The US Department of Defense is partnering with industry and academia on a multiphase CTMA initiative to introduce a new alternative strategy of developing high quality and long-lasting friction stir tools for joining high temperature materials. The overall goal will be to improve the performance, reduce the cost, and increase the service life of friction stir welding (FSW) tools.
Building on the methodology previously developed in Phase I of this project, a new generation of FSW tools with high temperature constituents will be fabricated using advanced deposition techniques with additive manufacturing.
Specific objectives include:
- Demonstrate a rapid and affordable technology for deposition of refractory materials through the advancements of additive manufacturing technologies.
- Apply a successful surface protection by hard coatings to improve the performance, enhance the appearance, and increase the life of FS tools.
- Develop a multifunctional component by combining the processes of melting, rapid solidification, consolidation and machining in a single step.
If you feel your organization has the technical capabilities and would like to be considered for this project, please complete the form below and upload your organization’s technical capabilities statement.
Interested Submissions Due by 9/3/2024.
We encourage participation of Disadvantaged Business Enterprises (DBEs), including Minority Business Enterprises (MBEs) and Women’s Business Enterprises (WBEs).
