GE Aerospace and Clemson University announced June 20 they received $10 million in Congressional-appropriated funding from the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory.
The college and business will use the funds to continue their joint research with Missouri University of Science and Technology to develop ceramic-matrix composite materials that may be lighter and better able to withstand extreme temperatures than metal alloys currently in use.
The new materials may have both military and commercial applications and are also expected to:
- Improve engine efficiency.
- Reduce environmental impact.
- Enhance structural safety of the fuselage.
- Revolutionize the time required to travel by air from one location to another.
“Today’s announcement represents a major milestone in the development of next-generation materials that will push the boundaries of what is possible in flight,” said GE Edison Works President and Chief Executive Tony Mathis in a news release. “The research we are conducting will grow the U.S. innovation ecosystem, particularly in the area of advanced materials.”
