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.