alloy in mass-produced products
like cars or bicycles, where
parts are often assembled
together,” said Xiaochun Li,
UCLA’s Raytheon Professor of
Manufacturing and the study’s
principal investigator. “Companies
could use the same processes
and equipment they already have
to incorporate this super-strong
aluminum alloy into their manufacturing
processes, and their
products could be lighter and
more energy efficient, while still
retaining their strength.”
The researchers already are
working with a bicycle manufacturer
on prototype bike frames
that would use the alloy; and the
new study suggests that nanoparticle
infused filler wires could
also make it easier to join other
hard-to-weld metals and metal
alloys.
The study’s lead author is UCLA
graduate student Maximilian
Sokoluk. The other authors are
Chezheng Cao, who earned
a doctoral degree from UCLA
in December, and Shuaihang
Pan, a current UCLA graduate
student. Li holds faculty
appointments in mechanical
and aerospace engineering,
and in materials science and
engineering.
Two pieces of aluminum alloy 7075
welded together using a nanoparticle-enhanced filler wire.
Graduate student Maximilian
Sokoluk; laboratory mechanician
Travis Widick, holding a demonstration
bike frame welded
using aluminum alloy 7075; and
Professor Xiaochun Li.
www.engineeringnews.co.nz 27
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