Briefings set for INTACT project to create monolithic ceramic materials with strength of metallic systems

ARLINGTON, Va. – U.S. military researchers will brief industry on 21 Jan. 2025 on an upcoming project to explore new approaches to produce tough monolithic ceramic materials.

Officials of the U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) in Arlington, Va., will brief industry on the upcoming Intrinsically Tough and Affordable Ceramics Today (INTACT) project to explore atomic-scale toughening mechanisms that afford ceramics with the ductile characteristics of metallic systems.

Researchers particularly are interested in the application of emerging nonequilibrium processing techniques to engineer defects like vacancies, dislocations, phase, and grain boundaries into ceramic materials to accommodate fine-scale plastic deformation.

Related: INTACT: Intrinsically Tough and Affordable Ceramics Today

Introducing mechanical work -- similar to forging -- and rapid thermal quench rates accessible via laser, electron beam, and other far-from-equilibrium processing techniques opens new possibilities to create radically new ceramic microstructures that may enable breakthroughs that increase bulk fracture toughness levels while maintaining an impressive balance of properties, DARPA researchers explain.

Registered companies interested in collaborating with others may submit a one-page profile that includes company name, organization, email, telephone number, mailing address, and, website); a brief description of their technical competencies; and, desired expertise from other organizations. Email profiles no later than 24 Jan. 2024 to [email protected].

Companies interested in attending the INTACT webcast should register no later than 14 Jan. 2025 online at https://events.sa-meetings.com/website/82164/. More information is online at https://sam.gov/opp/7464600b6fab42eeb804d984a75769ed/view.