayer foil, and a compliant element, placing the reactive multilayer foil between the at least two components, applying pressure on the two components in contact with the reactive multilayer foil via a compliant element, and initiating a chemical transformation of the reactive multilayer foil so as to physically join the at least two components. The invention also includes two components joined using the aforementioned method.

Methods and device for controlling pressure in reactive multilayer joining and resulting product

Self-propagating formation reactions in nanostructured multilayer foils provide rapid bursts of heat at room temperature and therefore can act as local heat sources to melt solder or braze layers and join materials. This reactive joining method provides very localized heating to the components and rapid cooling across the joint. The rapid cooling results in a very fine microstructure of the solder or braze material. The scale of the fine microstructure of the solder or braze material is dependant on cooling rate of the reactive joints which varies with geometries and properties of the foils and components. The microstructure of the solder or braze layer of the joints formed by melting solder in a furnace is much coarser due to the slow cooling rate. Reactive joints with finer solder or braze microstructure show higher shear strength compared with those made by conventional furnace joining with much coarser solder or braze microstructure. It is expected that the reactive joints may also have better fatigue properties compared with conventional furnace joints.

Nanostructured soldered or brazed joints made with reactive multilayer foils

A NiSi-nSiC Ohmic contact is formed by pulsed laser ablation deposition (PLD) of NiSi source target deposited on a n-SiC substrate or SiC substrate wafer with SiC epilayer. The NiSi Ohmic contact on n-SiC was rapid thermal annealed at 950&#xb0; C. for 30 s in a Nambient. The resultant Ohmic contact is characterized by excellent current-voltage (I-V) characteristics, an abrupt void free contact-SiC interface, retention of the PLD as-deposited contact layer width, smooth surface morphology, and absence of residual carbon within the contact layer or at the interface. The detrimental effects of contact delamination due to stress associated with interfacial voiding; and wire bond failure, non-uniformity of current flow and SiC polytype alteration due to extreme surface roughness; have been eliminated as has electrical instability associated with carbon inclusions at the contact-SiC interface, after prolonged high temperature and power device operation.

Process for nickel silicide Ohmic contacts to n-SiC

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Baltimore, MD, United States of America

Timothy P Weihs