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 & 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, solidification

Process-Structure
Mechanism based process to structure prediction

Structure-Properties
Continuum or discrete prediction of effective properties
Processing/Manufacturing

Fabrication & Synthesis
Material development across scales from synthesis to scalable production

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

Shaping & Forming
Evaluation of materials formability limitations, rate sensitivity, tool life, and effects of shaping

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

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