February 23, 2024 LIFT Launches New Technology Projects

New projects to focus on connecting advanced materials, manufacturing processes, systems engineering.

DETROIT – LIFT, the Detroit-based national advanced materials manufacturing innovation institute, today announced the launch of six new projects as part of its LIFT Ecosystem Accelerator Program (LEAP). The projects are designed to accelerate innovations in advanced materials, manufacturing processes, and system engineering over a period of performance of six months.

The six new LEAP projects are:

• Validation of a Multi-Scale Process Model for Prediction of Laser Beam Powder Bed Fusion (LB-PBF) Build Defects: Led by Hexagon, this project will focus on building a body of physical build data and test results against which to measure the current and future efficacy of defect prediction models for LB-PBF.​
• Using Oxide-Dispersion-Strengthened (ODS) Copper to Additively Manufacture High Heat-Flux Rocket Components: Led by Kymera International, this project will look to provide a commercially stable, domestic alternative to a key material needed to manufacture critical US space and defense systems.
• Optimized Feedstock Alloy Production for Light Alloy Additive Manufacturing: Led by Loukus Technologies, this project will manufacture additive feedstock using alloying and casting techniques that can be more cost effective than current alloys made with a wrought based approach​.
• Thermally Engineered Refractory Metal Matrix Composites by Mechanical Alloying and Hydride and Dehydride (HDH) Reclamation:  LIFT partner Powdermet will demonstrate its HDH process as a viable means for manufacturing niobium powders for advanced manufacturing needs of high-temperature components.
• Life Prediction of Tantalum-Coated Gun Barrels Under Fast Thermal Transient Conditions: Led by RTX, this project will look to improve life prediction of Tantalum-coated gun barrels through development of elastoplastic​ damage and crack propagation modeling tool for extreme thermal transient environments.
• Capability Demonstration For Virtual Gun Barrel Interaction Testbed: For this project, Friedman Research Corporation will create a semi-validated multi-physics model for predicting the response of a gun barrel/projectile system.

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