NSF Grant to Fund New Alloy Development

Harvey Mudd College has received a National Science Foundation grant to support international undergraduate research toward the development of stronger metallic alloys.

The three-year, $223,438 grant will fund a collaborative project between HMC and the University of New South Wales in Sydney, Australia. Led by engineering Professor Lori Bassman, the project will engage students in the fabrication, study and modeling of high-entropy alloys (HEAs).

Unlike traditional alloys that have one primary constituent element, HEAs have five or more metallic elements in roughly equal proportions. “High-entropy alloys have excellent potential in a vast range of applications from making lighter-weight, high-strength structures to usage in high-temperature, high-wear or corrosive environments,” said Bassman. “Given their complexity, the range of possible alloys to be developed is as extensive as the periodic table itself.”

HMC students who participate in the alloy project will benefit from ongoing collaboration with researchers in the School of Materials Science and Engineering at the University of New South Wales. Four students per year will participate in a summer research experience abroad in Australia.