Materials
Coating/Surface Modification

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Articles
Materials

Plasma Electrolytic Oxidation: The Future of Lightweight Designs in Aerospace and Defense

Plasma Electrolytic Oxidation is a unique surface coating technology that specializes in light metals, aluminum, magnesium and titanium specifically. It enables the lightweighting of components that face extreme environments from a reliable and effective coating process.

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Mechanical & Fluid Systems

Navy to Start Using Autonomous Cold Spray Metallization Technology for H-1 Helicopter Maintenance

Following years of rigorous testing and evaluation, a cold spray metallization technology that was initially demonstrated at Fleet...

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Energy

New Consortium to Develop Thermal Protection Materials for Hypersonic Vehicles

Several countries are competing to develop the most advanced hypersonic vehicles, and a team of researchers at Missouri University of Science and Technology...

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News
Automotive

Recaro Pioneers Seating Shells Made with CF Recyclate

The green flag is about to drop on an auto-racing first: a seat shell infused with recycled carbon fiber.

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Manufacturing & Prototyping

Microelectronics and Castings Remain Supply Chain Challenges for Raytheon

Raytheon Technologies Chief Executive Officer Greg Hayes and Chief Operating Officer Christopher Calio said microelectronics and engine castings were among the...

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Manufacturing & Prototyping

DEVCOM Forms International Partnership to Study Superhard Materials

Developing world-class advanced technology for soldiers on the battlefield is a key part of the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command’s (DEVCOM) mission....

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Articles
RF & Microwave Electronics

Design Guidelines for Military and Aerospace PCBs

Printed Circuit Boards are the heart of the electronics industry. They are used in a diverse range of applications starting from consumer electronics to complicated aerospace and...

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Articles
Mechanical & Fluid Systems

Pulse Plasma Nitriding for Aerospace Applications

Aerospace manufacturers who depend on nitriding components can benefit from greater uniformity of results, better-protected materials, and increased throughput.

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Aerospace

Novel Method De-Ices Planes on the Fly

How do you control ice formation on a plane, even when it’s in flight? A de-icing method exploits how frost grows on pillar structures to suspend ice as it forms into a layer that’s easier to...

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Materials

Nanoscale Materials Could Reduce Manufacturing, Aviation Greenhouse Gasses

The University of Sheffield Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) is partnering with 16 industrial partners on the MASTRO project, which is tasked with...

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Materials

Thin Explosive Films Provide Snapshot of How Detonations Start

Using thin films — no more than a few pieces of notebook paper thick — of a common explosive chemical, researchers from Sandia National Laboratories studied how...

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Materials

Scientists Explore Nanoparticles for Future Weapon Systems

Material scientists from the U.S. Army and Department of Energy conducted a study of plasma-treated aluminum nanoparticles with the goal of improving future propellants and...

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Briefs
Aerospace

Designing Sensory and Adaptive Composite Materials

Newly developed computational approaches aid in the design of composites that exhibit remarkable abilities to both sense external cues and adapt to these cues in controllable, "programmable" ways.

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Briefs
Materials

Progress on Zirconia-Polyurea Matrix Hybrid Composites

Incorporating zirconia particles into polyurea elastomers to form hybrid composites and designing them into state-of-the-art body armor has the potential to achieve lightweight ballistic efficiency.

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Materials

Army Fields New Chemical Detection Technology

Chemical weapons pose a serious threat to civilian and warfighter lives, but technology from the U.S. Army Small Business Technology Transfer program reduces those risks. Researchers...

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Design

Second Vendor F-35 Canopy Testing Completed

Testers from the Holloman High Speed Test Track, in conjunction with members of the F-35 Lightning II Joint Program Office, Lockheed Martin, Martin Baker, and BAE Systems, successfully...

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Defense

Wearable Device Camouflages Its Wearer Regardless of the Weather

Researchers at the University of California San Diego developed a wearable technology that can hide its wearer from heat-detecting sensors such as night vision goggles,...

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Materials

Understanding Condensation Leads to Better De-icing Materials

Water repellency is needed for surfaces to shed condensation buildup. New research by the University of Illinois and North Carolina State University shows that the necessity...

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Materials

Coating Improves Pilots’ Visibility in Rainstorms

An Air Force Research Laboratory-developed product called HydroSkip repels water from aircraft transparencies, addressing the issue of limited visibility caused by heavy rain that can...

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Materials

New Coating Repels Ice from Any Surface

Researchers used a new theory in physics called stress localization to create a durable silicone polymer coating capable of repelling ice from any surface. The new material uses elastic energy...

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Aerospace

Dual-Function Aircraft De-Icer Also Prevents Freezing

Rice University scientists have advanced their graphene-based de-icer to serve a dual purpose. The new material still melts ice from wings and wires when conditions get too cold, but...

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Product Briefs
Manned Systems

Stain-Resistant, Antimicrobial Fabric Coating

Johnson Controls’ FreshPer4mance coating for fabrics repels dirt and liquid from automotive seats and protects passengers from microbes and static. According to the company, FreshPer4mance can...

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Product Briefs
Materials

Acrylic Polyurethane Coating

Sixteen AIC Metal Direct factory package colors have been added to ACME Quality Paints’ AIC product line for industrial, machinery, and equipment applications. AIC Metal Direct is a fast-drying,...

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Products
Materials

Hydrophobic Coatings

Boyd Coatings Research Co. (Hudson, MA) has developed the CRC 6000-line Hydrophobic Coating, a customized coating used primarily on radomes, satellite dishes and other communication installations to prevent water film...

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Products
Photonics/Optics

AR Coatings for Optical Fibers

Laser Components (Hudson, NH) offers both assembled cables, including coated fibers, and job coatings on fibers supplied by the customer. They also offer anti-reflection coatings, which significantly reduce...

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Briefs
Materials

Nonchromated Treatment for Aluminum Surfaces

AFRL scientists and engineers recently completed development of a nonchromated treatment for aluminum aircraft surfaces and structures. The new treatment method is the result of a collaborative...

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