Enabling the lightweight materials industry through a network of national laboratories

Characterization

Extreme Environment Testing

Evaluation of materials in environmental, chemical, electrical and mechanical combined conditions

Mechanical Behavior of Materials

Evaluation of mechanical performance across strain rates, surface conditions, and geometric constraints

Microscopy

Visualization and characterization techniques ranging from advanced optical to x-ray and beam-specific equipment

Non-destructive Examination

Methodologies for evaluation of properties, processes, and materials without destructive testing

Computational Tools

Data Tools

Materials data mining, discovery, information management, and analysis tools

Materials Processing

Predictive simulation capabilities for deformation, joining, and solidification

Process-Structure

Mechanism-based process to structure prediction

Structure-Properties

Continuum or discrete prediction of effective properties

Processing/Manufacturing

Fabrication and Synthesis

Material development across scales from synthesis to scalable production

Joining

Advanced joining development including multi-material, solid-state, fusion, and fastening

Shaping and Forming

Evaluation of material formability limitations, rate sensitivity, tool life, and effects of shaping

Thermo-mechanical Processing

Development of heat treatments, thermo-mechanical processing, and microstructural modification techniques

Composites Manufacturing

Development of advanced materials and processing of sustainable, low-cost, energy-efficient, and multifunctional materials

Established as part of the Energy Materials Network, under the Department of Energy's Clean Energy Manufacturing Initiative, the mission of the Lightweight Materials National Laboratory Consortium is to create an enduring national laboratory-based network, enabling industry to utilize the national laboratories' unique capabilities related to lightweight materials.