NCMS Project #: 142217
Problem: One challenge faced by commercial users of cold spray today is the lack of historical demand creating a strong and stable enough material supply chain for low-priced materials of interest to be available. This creates an unfortunate scenario wherein cost-saving technologies enabled by cold spray are not universally deployed due to this lack of material availability. As both commercial and defense demand signals continue to increase, the available supply of standardized cold sprayable materials will naturally rise as well. However, in order for mass adoption of repair and sustainment as well as spare parts replacement methods to be fully adopted, key materials of interest must be deployed and available in advance of full adoption in the shortest time span possible.
Benefit: The proposed approach will create a standardized framework to procuring powders thereby increasing quality and driving down cost for both government and commercial consumers of powders used to maintain fleet and infrastructure readiness.
Solution/Approach: The overall objective of this initiative is to create a strong supply base of qualified cold spray powders that can meet the truly ‘on demand’ nature required for rapid repair, sustainment, and spare parts replacement activities necessary to keep the U.S. leading the cold spray revolution.
Impact on Warfighter:
- Enhance supply chain standardization and robustness
- Increase quality and availability of materials
- Reduce maintenance and sustainment costs
DOD Participation:
- U.S. Navy
- U.S. Naval Sea Systems Command
- U.S. Army (observer)
Industry Participation:
- Solvus Global LLC
- Penn State University
- Spee3d North America
- NCMS
Benefit Area(s):
- Cost savings
- Repair turnaround time
- Mx avoidance & reliability
- Obsolescence
- Mx management improvement
- Improved readiness
Mx Focus Area:
- Advanced/Additive Manufacturing
