Quick Summary
• University of Utah, Penn State Win NASA Funding to 3D Print Rocket Engine Materials April 8
Additional Context
The University of Utah, Penn State, and Colorado-based Elementum 3D have been awarded a NASA Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Phase I grant to develop cold spray additive manufacturing techniques for GRX-810, a high-temperature alloy NASA named its Commercial Invention of the Year.
Cold spray additive manufacturing deposits metal particles at high velocities to build dense coatings or bulk structures. It’s similar in concept to 3D printing but suited for large or complex components because it offers higher deposition rates and minimal thermal damage. The challenge is understanding exactly how particles bond, deform, or rebound on impact — a question that gets far more complex with alloys engineered for extreme temperatures and reactive environments like rocket engines.
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