NASA licenses GRX-810, 3D-printable superalloy that will result in stronger, more durable aircraft parts

Investment in a revolutionary superalloy designed for the extreme temperatures and rigorous conditions of air and space operations is on the verge of generating commercial dividends, NASA reports. The agency is licensing its invention, dubbed “GRX-810,” to four U.S. companies, a practice that benefits the U.S. economy as a return on investment for taxpayer dollars. GRX-810 is a 3D printable high-temperature material that will lead to stronger, more durable aircraft and spacecraft parts that can withstand more stress before reaching their breaking point. The co-exclusive licensing agreements will allow the companies to produce and market the GRX-810 to aircraft and rocket equipment manufacturers, as well as the entire supply chain. The four co-exclusive licensees are: – Carpenter Technology Corporation, of Reading, Pennsylvania; – Elementum 3D, Inc., of Erie, Colorado; – Linde Advanced Material Technologies, Inc., of Indianapolis, Indiana; – Powder Alloy Corporation, of Loveland, Ohio. The GRX-810 is one example of many new technologies that NASA Technology Transfer Program managers review and file for patent protection. The team also works with inventors to find partners interested in commercialization. “NASA invests tax dollars in research that demonstrates direct benefit to the U.S. and transfers its technologies to industry by licensing its patents,” said Amy Hiltabidel, licensing manager at NASA’s Glenn Research Center in Cleveland. NASA engineers designed the GRX-810 for aerospace applications, including rocket engine liquid injectors, combustors, turbines, and hot section components capable of withstanding temperatures in excess of 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit (1,093 °C). “GRX-810 represents a new alloy design space and manufacturing technique that was impossible just a few years ago,” said Dr. Tim Smith, materials researcher at Glenn. Smith co-invented the superalloy along with his Glenn colleague Christopher Kantzos, using a computer modeling and laser 3D printing process that fuses metals together, layer by layer. Small particles containing oxygen atoms scattered throughout the alloy increase its strength. Compared to other nickel-based alloys, GRX-810 can withstand higher temperatures and stresses and can last up to 2,500 times longer. It is also nearly four times better at flexing before breaking and twice as resistant to oxidation damage. – https://aeroin.net/nasa-licencia-a-grx-810-superliga-imprimivel-em-3d-que-resultara-em-pecas-de-avioes-mais-fortes-e-duraveis/