Recovery Act - Electrochemical Processing of Niobium Silicide In-Situ Composites

The proposed research addresses the need for materials capable of withstanding everincreasing temperatures and harsher chemical environments. Such materials will enable greater efficiencies and performance, reducing carbon emissions and providing a competitive advantage to the industry and defense of the United States of America. This SBIR effort will extend Modumetal by Design (MbD), a unique alloy manufacturing process, to the scalable and low-cost net-shape production of functionally graded and laminated niobium-silicide composites exhibiting spatially tailored structure and chemistry. The proposed composites improve thermo-mechanical properties over conventional nickel-based superalloys, and will incorporate in-situ strength, creep resistance, and oxidation protection through functional gradation and nano- and micro-scale lamination. The proposed work leverages our existing experience and infrastructure related to the production of nanolaminated and functionally graded alloys. Commercial Applications and Other Benefits: The proposed technology would have direct commercial applications ranging from Oil and Gas to Aerospace, with potential secondary applications in superconductors