Will it be possible to design materials that are unfazed by extreme temperatures in the near future? In a study published in the journal Nature Computational Materials, researchers at Texas A&M University have described a computational tool to evaluate a material's suitability for high-temperature applications, such as gas turbines for jet engines and electrical power generators. The computational framework, which incorporates artificial intelligence and basic physics, can forecast how materials will behave under harsh conditions in a fraction of the time compared to other algorithms. "We have used an innovative and interdisciplinary approach for screening materials that is a million times faster than traditional techniques," said Dr. Raymundo Arróyave, professor in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering at Texas A&M and corresponding author on the study. "Currently, these types of calculations, even for a small temperature above absolute zero, are an enormous challenge because they are computationally expensive." Since the late 1800s, gas turbines have been the workhorse of power generation. This drum-shaped machine lined with a series of bent or curved blades converts chemical energy from burning fuel into mechanical energy when the turbine's blades rotate. This motion is then exploited either to propel an aircraft or generate electricity. Gas turbines operate in high-temperature, corrosive conditions, making them prone to damage and progressive deterioration. And so, designing materials that can withstand extreme temperatures has been an ongoing pursuit. Among an array of high-temperature tolerant materials, ceramics known as MAX phases are known to have properties that bridge the gap between conventional ceramics and metals. In other words, they are less brittle than ceramics and have higher temperature tolerance than many metals. "These materials are ideal candidates for structural components for gas turbines... |