TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER OPPORTUNITY: Abnormal Grain Growth Suppression in Aluminum Alloys: LAR-17906-1 and -2

Synopsis: NASA Langley Research Center in Hampton, VA solicits inquiries from companies interested in obtaining license rights to commercialize, manufacture and market the following technology. License rights may be issued on an exclusive or nonexclusive basis and may include specific fields of use. NASA provides no funding in conjunction with these potential licenses. THE TECHNOLOGY: Scientists at NASA Langley Research Center have developed a post-friction stir welding heat treatment procedure that reduces abnormal grain growth and restores optimum material properties in heat treatable aluminum alloys. It is a simple, low-cost processing step suitable for large components or structures. This thermal processing methodology is for retaining the fine-grained structure in aluminum alloys subjected to solid state welding and subsequent forming processes. It enables friction stir welding for aerospace components made from lightweight aluminum alloys, in particular, Al-Li alloys. The insertion of an intermediate annealing step covered here reduces abnormal grain growth during post-welding heat treatment, thereby allowing optimum mechanical properties. This is important where Al-Li alloys (and other heat treatable alloys) are friction stir welded followed by deformation processing and high performance, high reliability structural components are required for aerospace vehicles. NASA is seeking to license this technology commercially in the United States. US Patent 9,090,950. To express interest in this opportunity, please respond to [email protected] with the title of this Technology Transfer Opportunity as listed in this FBO notice and your preferred contact information. Please also provide how you foresee using the technology along with a brief background of your company. Additionally, please identify any non-US interests/subsidiaries in your company as well. For more information about licensing other NASA Langley-developed technologies, please visit the NASA Langley's Technology Gateway at https://technologygateway.nasa.gov/ These responses are provided to members of NASA Langley's Office of Strategic Analysis and Business Development "OSACB" for the purpose of promoting public awareness of NASA-developed technology products, and conducting preliminary market research to determine public interest in and potential for future licensing opportunities. If direct licensing interest results from this posting, OSACB will follow the required formal licensing process of posting in the Federal Register. No follow-on procurement is expected to result from responses to this Notice.