CROWNPOINT, NM – On June 6, 2023, the Navajo Technical University Department of Industrial Engineering program announced $1 million for research into Controlling Additive Manufacturing Properties of Surfaces (CAMPS).
The project, Controlling Additive Manufacturing Properties of Surfaces (CAMPS), is a collaboration between Navajo Technical University (NTU) and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL). CAMPS will address critical scientific questions related to the effects of reactive gasses on the structure of metals formed through additive manufacturing, which is relevant to future nuclear energy materials.
CAMPS addresses the Department of Energy's priority in science for Transformative Manufacturing. CAMPS's research objectives are: 1. Understanding whether non-equilibrium incorporation of these species can be realized through solute trapping at the solid-melt interface and enabling routes to microalloying not realizable through conventional processing routes. 2. Understanding how the presence of these gasses trapped near the surface can alter phase microstructure and mechanical control behavior.
3. Understanding whether their incorporation leads to the formation of nanoclusters (oxides, nitrides, carbides) provides a route to produce dispersion-strengthened alloys that traditionally rely on more expensive and energy-intensive manufacturing routes.
CAMPS aim to bridge these fundamental concepts to additive manufacturing applications, including novel advanced nuclear reactor designs and the creation of tailored materials with local control of mechanical and chemical properties.
The CAMPS education initiatives are to increase enrollment of American Indians in Engineering and NTU engineering programs and to provide context and theory to American Indian students. The students will receive practical experience and aptitude in scientific theory and engineering principles required for synthesizing and characterizing materials for various technological applications.
The CAMPS educational and engineering pipeline activities include a joint research project between NTU and LBNL, collaborative journal and conference publications, summer student internships at LBNL for research and career development activities, monthly technical meetings, co-advising of undergraduate students with LBNL scientists, education and training from LBNL staff to integrate NTU students and researchers into DOE user facilities, integration of new additive manufacturing modules, modeling, and characterization into NTU engineering courses, and teaching of dual-credit Engineering Graphics at Gallup McKinley County schools (GMCS) whose students population is 90 percent American Indians.
CAMPS aims to create a lasting collaboration and connection between LBNL and NTU that will ultimately increase LBNL and DOE's relationship with American Indian students and lead to a more diverse and inclusive workforce.
The mission of the Industrial Engineering program at Navajo Technical University is to provide the best possible education, research, services, and resources to prepare students for careers in industry, research, or academia and to achieve success in life.
Navajo Technical University continues to honor Diné culture and language while educating for the future.