Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation

University of California

Columbia University

Gm Global Technolgoy Operations, Inc.

Xiaochun Li

Hongseok Choi

Lianyi Chen

Jiaquan Xu

David J Weiss

Xugang Zhang

Chee Wei Wong

Lih-Sheng Turng

Frank Ewald Pfefferkorn

Neil Arthur Duffie

Ben Peter Slater

Chao Ma

Arindom Datta

Rohit Chatterjee

Noe Gaudencio Alba-Baena

Daniel Earl Hoefert

Venkata Madhukanth Vadali

Woo-hyun Cho

Wayne Cai

Jeffrey A Abell

Yiyan Peng

Dake Wang

Xudong Cheng

Michael Peter De Cicco

Hang Li

Jingzhou Zhao

Larry R Holmes, Jr

Huifang Xu

Kuang-Sheng Hong

Michael P DeCicco

Yong Yang

Maximilian Sokoluk

A metal matrix nanocomposite includes: (1) a matrix including an aluminum alloy; and (2) nanostmctures dispersed in the matrix, wherein the matrix includes grains having aspect ratios of about 3 or less. Manufacturing processes include subjecting the nanocomposite to solidification processing, fusion welding, extrusion, thixocasting, additive manufacturing, and heat treatment.

Nano-treatment of high strength aluminum alloys for manufacturing processes

Surface asperities, such as roughness characteristics, are reduced or otherwise mitigated via the control of surface regions including the asperities in different regimes. In accordance with various embodiments, the height of both high-frequency and low-frequency surface asperities is reduced by controlling characteristics of a surface region under a first regime to flow material from the surface asperities. A second regime is implemented to reduce a height of high-frequency surface asperities in the surface region by controlling characteristics of the surface region under a second regime to flow material that is predominantly from the high-frequency surface asperities, the controlled characteristics in the second regime being different than the controlled characteristics in the first regime. Such aspects may include, for example, controlling melt pools in each regime via energy pulses, to respectively mitigate/reduce the asperities.

Reducing surface asperities

A metal matrix nanocomposite includes: 1) a matrix including one or more metals; and 2) nanostructures uniformly dispersed and stabilized in the matrix at a volume fraction, including those greater than about 3% of the nanocomposite.

Nanostructure self-dispersion and self-stabilization in molten metals

Solid immiscible alloys and methods for making the solid immiscible alloys are provided. The microstructure of the immiscible alloys is characterized by a minority phase comprising a plurality of particles of an inorganic material dispersed in a majority phase comprising a continuous matrix of another inorganic material. The methods utilize nanoparticles to control both the collisional growth and the diffusional growth of the minority phase particles in the matrix during the formation of the alloy microstructure.

Nanoparticle-stabilized immiscible alloys

A manufacturing method includes: 1) forming a melt including one or more metals; 2) introducing nanostructures into the melt at an initial volume fraction of the nanostructures; and 3) at least partially evaporating one or more metals from the melt so as to form a metal matrix nanocomposite including the nanostructures dispersed therein at a higher volume fraction than the initial volume fraction.

Evaporation-based method for manufacturing and recycling of metal matrix nanocomposites

Apparatus and methods for industrial-scale production of metal matrix nanocomposites (MMNCs) are provided. The apparatus and methods can be used for the batch production of an MMNC in a volume of molten metal housed within the cavity of a production chamber. Within the volume of molten metal, a flow is created which continuously carries agglomerates of nanoparticles, which have been introduced into the molten metal, through a cavitation zone formed in a cavitation cell housed within the production chamber.

Methods for industrial-scale production of metal matrix nanocomposites

Nanomaterials are incorporated within a material, such as within a metal-based material. As may be implemented in accordance with various embodiments, nanomaterials are introduced to a metal-based material in a liquid state, and the metal-based material and nanomaterials are cooled from the liquid state to a viscous state. The metal-based material is stirred in the viscous state to disperse the nanomaterials therein, and the metal-based material is used in the viscous state to maintain dispersion of the nanomaterials as the metal-based material cools.

Nanomaterial-based methods and apparatuses

Welding wires and methods for welding metal work pieces using the welding wires are provided. The welding wires are composite materials comprising a metal alloy and high temperature nanoparticles dispersed in the metal alloy.

Nanocomposite welding wires

An embedded sensor or other desired device is provided within a completed structure through a solid-state bonding process or through a dynamic bonding process. The embedded sensor or other desired device is provided on a substrate through any known or later-developed method. A cover is then bonded to the substrate using a solid-state bonding process or a dynamic bonding process. The solid-state bonding process may include providing heat and pressure to the substrate and the cover to bond the substrate and the cover together. The dynamic bonding process may include heating a bonding agent and distributing the heated bonding agent between the substrate and cover to bond the substrate and the cover together.

Method for embedding thin film sensor in a material

Methods of forming metal matrix nanocomposites are provided. The methods include the steps of introducing a master metal matrix nanocomposite into a molten metal at a temperature above the melting temperature of the master metal matrix nanocomposite, allowing at least a portion of the master metal matrix nanocomposite to mix with the molten metal and, then, solidifying the molten metal to provide a second metal matrix nanocomposite.

Methods of producing nanoparticle reinforced metal matrix nanocomposites from master nanocomposites

Apparatus and methods for industrial-scale production of metal matrix nanocomposites

A vibration welding system includes an anvil, a welding horn, a thin film sensor, and a process controller. The anvil and horn include working surfaces that contact a work piece during the welding process. The sensor measures a control value at the working surface. The measured control value is transmitted to the controller, which controls the system in part using the measured control value. The thin film sensor may include a plurality of thermopiles and thermocouples which collectively measure temperature and heat flux at the working surface. A method includes providing a welder device with a slot adjacent to a working surface of the welder device, inserting the thin film sensor into the slot, and using the sensor to measure a control value at the working surface. A process controller then controls the vibration welding system in part using the measured control value.

Vibration welding system with thin film sensor

A method is provided of fabricating a composite incorporating fillers. The method includes the steps of depositing the fillers in a matrix material either in a rapid prototyping device or prior to inserting the matrix material into a mold. The mold is positioned at a desired location with respect to an electrical field such that at least a portion of the fillers in the matrix material align in a first direction in response thereto. For producing a heterogeneous composite through a rapid prototyping process, the electrodes are positioned at a desired orientation to align the fillers. Thereafter, at least a portion of the matrix material is cured with desirable filler orientation. The procedure is repeated with the desired filler orientation and distribution being introduced layer by layer within the composite.

Method of orientating fillers in composite materials

Growing community of inventors

Madison, WI, United States of America

Xiaochun Li