This story was originally published in @TheU and the College of Science's website.
By Bianca Lyon - associate director, marketing and communications, College of Science
Following the 10-year, $10 million research agreement announced earlier this year between the University of Utah’s Department of Materials Science and Engineering and Charlotte-based IperionX, the two partners, along with college and university leadership, celebrated the opening of a new state-of-the-art additive manufacturing research center on campus in the William Browning Building.
The lab, which houses cutting-edge 3-D titanium printing machines, will serve as a hub for the collaboration between Metallurgical Engineering Professor Zak Fang’s powder metallurgy research team and IperionX as they work to advance metallurgical technologies for producing primary metals, focusing on titanium.
The Titanium Additive Manufacturing Research Center opens new opportunities for U students to gain hands-on experience with cutting-edge materials science and engineering technologies. The partnership aims to inspire the next generation of metallurgical innovators, equipping them with the skills and experience needed to pioneer breakthroughs in sustainable metal production and processing.
“This new lab represents the tangible fruits of our partnership with IperionX and underscores our shared commitment to developing transformative solutions for the energy and transportation sectors,” said Fang, the lead researcher on the project. “By combining our academic expertise in materials science and engineering with IperionX’s industry know-how and resources, we are poised to make significant strides in areas like additive manufacturing of titanium alloys and recycling of critical minerals.”
