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Completed TRL 9 (started at 9, targeting 9)
Project Objective
To replace and expand capabilities of current materials diagnostic equipment, specifically for microhardness of materials.
Project Description
Microhardness testing is a standard, baseline materials diagnostic requirement. Everything from weld joints to additive manufacturing build acceptance to alloy development to new in-situ resource utilization methods from Lunar and Martian surfaces require such basic materials properties to be obtained so that processes and performance can be determined for end use. Hardness properties are also extremely important in failure analysis, in which the root and contributing causes of mechanical failure can be determined and mitigated in the future.
Project Results and Conclusions
A new automated microhardness tester was ordered, delivered, installed, and commissioned. This new unit replaces an existing one which could no longer meet calibration/validation requirements for accuracy. Additionally, it will be able to take thousands of measurements on a given sample to reveal harness variance at a higher resolution and with less human intervention.
This project provides benefits in multiple areas, such as:
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This is a mature technology (TRL 9) — the realistic path in is usually NASA's Technology Transfer Program: licensing an existing NASA patent, or a Space Act Agreement to use NASA facilities/expertise directly. NASA also runs a startup licensing program with no upfront fee for companies formed to commercialize a specific NASA technology.
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