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Active TRL 2 (started at 2, targeting 3)
High entropy alloys have created an unprecedented growing interest in breaking the property limits of metallic materials. In this class of materials, refractory high entropy alloys have drawn particular attention due to their high melting points and excellent thermal softening resistance, which are the two key requirements for an alloy to retain its strength at high temperatures. Such materials can result in breakthrough technological advancements in a wide range of high temperature NASA applications such as wing leading edge systems, solar probes and nuclear thermal protection. The objective of this research is to discover novel refractory high entropy alloys and uncover the underlying mechanisms that allow for their high strength at high temperatures using extensive characterization techniques. For an efficient search within this high dimensional design space, I develop DREAM (Deep learning and Reasoning to Enable Accelerated discovery of Materials) framework using advanced artificial intelligence (AI) knowledge and data driven techniques. A novel high throughput bulk synthesis method is proposed with the goal to create material libraries consisting of refractory metals. Results from high fidelity characterizations such as scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), and nano-indentation, will be used as the initial dataset to train a machine learning model with quantifiable confidence through uncertainty quantification. Using active learning, promising compositions will be proposed for manufacturing via laser-based direct energy deposition. I will use advanced microscopy techniques across length scales to understand the underlying physics governing the enhanced properties of discovered materials. These characterization techniques include atomic-scale imaging, micro-strain mapping using scanning nanobeam electron diffraction, and chemical mapping using electron energy loss spectroscopy. By uncovering the composition-microstructure-process-property relationships in these materials, this work lays the foundation to discovery of refractory high entropy alloys for high temperature applications.
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