SELECTION OF SMALL MOLECULE MIMETICS OF ERYTHROPOIETIN

Not Available Creare proposes to use a plasma-spray process to deposit flux coatings that permit the welding of titanium directly in air. Such a coating system eliminates the costly and cumbersome practice of welding titanium in an inert atmosphere created using complicated shrouds or within a dedicated enclosed chamber. The coating process offers the advantages of: (1) shielding titanium at elevated temperatures from embrittlement due to its reactivity with oxygen, nitrogen, and hydrogen, and (2) retarding liberation of hydrogen through the formation of insoluble compounds that reduce the porosity of the resultant welds. Additionally, plasma spraying itself is inherently inexpensive, easily scaled to production scenarios, and features high, controllable deposition rates. In Phase I, we propose to prepare and test sample coupons with various plasma-sprayed flux coatings to provide a basis for assessment of the suitability of these materials for this application. We will also use the Gas Tungsten Arc Welding process to produce and test sample welds on titanium alloys coated with the proposed fluxes. The flux coating process developed in Phase I makes possible the development of a synthesized welding/coating system in Phase II. BENEFITS: The proposed flux coating process is expected to: (1) broaden significantly the application of titanium alloys for both military and commercial use, and (2) permit the use of welding processes that offer high weld rates such as Gas Metal Arc and Pla