PFI:AIR: - TT: Forming Metals Like Plastics: Thermoplastic Blowmolding of Metallic Glasses

这个PFI: AIR技术翻译项目的重点是翻译热塑性成型金属玻璃（如塑料）的能力，以满足净成型金属的需求。净成型是一种在一个加工步骤中将材料塑造成最终形状的工艺，用于热塑性塑料已经很好地建立起来，但热塑性塑料对于大多数结构应用来说太弱了。在关键的结构应用中，如航空航天、汽车和硬组织替代，通常使用金属。然而，金属的成形一直受到限制。这个项目将结合类似金属的特性和类似塑料的加工。特别是热塑性吹塑和拉伸吹塑，将在本项目中从科学发现转化为工艺过程，可以满足金属网型工艺的需要。这些吹塑工艺具有潜在的巨大商业分支，因为它们可以取代许多目前使用的金属加工方法，从而取代目前由金属和塑料占据的许多应用。为了达到这样的翻译，该项目将确定商业制造工艺所需的加工参数。此外，考虑到资本投资、加工时间和材料成本，将进行商业可行性研究。作为一种产品，商业设备和加工程序将在与设备制造商协商后确定。具体来说，周期时间将被最小化，加工条件优化的速度，能源效率和鲁棒性。考虑到加工、连接和其他精加工工序的冗余性，并考虑到加工速度和精度，金属玻璃的吹塑成型有望取代目前用于电子外壳的材料和工艺。该项目解决了以下技术差距，因为它从研究发现转化为商业应用。高应变率对变形行为的影响尚不清楚。特别是，当应变速率超过0.1/秒时，金属玻璃形成液仍然表现得像牛顿液体。准确地了解金属玻璃的变形行为、温度和压力响应对未来吹塑和拉伸吹塑过程中的充模建模至关重要。研究了高应变率对金属玻璃力学性能的影响。将进行弯曲试验，并将破坏应变作为弯曲延性的定量指标。参与人员包括研究生、博士后、本科生和访问本科生。他们将接触到各种各样的技术发展；从确定变形行为的基础科学，到开发适当工艺和机械的工程方面，再到商业和商业方面的可行性和比较研究。学生将接触到最先进的冶金工艺和表征方法，也将对科学、创新和创业技能之间的联系有更深的理解。

This PFI: AIR Technology Translation project focuses on translating the ability to thermoplastically form metallic glasses like plastics to fill the need of net-shaping metals. Net-shaping, a process that shapes a material in one processing step into its final shape, is well established for thermoplastics, but thermoplastics are too weak for most structural applications. In structural applications that are critical, such as aerospace, automotive, and hard-tissue replacements, metals are typically used. Forming of metals, however, has been limited. This project will combine metal-like properties and plastic-like processing. Particularly, thermoplastic based blow-molding and stretch blow-molding, will be translated during this project from a scientific discovery into a technological process, which can meet the need for a metal net-shape process. These blow-molding processes have potentially vast commercial ramification as they could replace many of the currently used metal processing methods, and hence replace many of the applications currently occupied by metals and plastics. In order to reach such a translation, this project will determine processing parameters that are required for a commercial fabrication process. In addition, a commercial viability study will be carried out considering capital investment, processing time, and materials costs. As a product, a commercial apparatus and processing procedure will be determined in consultation with equipment manufacturers. Specifically, cycle time will be minimized, and processing conditions optimized for speed, energy efficiency, and robustness. Considering the redundancy of machining, joining, and other finishing procedures, and taking into account the processing speed and accuracy, blow-molding of metallic glasses is envisioned to replace currently used materials and processes used for electronic casings. This project addresses the following technology gap(s) as it translates from research discovery toward commercial application. The effect of high strain rate on the deformation behavior is not well understood. Particularly, if the metallic glass forming liquid remains to behave like a Newtonian liquid as strain rates exceeding 0.1/sec. Accurate understanding of the deformation behavior, the metallic glasses' response to temperature and pressure is crucial for future modeling of mold filling during blow-molding and stretch blow-molding. How the high strain rates effects the mechanical properties of the metallic glass also will be investigated. Bending experiments will be conducted and the strain to failure will be used as a quantitative measure for bending ductility. Involved personnel include graduate students, post-docs, undergraduate students, and visiting undergraduate students. They will be exposed to the whole range of technological development; from fundamental science of determining the deformation behavior, to engineering aspects of developing appropriate processes and machinery, to commercial and business aspects of viability and comparison studies. Students will be exposed to the state of the art metallurgy processes and characterization methods and will also develop a deeper understanding of the connection between science, innovation, and entrepreneurial skills.