TECHNOLOGY LICENSING OPPORTUNITY Fabrication of High Entropy Alloys Utilizing Commercial Alloys and In-Situ Process Control

TECHNOLOGY LICENSING OPPORTUNITY Fabrication of High Entropy Alloys Utilizing Commercial Alloys and In-Situ Process Control Using additive manufacturing presents a novel approach to fabricating HEAs that optimizes material composition, microstructure, and properties. Opportunity: Idaho National Laboratory (INL), managed and operated by Battelle Energy Alliance, LLC (BEA), is offering to enter into a license or collaborative research agreement to commercialize this fabrication technique for high entropy alloys. This technology transfer opportunity is part of a dedicated effort to convert government-funded research into job opportunities, businesses, and, ultimately, an improved way of life for the American people. Overview: High entropy alloys (HEAs) are a class of materials that have unique properties, making them attractive for use in a wide range of industrial applications such as nuclear, aerospace, and petroleum. However, the cost of conventional manufacturing of pure metal and pre-alloyed powders has limited their use in real-world applications. This technology aims to successfully print a CoCrFeNi high entropy alloy as a functionally graded material (FGM) to a standard commercial alloy such as SS316L or Inconel 718. Using LENS, a unique ability to feed from three powder feeders at an optimized ratio and process parameters, the team plans to hybridize SS316L, Inconel 718, and STELLITE21 to fabricate a CoCrFeNi multi-principal element composition. This compositional design would include additions of Mo, Nb, and impurities of Ti, Si, and C. Benefits: This technology employs a high-energy laser heat source with multiple powder feeders, giving operators in-situ heat input and material composition control. This allows for the optimization of material composition, microstructure, and properties. Using a combination of commercial alloys to reach HEA-like compositions of multi-principal element alloys can significantly reduce the cost of feedstock material. Target Applications: Industries that require high-performance materials that can withstand high temperatures and corrosive environments. LENS makes this technology commercially viable, affordable, and repeatable, making it attractive to various engineering applications. Development Status: TRL 2; early stage concept. IP Status: Patent Application No. 18/069,023, “Methods of Forming a Multi-Principal Element Alloy,” BEA Docket No. BA-1296. INL seeks to license the above intellectual property to a company with a demonstrated ability to bring such inventions to the market. Exclusive rights in defined fields of use may be available. Added value is placed on relationships with small businesses, start-up companies, and general entrepreneurship opportunities. Please visit Technology Deployment’s website at https://inl.gov/inl-initiatives/technology-deployment for more information on working with INL and the industrial partnering and technology transfer process. Companies interested in learning more about this licensing opportunity should contact Andrew Rankin at [email protected].