Abstract: Systems, methods and compositions to produce fine powders are described. These include forming a hypereutectic melt including a target material, a sacrificial-matrix material, and an impurity, rapidly cooling the hypereutectic melt to form a hypereutectic alloy having a first phase and a second phase, annealing the hypereutectic alloy to alter a morphology of the target material to thereby produce target particles, and removing the sacrificial matrix to thereby produce a fine powder of the target particles. The first phase is defined by the target material and the second phase is defined by the sacrificial-matrix material. The sacrificial-matrix material forms a sacrificial matrix having the target material dispersed therethrough.

Abstract: A connecting rod comprises a shaft connecting a first end including a first bore with a second end including a second bore. Methods for forming and assembling a connecting rod and crankshaft assembly include fabricating the second end of the connecting rod via additive manufacturing such that the second end comprises a first and second weakened regions on opposing sides of the second bore, and breaking the second end of the connecting rod at the first and second weakened regions to form a connecting rod assembly comprising a second end base and a second end cap, wherein the base comprises a first fracture face and a second fracture face which each respectively correspond to a first fracture face and a second fracture face of the cap. The methods can further include mating the base and the cap such that a crankpin of a crankshaft is disposed within the second bore.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to electroactive materials for use in electrodes of lithium-ion electrochemical cells and methods of making the same, for example, methods for lithiating electroactive materials. A method of lithiating an electroactive material may include dispersing an electroactive material precursor within a room-temperature electrolyte that includes a lithium-based salt and contacting the electrolyte mixture and a lithium source so as to cause the lithium source to ionize and form lithium ions. The lithium ions may react with the electroactive material precursor to form a fully lithiated electroactive material (e.g., greater than 70% of total lithiation). The method further includes, in certain aspects, electrochemically discharging the fully lithiated electroactive material to form a lithiated electroactive material having an optimized lithiation state (e.g., less than or equal to about 40% of a first lithiation state of the fully lithiated electroactive material).

Abstract: Anodes, and battery cells utilizing the same, include silicon particles embedded within a copper matrix, wherein the anode includes 40 at. % to 75 at. % silicon. The anode can include about 21 at. % to about 67 at. % silicon particles. The copper matrix can include pure copper and/or one or more copper-silicon intermetallic phases. The copper matrix can further include one or more of nickel, gold, silver, beryllium, and zinc. The silicon particles embedded in the copper matrix can have an average particle diameter less than 10 ?m. The non-surfacial silicon particles embedded in the copper matrix can be at least 99 at. % pure. The anode can be a woven mesh of ribbons or a planar sheet.

Abstract: A powder material for an additive manufacturing process and a method of manufacturing a three-dimensional article via an additive manufacturing process. The powder material comprises an iron-based alloy including alloying elements of carbon (C) and copper (Cu). The iron-based alloy may be formulated to achieve a precipitation strengthened microstructure comprising a lath martensite matrix phase and a Cu precipitate phase. The iron-based alloy may have a Cu weight fraction and a nickel (Ni) weight fraction, and the Ni weight fraction may be less than the Cu weight fraction of the iron-based alloy.

Abstract: In an embodiment, a method of forming a cooling plate, comprises laser welding a plurality of weld lines to physically connect a first substrate and a second substrate wherein the plurality of weld lines forms an inflatable track; and inflating the inflatable track with an inflation fluid to form a cooling channel in the cooling plate. In another embodiment, the cooling plate can comprise a first substrate and a second substrate and a plurality of weld lines can form a fluid tight seal for a cooling channel located therebetween.

Abstract: Anodes, and battery cells utilizing the same, include silicon particles embedded within a copper matrix, wherein the anode includes 40 at. % to 75 at. % silicon. The anode can include about 21 at. % to about 67 at. % silicon particles. The copper matrix can include pure copper and/or one or more copper-silicon intermetallic phases. The copper matrix can further include one or more of nickel, gold, silver, beryllium, and zinc. The silicon particles embedded in the copper matrix can have an average particle diameter less than 10 ?m. The non-surfacial silicon particles embedded in the copper matrix can be at least 99 at. % pure. The anode can be a woven mesh of ribbons or a planar sheet.

Abstract: Systems, methods and compositions to produce fine powders are described. These include forming a hypereutectic melt including a target material, a sacrificial-matrix material, and an impurity, rapidly cooling the hypereutectic melt to form a hypereutectic alloy having a first phase and a second phase, annealing the hypereutectic alloy to alter a morphology of the target material to thereby produce target particles, and removing the sacrificial matrix to thereby produce a fine powder of the target particles. The first phase is defined by the target material and the second phase is defined by the sacrificial-matrix material. The sacrificial-matrix material forms a sacrificial matrix having the target material dispersed therethrough.

Abstract: An energy absorber for interposition between a cover and a covered object includes a generally planar matrix of cells. Each of the cells includes a plurality of generally elongate micro-elements interconnected to form a cell micro-structure, with each cell having a respective energy absorption capacity such that an energy absorption capacity of the energy absorber varies across at least one direction. The cells are configured such that impulse of an object with the cover with the energy absorber sandwiched between the cover and the covered object causes a deceleration vs. time response in the object, beginning with a generally linear rise in the deceleration to a peak deceleration within 5 ms after the beginning of the impulse event, followed by a generally nonlinear decrease in the deceleration over a period of not greater than 15 ms to a final target deceleration of not greater than 10% of the peak deceleration.

Abstract: A method for forming a gradient metallic body can include forming a first metallic deposit by providing a first quantity of metal feedstock and selectively applying energy via an energy source to the first quantity of metal feedstock, and iteratively forming additional metallic deposits by providing an additional quantity of metal feedstock contiguous with a previously formed metallic deposit and selectively applying energy via the energy source to the additional quantity of metal feedstock. The energy applied via the energy source while forming the additional metallic deposits is iteratively varied such that the gradient metallic body is formed and comprises a first end, a second end, and a middle portion, wherein a material characteristic of the gradient metallic body transitions in the middle portion between the first end and the second end.

Abstract: A connecting rod comprises a shaft connecting a first end including a first bore with a second end including a second bore. Methods for forming and assembling a connecting rod and crankshaft assembly include fabricating the second end of the connecting rod via additive manufacturing such that the second end comprises a first and second weakened regions on opposing sides of the second bore, and breaking the second end of the connecting rod at the first and second weakened regions to form a connecting rod assembly comprising a second end base and a second end cap, wherein the base comprises a first fracture face and a second fracture face which each respectively correspond to a first fracture face and a second fracture face of the cap. The methods can further include mating the base and the cap such that a crankpin of a crankshaft is disposed within the second bore.

Abstract: A precipitation hardenable aluminum alloy is disclosed along with a precipitation hardened form of the aluminum alloy and a method of manufacturing an aluminum alloy article from the precipitation hardenable aluminum alloy. The disclosed precipitation hardenable aluminum alloy has a composition that includes, on a weight percent (wt %) basis, 8%-13% zinc, 1.5%-5% magnesium, 0%-5% copper, 0%-2% of zirconium, chromium, or zirconium and chromium in total, and the balance aluminum with no more than 0.5% impurities. The alloy composition is adaptable to a wide range of manufacturing processes including additive manufacturing. The composition of the aluminum alloy also enables the dispersion of strengthening precipitate phases selected from an ?-phase precipitate, a ?-phase precipitate, and a T-phase precipitate, while being free of a S-phase precipitate, when precipitation hardened.

Abstract: A method of making an aluminum alloy containing titanium includes heating a first composition to a first temperature. The first composition includes aluminum. The first temperature is greater than or equal to a liquidus temperature of the first composition. The method further includes adding a second composition to the first composition to form a third composition. The second composition includes a copper-titanium compound. The method further includes decomposing at least a portion of the copper-titanium compound into copper and titanium. The method further includes cooling the third composition to a second temperature to form a first solid material. The second temperature is less than or equal to a solidus temperature of the third composition. The method further includes heat treating the first solid material to form the aluminum alloy containing titanium.

Abstract: A method monitoring a corrosion of a device includes conveying an electrical current through a monitoring component. The monitoring component includes a replaceable consumable electrode embedded in an electrolyte and disposed onboard and in electrical communication with the device. The electrode is configured to degrade before the device corrodes. The monitoring component includes a sensor disposed in electrical communication with the replaceable consumable electrode and the device. The sensor is configured for detecting a degradation of the electrode. After conveying, the method includes sending a first signal from the sensor to a storage medium. After sending the first signal, the method includes sending a second signal from the storage medium to a communication device to thereby monitor the corrosion. A monitoring system and a method of monitoring a corrosion of a plurality of joints of the device are also described.

Abstract: A three-dimensional aluminum alloy part may be manufactured by a process in which a layer of aluminum alloy powder feed material is distributed over a substrate and scanned with a high-energy laser or electron beam in selective regions corresponding to a cross-section of the aluminum alloy part being formed. During the manufacturing process, the selective regions may melt and form a pool of molten aluminum alloy material. Thereafter, the pool of molten aluminum alloy material may cool and solidify into a solid layer of fused aluminum alloy material. During solidification of the pool of molten aluminum alloy material, solid phase particles may form within a solution of liquid phase aluminum prior to formation of solid phase aluminum dendrites. The resulting aluminum alloy part may exhibit a polycrystalline structure that predominantly includes a plurality of equiaxed grains, instead of columnar grains.

Abstract: Aluminum alloys having improved high temperature mechanical properties are provided. An aluminum alloy suitable for sand casting, permanent mold casting, or semi-permanent mold casting includes about 3 to about 12 weight percent silicon; about 0.5 to about 2.0 weight percent copper; about 0.2 to about 0.6 weight percent magnesium; about 0 to about 0.5 weight percent chromium; about 0 to about 0.3 weight percent each of zirconium, vanadium, cobalt, and barium; about 0 to about 0.3 weight percent each of strontium, sodium, and titanium; about 0 to about 0.5 weight percent each of iron manganese, and zinc; and about 0.0.1 weight percent of other trace elements. Also disclosed is a semi permanent mold cast article, such as an engine cylinder head.

Abstract: A powder material for an additive manufacturing process and a method of manufacturing a three-dimensional article via an additive manufacturing process. The powder material comprises an iron-based alloy including alloying elements of carbon (C) and copper (Cu). The iron-based alloy may be formulated to achieve a precipitation strengthened microstructure comprising a lath martensite matrix phase and a Cu precipitate phase. The iron-based alloy may have a Cu weight fraction and a nickel (Ni) weight fraction, and the Ni weight fraction may be less than the Cu weight fraction of the iron-based alloy.