High temperature structural materials for extreme environments

High-temperature structural materials are critical for a wide range of applications, including gas turbines for stationary power plants & jet engines, rocket propulsion systems, and components in the chemical and oil & gas industries, as well as within the realm of fusion reactors. This presentation will highlight research from the High Temperature Materials Group at the FAU, focusing on the complex relationship between chemical composition, microstructure, and mechanical properties of these materials.

It will be shown how variations in the chemical composition of intermetallic nickel aluminde bond coats and irradiation of tungsten influence their fracture toughness. Additionally, the presentation will address the embrittlement of cobalt-nickel-chromium (CoNiCr)-based superalloys due to hydrogen exposure, the analysis of lattice misfits in two-phase materials through advanced diffraction techniques, and the insights gained from small-scale mechanical testing. We will also discuss the significant impact of local enrichments of alloying elements on the creep strength of alloys.

To achieve these insights, we employ a variety of characterization techniques, including mechanical testing at various length scales, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, atom probe tomography, and neutron and high-energy X-ray diffraction. Collectively, these examples will illustrate how a detailed understanding of the microstructure-mechanical property correlation of high-temperature structural materials can lead to the development of new alloys and improvements in existing materials, ultimately enhancing the efficiency of energy conversion systems and contributing to reductions in CO2 emissions for a sustainable future.