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

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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.