The Association for Iron & Steel Technology (AIST) announced the finalists for the third annual T.C. Graham Prize. This unique contest was established in 2014 through an endowment from one of the steel industry’s most successful and innovative executives, Tom C. Graham Sr.
The T.C. Graham Prize recognizes innovative applications for steel that may lead to the development of new markets. Entries for the 2018 T.C. Graham Prize competition represented a diverse group of individual applicants and teams from the United States and several countries around the world. After the proposals were reviewed by steel industry professionals, four semi-finalists were chosen. The semi-finalists delivered their presentations to AIST on Tuesday, 21 August 2018, where three finalists were selected.
Among the 2018 T.C. Graham Prize finalists was Dr. Afsaneh Rabiei, a professor in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering. Her entry:
An Introduction to the Next Breakthrough in Advanced Materials; Novel Steel Composite Metal Foam
Steel-steel composite metal foam (CMF) is a low-weight, high-strength metal foam manufactured using hollow steel spheres embedded in a steel matrix. This material has shown superior mechanical properties under loading, fire, radiation, and even blast and fragments impact. Such properties have made steel-steel composite metal foams strong candidates for applications in many structural components.
Dr. Rabiei is currently working in the areas of 1) coatings, 2) metal foams, and 3) cellular materials. The coatings work is being applied to biomedical implants, thermal barrier coatings, and refractory materials. Her research includes the deposition of such coatings as well as their mechanical and micro-structural evaluation and failure analysis. Her research in cellular structures focuses on metal foams for which improved energy absorption and radiation shielding are being realized. Her study of ultra-light materials addresses advantages that can be gained not only in biomedical and dental implants and safety devices for protection against various threats such as accidents, explosions or earthquakes, but also for energy conservation and alternative-energy applications.