A groundbreaking superalloy by the name of GRX-810 has been developed, showing immense potential for enhancing the durability and strength of parts employed in aircraft and spacecraft.
The progress is the result of a collaborative effort between experts at the Ohio State University and NASA (the United States space agency).
The team, spearheaded by Tim Smith and Christopher Kantzos, employed cutting-edge computer modeling and a 3D laser printing methodology that fused layers of metal together, to create the alloy. In fact, the researchers successfully crafted an incredibly intricate piece that replicated the NASA logo with absolute precision.
GRX-810 is a type of oxide dispersion strengthened alloy, wherein minute oxygen atom-containing particles are spread throughout the alloy to bolster its robustness. Alloys of this nature are excellent candidates for creating aerospace parts that can endure high-temperature settings, such as those present in running aircraft and rocket engines, as they are capable of withstanding more severe conditions before reaching their breaking point.
While the most advanced 3D printed superalloys can sustain temperatures up to 1,000 degrees Celsius, GRX-810 boasts twice the strength, over 1,000 times the durability, and twice the resistance to oxidation.
The NASA logo made from the new alloy using the laser 3D printing process that fuses the metals together, layer by layer. (Image: NASA/Jordan Salkin)
“This new alloy is a great achievement,” says Dale Hopkins, a NASA manager who works on research into new technologies. “In the very near future, it may be one of the most successful technology patents that the NASA Glenn Research Center has produced in its history.” (Fountain: NCYT by Amazings)
