The National Science Foundation (NSF) Division of Materials Research awarded a $200,427 Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) Program project grant to the University of Southern California (USC) to conduct fundamental research on additive manufacturing of high-entropy alloys. The 4-year project aims to understand the microstructure evolution and deformation mechanisms of strong yet ductile nanolamellar high-entropy alloys produced by 3D printing. Key objectives include: 1) investigating how laser printing protocols affect the solidification microstructure and mechanical properties of 3D-printed eutectic high-entropy alloys, 2) unraveling the deformation mechanisms and micromechanical response of these materials through advanced characterization techniques, and 3) elucidating the phase transformation pathways upon post-printing heat treatment. The research is expected to provide fundamental insights and design motifs for developing hierarchical, multi-phase, nanostructured alloys with exceptional mechanical properties. The grant also includes an educational component to train the next generation of diverse materials scientists and advanced manufacturing leaders.
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