America Makes, the national accelerator for additive manufacturing, has recently unveiled the recipients of its groundbreaking Corrosion of Additive – Tested At Component Scale (CATACS) project. This significant initiative, backed by a $1.3 million investment from the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense, Manufacturing Technology Office, aims to revolutionize the development of robust corrosion testing frameworks specifically for metal 3D printed parts, particularly those destined for demanding high-temperature defense applications. The project's focus on component-scale testing addresses critical challenges in ensuring the longevity and reliability of advanced additive manufactured components in extreme environments.
CATACS Project Winners Pave Way for Advanced Corrosion Solutions
The CATACS project was structured into two distinct topics, each addressing a crucial aspect of corrosion in additive manufactured parts:
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Topic 1: Corrosion of AM Components at Elevated Temperatures
- Winner: RTX Technology Research Center
- Focus: This topic concentrates on developing and validating testing methodologies that accurately assess the corrosion performance of additively manufactured components when exposed to elevated temperatures. The insights gained here are crucial for applications where parts face both high heat and corrosive elements simultaneously, common in aerospace and defense.
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Topic 2: Corrosion of AM Components for Thermal Management
- Winner: Colorado School of Mines
- Partners: Conflux Technology, NIST, Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), and others.
- Focus: This topic explores corrosion challenges specifically within additively manufactured components designed for thermal management systems. The collaborative effort aims to create testing frameworks that ensure the integrity and efficiency of 3D printed heat exchangers and other thermal solutions, which are increasingly vital for high-performance defense systems.
PADAM 2.0 Project Call Extended, Boosting AM Research
In addition to the CATACS announcements, America Makes, in collaboration with NCDMM, has extended the deadline for the $6 million Project for Additive Defense Application Manufacturing (PADAM) 2.0 project call. Funded by the Air Force Research Laboratory, this extension provides researchers and innovators more time to submit proposals aimed at further advancing additive manufacturing capabilities for defense applications. The new deadline is set for April 8, 2026, signaling a continued commitment to fostering innovation and expanding the use of 3D printing in military readiness and advanced technology development.
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