ADVANCED MATERIALS & PROCESSES | MAY/JUNE 2025 5 RESEARCH TRACKS NEW COPPER ALLOY HANDLES HIGH TEMPS Researchers from Arizona State University (ASU), the U.S. Army Research Laboratory, Lehigh University, and Louisiana State University developed a new high-temperature copper alloy with exceptional thermal stability and mechanical strength. The team reports that the bulk Cu-3Ta-0.5Li nanocrystalline alloy exhibits remarkable resistance to coarsening and creep deformation, even at temperatures near its melting point. “Our alloy design approach mimics the strengthening mechanisms found in Ni-base superalloys,” says Kiran Solanki, a professor at ASU. The new alloy derives its superior properties from a unique nanoscale structure featuring precisely ordered copper lithium precipitates surrounded by a tantalum-rich atomic bilayer. Adding exactly half a percent of lithium to the previously immiscible Cu-Ta system changes its sphere-like precipitate into a stable cuboidal structure that significantly enhances thermal and mechanical performance. The Cu-3Ta-0.5Li alloy remains stable at 800°C for over 10,000 hours with minimal loss in yield strength. Further, it outperforms existing commercial copper alloys, achieving a yield strength of 1120 MPa at room temperature. Researchers say the discovery opens new avenues for next-generation copper alloys with applications in aero- space, energy, and defense industries. Potential uses include heat exchangers, high-performance electrical components, weaponry, and structural materials requiring durability in extreme conditions. asu.edu. BIODEGRADABLE PLASTIC COURTESY OF KERATIN Researchers from the Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, University of Milano- Bicocca, and Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia via Morego, all in Italy, combined two well-known keratin processing techniques to make a new kind of bioplastic. Keratin, a fibrous protein produced by many animals, forms the main structure of hoofs, horns, feathers, hair, and other body parts. Some research projects have looked for ways to make useful products from it, but most have found it too difficult. A few current uses include powders or additives for other products. In the new study, the team found that keratin could serve as the basis for a biodegradable plastic. The researchers noted that in the past, keratin extraction was used to create long protein strands, achieved by dissolving wool in a urea and sodium metabisulfite solution. The team also noted that prior research has shown that a Michael addition could be used to link thiols in C-C double bonds, which involves placing a material in a mixture of polyethylene glycol and soybean oil acrylate. To make their new bioplastic, they similarly conducted a keratin extraction using wool and then used the results to perform a Michael addition. After cleaning, the team found that the material could be formed into solid bioplastic shapes. Further testing is required to learn more about its specific properties and commercial potential. https://en.unimib.it. The Cu-3Ta-0.5Li nanocrystalline alloy exhibits remarkable resistance to coarsening and creep deformation. Courtesy of ASU. The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign will collaborate with Nano Nuclear Energy Inc., New York, to construct a Kronos micro modular reactor on campus. It will be the first new university research reactor to be built in nearly 30 years. illinois.edu. BRIEF Graphical abstract. Courtesy of Matter, 2025, doi.org/10.1016/ j.matt.2025.102039.
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