Collaborative Research: DMREF: NSF-DST: Metastability Engineering in Refractory Multi-Principal Element Alloys

NSF Award Search · 01002526DB NSF RESEARCH & RELATED ACTIVIT · $378,686 · view on nsf.gov ↗

Abstract

This Designing Materials to Revolutionize and Engineer our Future (DMREF) joint NSF-Department of Science and Technology of India (NSF-DST) project aims to establish a transformative framework for the development of structural alloys that simultaneously achieve high strength at high temperatures and enhanced ductility at room temperature. The research focuses on a relatively new class of metallic materials known as refractory multi-principal element alloys (RMPEAs), which are recognized for their high-temperature strength but typically suffer from limited plasticity under ambient conditions. The team will develop the new alloy design paradigm through a concept called “metastability engineering,” which activates novel nano-scale deformation mechanisms by controlling dislocation dynamics and phase stability. The research integrates combinatorial synthesis, advanced in-situ experiments, atomistic and mesoscale simulations, and machine learning (ML)-guided discovery. The resulting framework will enable accelerated design of high-performance RMPEAs across broad temperature ranges. In parallel, the project will contribute to training a new generation of materials scientists in experimental, computational, and data-driven methods, while supporting outreach and international collaboration through partnerships with five US universities and Indian Institute of Technology Bombay. This project aims to establish a transformative framework for metastability engineering in refractory-typ

Key facts

NSF award ID
2522656
Awardee
University of Alabama Tuscaloosa (AL)
SAM.gov UEI
RCNJEHZ83EV6
PI
Xin Wang
Primary program
01002526DB NSF RESEARCH & RELATED ACTIVIT
All programs
International Partnerships, (MGI) Materials Genome Initiative, Materials Under Extreme Conditions, Materials Data, Materials AI, US-India Collaborative Research, OFFICE OF MULTIDISCIPLINARY AC, INDIA (COOPERATIVE SCIENCE), INDIA, NSF-INTERNAT COOP IN MATERIALS RES-OTHER, DMREF, EXP PROG TO STIM COMP RES
Estimated total
$378,686
Funds obligated
$378,686
Transaction type
Standard Grant
Period
10/01/2025 → 09/30/2029