Researchers from Virginia Tech, Arizona State University and Iowa State University have received a $2 million grant from the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) to develop self-lubricating, wear-resistant metal alloys for extreme-temperature applications.
The project will use additive manufacturing alongside computational modelling, high-throughput testing and machine learning to identify alloys capable of maintaining structural strength while forming low-friction oxide surfaces during operation.
Wenjun (Rebecca) Cai, an associate professor in Virginia Tech’s Department of Materials Science and Engineering, and Yao Fu, an associate professor in its Kevin T. Crofton Department of Aerospace and Ocean Engineering, are leading the Virginia Tech research. Both are affiliated with Virginia Tech Made: The Center for Advanced Manufacturing.
Virginia Tech-led project uses additive manufacturing to develop self-lubricating alloys for extreme heat
