AM-ACTS Consortium

Coordination:

University of Extremadura (UEX)

Prof. Dr. Pedro Miranda (Coordinator)

Prof. Dr. Ángel L. Ortiz
Prof. Dr. Antonia Pajares
Prof. Dr. Óscar Borrero
Dr. Víctor Zamora
Florencia Martín-Rayo (PhD student)
Alvaro Sández (PhD student)

Prof. Dr. José M. Montanero
Dr. Rafael Agujetas

University of Extremadura (UEX, https://www.unex.es) is the main public research institution in Extremadura region (Spain), with 4 campuses, over 24,000 students and 2,405 Researchers and Professors. GEMA (https://gema-uex.es), a Materials science group at Dept, of Mechanical, Energy and Materials Engineering, coordinates this proposal. GEMA expertise in additive manufacturing and advanced processing of ultra-high temperature ceramics will be combined with the computational fluid dynamics experience of the Fluid Mechanics Group (FGM, https://mfluidosunex.es/) from the same department at UEX in the realization of the research objectives of AM-ACTS project.

Role in the project:
UEX coordinates and manages the project consortium. Its research activities focus on:

  • Designing, developing and simulating microchanneled materials suitable for actively cooled thermal shields, with an aim at optimizing their maximum service temperature and oxidation & ablation resistance.
  • Developing UHTCs colloidal suspensions suitable as feedstocks for various AM techniques (DIW, DLP), to enable the fabrication of the ceramic and ceramic/metal microchanneled structures required for the envisioned high-performance thermal shields
  • The mechanical and microstructural characterization of the developed composites, as well as their oxidation and ablation behaviour under environmental conditions relevant to the intended applications.

Partners:

University West (HV)

Prof. Dr. Joel Andersson (PI)

Prof. Dr. Shrikant Joshi
Dr. Fabian Hanning
Dili Kumar Choudary Ratnala (PhD student)

University West (HV, https://www.hv.se) is one of the newer centres of higher education in Sweden with over 15000 students and 700 employees. Within a short span, the University has carved a niche for itself in the area of Production Technology, within which it not only offers courses targeting industrial needs but has also established a strong tradition of implementing development projects in close collaboration with industry partners.

Role in the project:
HV’s leads the work package aimed at development of superalloy-based Actively Cooled Systems, with special emphasis on the development through AM of functional graded materials (FGM) related to superalloys. It participates too in the design of the FGM strategy and significantly contribute to material characterization. It may also explore the utility of thermally sprayed ceramic coatings to enhance thermal protection.

Questek Europe AB (QTK)

Dr. David Linder (PI)

Dr. Ida Berglund
Dr. Fuyao Yan
Dr. Savya Sachi

Questek Europe AB (QTK, https://questekeurope.com/) is a Swedish SME established in 2016 as a cooperative joint venture between US-based QuesTek International LLC and Sweden-based Thermo-Calc Software AB. By combining QuesTek’s Materials by DesignTM expertise and technology and Thermo-Calc’s expertise in software and database development, QTK can increase insight and understanding for customers at nearly every stage in the lifecycle of a material, from initial R&D to end of useful service life and recycling.

Role in the project:
QTK will be involved in the materials modelling activities in this project and contribute to the key development and optimization of the functionally graded material (FGM) strategy accounting for the distinct thermal and mechanical properties of the end-materials. QTK will utilize state-of-the-art computational thermodynamics to avoid detrimental phases in the compositionally graded metal part and evaluate the compatibility of the metal and ceramic parts.

CNRS-PROMES (CNRS)

Dr. Ludovic Charpentier (PI)

Dr. Marianne Balat-Pichelin

CNRS PROcédés Matériaux et Energie Solaire laboratory (CNRS-PROMES, www.promes.cnrs.fr) is located in Odeillo Font-Romeu (Félix Trombe Solar Furnace), Targasonne (Themis Solar Tower) and in Perpignan, and it has been involved in concentrated solar energy for more than 50 years. PROMES permanent personnel are employees of CNRS and Perpignan University (UPVD). Its mission is the development of science and technology using the unique properties of concentrated solar energy to enhance and create new applications of this renewable energy resource. The mission includes research on materials and processes for sustainable development: solar power plants, solar fuels, high temperature materials processing, testing and characterization. PROMES research focus on the development of new solar receivers and reactors involving particulates as heat transfer fluid or chemical reactants.

Role in the project:
PROMES will lead the characterization of developed materials and systems. Its RTD activities will focus on the use of its unique solar facilities REHPTS (High Pressure and Temperature Solar Reactor) and MESOX (Oxidation Solar Test Facility) to qualify the performance in terms of thermal insulation and oxidation protection of the AM-ACTS materials exposed to high concentrated solar flux in aggressive environments: air and microwave-generated air plasma conditions up to max 2600 K, close to the ones encountered during an atmospheric re-entry. It will also participate in the design and material optimization of ACTS systems for application as solar receivers or TPS.