| Abstract Scope |
High temperature refractory metals are required for a number of high temperature propulsion, power, and thermal protection applications. Refractory metals can be expensive, difficult to manufacture, tend to have high buy-to-fly ratios, and few vendors. Refractory metal additive manufacture (AM) is in development and like traditional AM alloys requires substantial post-processing to include powder heat treatment, surface finish enhancement, inspection, and machining before placed in service. The combination of limited feedstock sources, high temperature processing, oxygen sensitivity, fracture prone nature, and need for elevated temperature mechanical testing limit the number of qualified facilities capable of post-processing AM refractory materials, which add to cost and schedule constraints. However, properly implemented refractory metal AM can overcome existing manufacture limitations by greatly increasing design flexibility, new material options, reduced price, decreased lead-time, and leverage the ever growing AM commercial supply base. |