Abstract: A method of forming a sandwich structure including at least partially filling an open volume of an open cellular core with a sacrificial mold material, consolidating the sacrificial mold material to form a sacrificial mold, laying up a composite facesheet on each of at least two surfaces of the open cellular core, co-curing the composite facesheets by applying a consolidation temperature and a compaction pressure to the composite facesheets to form the sandwich structure, and removing the sacrificial mold. The compaction pressure is greater than a compressive strength of the open cellular core and less than a combined compressive strength of the open cellular core and the sacrificial mold.

Abstract: A stress isolating interposer includes: an outer pad; an inner pad configured to accommodate a positional sensor is mounted; and a stress isolating structure coupling the outer pad and the inner pad to each other. The outer pad, the stress isolating structure, and the inner pad are a monolithic structure.

Abstract: A method of forming a sandwich structure including at least partially filling an open volume of an open cellular core with a sacrificial mold material, consolidating the sacrificial mold material to form a sacrificial mold, laying up a composite facesheet on each of at least two surfaces of the open cellular core, co-curing the composite facesheets by applying a consolidation temperature and a compaction pressure to the composite facesheets to form the sandwich structure, and removing the sacrificial mold. The compaction pressure is greater than a compressive strength of the open cellular core and less than a combined compressive strength of the open cellular core and the sacrificial mold.

Abstract: This invention provides resin formulations which may be used for 3D printing and pyrolyzing to produce a ceramic matrix composite. The resin formulations contain a solid-phase filler, to provide high thermal stability and mechanical strength (e.g., fracture toughness) in the final ceramic material. The invention provides direct, free-form 3D printing of a preceramic polymer loaded with a solid-phase filler, followed by converting the preceramic polymer to a 3D-printed ceramic matrix composite with potentially complex 3D shapes or in the form of large parts. Other variations provide active solid-phase functional additives as solid-phase fillers, to perform or enhance at least one chemical, physical, mechanical, or electrical function within the ceramic structure as it is being formed as well as in the final structure. Solid-phase functional additives actively improve the final ceramic structure through one or more changes actively induced by the additives during pyrolysis or other thermal treatment.

Abstract: An insulated exhaust port liner of a cylinder head assembly for fluidly connecting to an internal combustion engine of a motor vehicle includes a sealing layer. The sealing layer has a first surface defining a passage for fluidly connecting to the internal combustion engine and receiving exhaust gas. The sealing layer further includes a second surface opposite to the first surface. The liner further includes a thermal barrier layer coated onto the second surface of the sealing layer. The thermal barrier layer is a porous non-woven material for supporting the sealing layer on the cylinder head and reducing a transfer of heat from the sealing layer to the cylinder head.

Abstract: This invention provides resin formulations which may be used for 3D printing and pyrolyzing to produce a ceramic matrix composite. The resin formulations contain a solid-phase filler, to provide high thermal stability and mechanical strength (e.g., fracture toughness) in the final ceramic material. The invention provides direct, free-form 3D printing of a preceramic polymer loaded with a solid-phase filler, followed by converting the preceramic polymer to a 3D-printed ceramic matrix composite with potentially complex 3D shapes or in the form of large parts. Other variations provide active solid-phase functional additives as solid-phase fillers, to perform or enhance at least one chemical, physical, mechanical, or electrical function within the ceramic structure as it is being formed as well as in the final structure. Solid-phase functional additives actively improve the final ceramic structure through one or more changes actively induced by the additives during pyrolysis or other thermal treatment.

Abstract: This invention provides methods for fabricating a hard or soft magnet with tailorable magnetic and crystallographic orientations. Methods are disclosed to individually tailor three-dimensional voxels for selected crystallographic orientations and, independently, selected magnetic orientations with location specificity throughout a magnet.

Abstract: Some variations provide a permanent-magnet structure comprising: a region having a plurality of magnetic domains and a region-average magnetic axis, wherein each of the magnetic domains has a domain magnetic axis that is substantially aligned with the region-average magnetic axis, and wherein the plurality of magnetic domains is characterized by an average magnetic domain size. Within the region, there is a plurality of metal-containing grains characterized by an average grain size, and each of the magnetic domains has a domain easy axis that is dictated by a crystallographic texture of the metal-containing grains. The region has a region-average easy axis based on the average value of the domain easy axis within that region. The region-average magnetic axis and the region-average easy axis form a region-average alignment angle that has a standard deviation less than 30° within the plurality of magnetic domains. Many permanent-magnet structures are disclosed herein.

Abstract: An insulated exhaust port liner of a cylinder head assembly for fluidly connecting to an internal combustion engine of a motor vehicle includes a sealing layer. The sealing layer has a first surface defining a passage for fluidly connecting to the internal combustion engine and receiving exhaust gas. The sealing layer further includes a second surface opposite to the first surface. The liner further includes a thermal barrier layer coated onto the second surface of the sealing layer. The thermal barrier layer is a porous non-woven material for supporting the sealing layer on the cylinder head and reducing a transfer of heat from the sealing layer to the cylinder head.

Abstract: A method and a fugitive mold for producing a cast-metal part are provided. In some embodiments, the fugitive mold may be formed by three-dimensionally (3D) printing a preceramic resin in the shape of a fugitive mold; curing the preceramic resin to form a preceramic polymer, and pyrolyzing the fugitive mold to convert the preceramic polymer to a metastable ceramic material. The metastable ceramic material may include an amorphous silicon oxycarbide ceramic. A cast-metal part may be formed by filling the fugitive mold with a liquid metal or alloy, and allowing the liquid metal or alloy to solidify over a first length of time. The cast-metal part may then be retrieved by heating the fugitive mold at a temperature lower than the melting point of the cast-metal part for a second length of time longer than the first length of time to disintegrate the metastable ceramic material.

Abstract: An ordered, 3-dimensional, micro-scale, open-cellular truss structure including interconnected hollow polymer tubes. The hollow micro-truss structure separates two fluid volumes which can be independently pressurized or depressurized to control flow, or materials properties, or both. Applications for this invention include deployable structures, inflatable structures, flow control, and vented padding.

Abstract: Some variations provide a process for additive manufacturing of a nanofunctionalized metal alloy, comprising: providing a nanofunctionalized metal precursor containing metals and grain-refining nanoparticles; exposing a first amount of the nanofunctionalized metal precursor to an energy source for melting the precursor, thereby generating a first melt layer; solidifying the first melt layer, thereby generating a first solid layer; and repeating many times to generate a plurality of solid layers in an additive-manufacturing build direction. The additively manufactured, nanofunctionalized metal alloy has a microstructure with equiaxed grains.

Abstract: Some variations provide a process for additive manufacturing of a nanofunctionalized metal alloy, comprising: providing a nanofunctionalized metal precursor containing metals and grain-refining nanoparticles; exposing a first amount of the nanofunctionalized metal precursor to an energy source for melting the precursor, thereby generating a first melt layer; solidifying the first melt layer, thereby generating a first solid layer; and repeating many times to generate a plurality of solid layers in an additive-manufacturing build direction. The additively manufactured, nanofunctionalized metal alloy has a microstructure with equiaxed grains.

Abstract: A metal microparticle coated with metal hydride nanoparticles is disclosed. Some variations provide a material comprising a plurality of microparticles (1 micron to 1 millimeter) containing a metal or metal alloy and coated with a plurality of nanoparticles (less than 1 micron) containing a metal hydride or metal alloy hydride. The invention eliminates non-uniform distribution of sintering aids by attaching them directly to the surface of the microparticles. No method is previously known to exist which can assemble nanoparticle metal hydrides onto the surface of a metal microparticle. Some variations provide a solid article comprising a material with a metal or metal alloy microparticles coated with metal hydride or metal alloy hydride nanoparticles, wherein the nanoparticles form continuous or periodic inclusions at or near grain boundaries within the microparticles.

Abstract: A metal microparticle coated with metal nanoparticles is disclosed. Some variations provide a material comprising a plurality of microparticles (1 micron to 1 millimeter) containing a metal or metal alloy and coated with a plurality of nanoparticles (less than 1 micron) or nanoparticle inclusions (potentially larger than 1 micron). The invention eliminates non-uniform distribution of sintering aids by attaching them directly to the surface of the microparticles. No method is previously known to exist which can assemble nanoparticle inclusions onto the surface of a metal microparticle. Some variations provide a solid article comprising a material with a metal or metal alloy microparticles coated with metal hydride or metal alloy nanoparticles, wherein the nanoparticles form continuous or periodic inclusions at or near grain boundaries within the microparticles.

Abstract: The disclosed structure is configured such that it does not support electromagnetic waves having frequencies within a selected band gap; those electromagnetic waves are thus reflected. Some variations provide an omnidirectional infrared reflector comprising a three-dimensional photonic crystal containing: rods of a first material that has a first refractive index, wherein the rods are arranged to form a plurality of lattice periods in three dimensions, and wherein the rods are connected at a plurality of nodes; and a second material that has a refractive index that is lower than the first refractive index, wherein the rods are embedded in the second material. The lattice spacing and the rod radius or width are selected to produce a photonic band gap within a selected band of the infrared spectrum. Methods of making and using the three-dimensional photonic crystal are described. Applications include thermal barrier coatings and blackbody emission signature control.

Abstract: This disclosure provides an improvement over the state of the art by teaching a low-cost method to produce feedstock powder, without undergoing a phase change, from industrially relevant wrought alloys that are widely available at low cost. The surfaces of aspherical particles are functionalized with particulates having a different size and composition than the particles, to control the solidification response of the feedstock. Some variations provide a metal-containing functionalized material comprising: a plurality of aspherical particles comprising a metal or a metal alloy; and a plurality of metal-containing or ceramic particulates that are assembled on surfaces of the aspherical particles, wherein the particulates are compositionally different than the aspherical particles. Methods of making and using the metal-containing functionalized materials are described.

Abstract: A three-dimensional lattice architecture with a thickness hierarchy includes a first surface and a second surface separated from each other with a distance therebetween defining a thickness of the three-dimensional lattice architecture; a plurality of angled struts extending along a plurality of directions between the first surface and the second surface; a plurality of nodes connecting the plurality of angled struts with one another forming a plurality of unit cells. At least a portion of the plurality of angled struts are internally terminated along the thickness direction of the lattice structure and providing a plurality of internal degrees of freedom towards the first or second surface of the lattice architecture.

Abstract: A method for fabricating a ceramic matrix composite structure. A core having an ordered structure is fabricated of a preceramic polymer and pyrolyzed. Facesheets, either uncured or cured, are placed on the core (with a bonding layer of preceramic polymer resin if the facesheets are cured) and the assembly is cured and pyrolyzed. The pyrolyzed assembly is re-infiltrated with preceramic polymer resin and re-pyrolyzed. The cycle of re-infiltration and re-pyrolyzation is repeated until the mass gain per cycle stabilizes.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing an ordered cellular structure including a series of interconnected unit cells. Each unit cell includes at least one straight wall segment. The method includes irradiating a volume of photo-monomer in a reservoir with at least one light beam from at least one light source to form the ordered cellular structure. Irradiating the volume of photo-monomer includes directing the at least one light beam though a series of interconnected apertures defined in a photo-mask covering the reservoir.