Pennsylvania State University (Penn State)

Pennsylvania State University (PSU) will develop an integrated computational and experimental framework for the design and manufacturing of ULtrahigh TEmperature Refractory Alloys (ULTERAs). PSU will generate alloy property data through high-throughput computational and machine learning models; design ULTERAs through a neural network inverse design approach; manufacture the designed alloys utilizing field assisted sintering technology and/or additive manufacturing; and demonstrate the performance through systematic characterization in collaboration with industry. The proposed platform, with a sustainable data ecosystem, could create fundamentally new approaches to understand and design a new generation of materials and provide pathways to improve existing materials to meet performance requirements. Extensive industrial collaborations in manufacturing and property measurements of ULTERA designs will promote the wide adoption of this project’s approaches. The open source platform can unify knowledge on high temperature materials and promote broad collaborations among experts in academic research and manufacturing.

Combining development of new ultrahigh temperature materials with compatible coatings and manufacturing technologies has the potential to increase gas turbine efficiency up to 7%, which will significantly reduce wasted energy and carbon emissions.