Research

This block of text can be used as an introduction to the Research page, explaining what kinds of research happen here, and leading in to the research sections below.

Custom Aluminum Matrix Composites for Additive Manufacturing

Aluminum matrix composites (AMCs) and nanocomposites are being employed to resolve cracking issues in additive manufacturing (AM) aluminum alloys. We have proposed a novel method of cryomilling aluminum and titanium carbide to fabricate custom AMC powders. Cryomilling demonstrates the capability to produce AM powder feedstock comparable to commercially available materials but with increased strength.

The iMED research group specializes in the fabrication of novel material systems for utilization in tissue engineering and bio-sensing applications. In doing so, principles of material processing, mechanochemistry, and additive fabrication are applied to fabricate and characterize materials to suit specific applications.

Tool Design for Friction Stir Spot Welding of Aluminum

Friction stir spot welding (FSSW) has proven to be an effective method for layer deposition and fusing for injection mold die production, but gaps between layers continue to challenge this production method. Our study investigates ideal tool geometries for achieving fully-dense weld zones in FSSW. Strength and microstructure may be tailored for individual applications using distinct FSSW tool geometry.

Tailoring Stainless Steel Components in Hybrid Manufacturing

Hybrid manufacturing allows for material to be added and removed in a single tool setup, saving both time and material in manufacturing and repair operations. Our group is investigating ideal parameters for hybrid laser deposition of stainless steel 316L for maximizing strength for various component characteristics.