Thinking about increasing the durability of jet engines, reducing fuel consumption and maintenance costs, NASA developed a metal object capable of surmounting extreme conditions such as temperatures unimaginable on our Earth.

The material consists of a reinforced oxide dispersion alloy, allowing it to maintain structural strength in adverse scenarios, and can be manufactured using 3D printing processes. The idea is that this will help improve the durability and strength of parts used in aviation and space missions.

To understand the element’s behavior and thermodynamic characteristics, the researchers used computer imaging, but to obtain an object called GRX-810. According to reports, more than 30 attempts have been made to do so.

“These new alloys could be used to create lighter, cheaper aerospace parts,” said Dale Hopkins, NASA deputy project manager, according to Canaltech. “[Isso] contributes to progress in the field of environmentally friendly flying by creating durable equipment for aircraft and rocket engines.

“This innovation is revolutionary for the development of the aerospace industry. In the past, increasing tensile strength often reduced the material’s ability to stretch and flex before breaking, so our new alloy is great,” he added.

The optimism of the researcher is due to the effectiveness of the alloy in tests at high temperatures. The material showed strength and flexibility when measured up to 1093 ºC. Its durability was also remarkable.

Efficiency and Sustainability

In addition to efficiency, the GRX-810 is also seen as a potential sustainability helper as its service life contributes to reduced fuel consumption and aircraft maintenance in space missions. And since it’s 3D printed, there are plenty of options for modifying your design.

“This simulation tool delivers results in much less time and at a lower cost than traditional trial and error processes,” said Steve Arnold, NASA Materials Science Officer.

“This production system also avoids dead ends and shows researchers not only what types of metals to use, but also how much of each element should be in the product,” he added.

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Source: NASA.