TECHNOLOGY/BUSINESS OPPORTUNITYSynthesis of Asteroidal or Meteoritical Powder forAdditive Manufacture of High Fidelity Metallic Components in Space

     TECHNOLOGY/BUSINESS OPPORTUNITYSynthesis of Asteroidal or Meteoritical Powder for Additive Manufacture of High Fidelity Metallic Components in SpaceOpportunity: Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), operated by the Lawrence Livermore National Security (LLNS), LLC under contract no. DE-AC52-07NA27344 (Contract 44) with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), is offering the opportunity to enter into a partnership collaboration to perform research and further develop this technology to ultimately license intellectual property rights to commercialize.Background: Commercial space activities are now beginning in earnest by companies interested in mining asteroids and near earth objects for valuable minerals. Such private ventures open up new possibilities for space exploration, including scientific as well as economic pursuits, and lead the way for potential space manufacturing and future space colonization. Colonies and/or space manufacturing facilities will only be feasible if

they rely minimally on material exports from Earth due to the high cost penalty of transportation through Earth's gravitational field. Bulk materials for space construction are likely to come from the Moon, near-Earth objects, or asteroids, which are known to be rich in mineral and metal content. Metals have favorable structural properties, and iron, which is the most abundant metallic element in our galaxy, makes it a likely candidate for space construction. Iron is known to exist in its metallic form in iron meteorites, and if it can be made into suitable powder, additive manufacturing (AM) methods would be able to use it for the direct digital manufacture of metallic components in space. Description:  LLNL researchers have conceived and performed studies relevant to the development of AM powders synthesized from asteroidal or meteoritical sources and the use of the powder as the feed source for additive manufacturing systems deployed in space. The method includes the steps of locating an asteroid or meteorite, making contact with the asteroid or meteorite, harvesting material from the asteroid or meteorite, and processing material from the asteroid or meteorite to produce high quality powder capable of being used for defect-free AM processing.  This powder can then be used for additive manufacturing feed stock in space, and completing the parts or products by the additive manufacturing in space.Advantages:  Metallurgical thermochemical refining during the powder making method is required to produce high quality metal powder from asteroids or meteorites that is suitable for AM processes such as selected laser melting (SLM) powder bed, laser metal deposition (LMD) powder fed, electron beam additive manufacturing (EBAM) powder bed, and/or other 3D printing methods involving the melting and solidification of fine powders for the direct digital manufacture of components and structures.Potential Applications: High quality powder of the correct composition and size distribution is required for additive manufacturing processes involving laser and electron beam based AM systems in order to produce near fully dense AM components with minimal defects. Development Status:  1.      Refer to the research papers referenced below for further details on the LLNL studies.   J. W. Elmer, C. L. Evans, J. J. Embree, G. F. Gallegos, and L. T. Summers, "Electron Beam Weldability of a Group IAB Iron Meteorite," Science and Technology of Welding and Joining, V19(4), pp. 295-301, 2014.    doi: 10.1179/1362171813Y.0000000188Nature Highlight, "Asteroids Prove Hard to Weld," Nature 506 (13 February 2014) doi:10.1038/506135eLLNL has filed U.S. Patent Application No. 15/358611, "Synthesis of Asteroidal or Meteoritical Powder for Additive Manufacture of High Fidelity Metallic Components in Space".LLNL is seeking industry partners with a demonstrated ability to bring such inventions to the market. Moving critical technology beyond the Laboratory to the commercial world helps our licensees gain a competitive edge in the marketplace. All licensing activities are conducted under policies relating to the strict nondisclosure of company proprietary information.  Please visit the IPO website at https://ipo.llnl.gov/resourcesfor more information on working with LLNL and the industrial partnering and technology transfer process. Note:  THIS IS NOT A PROCUREMENT.  Companies interested in commercializing LLNL's Synthesis of Asteroidal or Meteoritical Powder for Additive Manufacture of High Fidelity Metallic Components in Space technology should provide a written statement of interest, which includes the following:1.   Company Name and address.2.   The name, address, and telephone number of a point of contact.3.     A description of corporate expertise and facilities relevant to commercializing this technology.Written responses should be directed to:Lawrence Livermore National LaboratoryIndustrial Partnerships OfficeP.O. Box 808, L-795Livermore, CA  94551-0808Attention:  FBO 341-17Please provide your written statement within thirty (30) days from the date this announcement is published to ensure consideration of your interest in LLNL's Synthesis of Asteroidal or Meteoritical Powder for Additive Manufacture of High Fidelity Metallic Components in Space technology.  Contact Information: Connie L Pitcock, Phone 925-422-1072, Fax 925-423-8988, Email pitcock1@llnl.gov Office Address :7000 East AvenueL-795 Livermore CA 94550 Location: Industrial Partnerships & Commercialization Set Aside: N/A