Materials research at the Naval
Research Laboratory traces its roots back to the earliest evolution
of the Laboratory itself. The Materials Science and Technology
(MS&T) Division began in 1927 as the Division of Physical
Metallurgy, just four years after NRL opened its doors. And in
1931, the Mechanics and Electricity Division was founded. The
MS&T Division today has evolved from those two divisions,
founded decades ago.
Today, NRL's materials research
is multidisciplinary and ranges from the study of fundamental
behavior to exploratory and advanced development of matter. The
primary focus of the research is on enhancing materials and systems
performance, affordability, survivability, and service-life extension
to provide an enabling array of capabilities to naval and other
DoD assets. Some of the areas of materials research where NRL
has made significant advancements through the years include:
Nondestructive Testing - NRL's development of gamma ray radiography
was an important contribution to the nondestructive testing of
metal castings and welds. The method was developed in the 1920s
using gamma-ray radiation as a shadow-graphic technique to detect
flaws in cast or welded steels. This work contributed to American
sea power by improving the production of the highest quality
steel for armor, ship frames, and fittings.
Fracture Mechanics - NRL's work in fracture mechanics began
in the early 1950s. It permitted, for the first time, the capability
to calculate the strength of structures containing defects or
flaws that inevitable occur in fabrication or during service
operation. Today, fracture mechanics has become a science that
has been applied throughout the world in the design of any structures
where sudden, catastrophic failure would cause loss of life or
other serious consequences. NRL has solved military and commercial
fracture problems in structures, such as commercial aircraft
fuselage, Polaris missiles, nuclear power reactors, and aircraft
carrier propellers.
Structure of Matter - NRL has developed techniques to apply
X-ray diffraction to the accurate determination of atomic arrangement
in substances in various physical states. This knowledge has
been the first step to understanding the relationship between
structure and a substance's physical, chemical, and biological
properties. The seminal contributions of this work have been
touted in the 1985 Nobel Prize in Chemistry and in the 1993 Franklin
Institute Award and Prize for Achievement in Science.
Solid-State Dosimetry - NRL pioneered the field of solid-state
dosimetry in the late 1940s and continued a leadership role in
the evolution of the science and applications of ionizing radiation
measurement over the next two decades. In 1960, NRL's research
produced the first successful thermoluminescent dosimetry system,
which displaced the photographic film badge as the standard for
radiation workers all over the world.
Materials Safety and
Durability - In the early 1960s, NRL demonstrated
the potentially severe embrittlement of nuclear reactor steels
to be a function of neutron exposure and irradiation temperatures.
This work is believed by most nuclear safety authorities to be
the primary basis for assurance against catastrophic failure
of radiation containment. In 1967, NRL developed the first laboratory
quantities of a steel that was insensitive to neutron radiation
embrittlement and later developed criteria for the U.S. steel
industry's use in manufacturing the steel on a commercial scale.
Sonar Dome Rubber Windows (SDRWs) are the steel-wire-reinforced
neoprene structures that separate the sea from the sonar array
on the bows of several classes of ships. In 1981, the Navy became
concerned because the 10-ton domes has been failing because of
unknown causes. By 1983, NRL found the cause of the SDRW failures
to be corrosion fatigue of the steel wire cord reinforcement
material. By solving the problem, the U.S. Navy's cost savings
is in the millions of dollars.
Corrosion Research - NRL has made important advancements
in the general area of corrosion research related to aircraft
structures, boilers, and hulls. For example, between 1950 and
1960, NRL developed the cathodic protection system for ships,
allowing the U.S.'s large "mothball" fleet to rest
in floating storage for years without danger of hull destruction
through electrolytic corrosion.
Superconductivity
Research - NRL has been involved in superconductivity
research since 1948, when scientists began investigating the
electromagnetic response of superconducting materials. In 1987,
NRL was tasked to chair the Naval Consortium for Superconductivity,
which was instructed to develop a program to focus the Navy's
investment in the most important areas. The Navy has many potential
uses for superconductivity, including motors for ship propulsion,
magnetometers for underwater ocean surveillance, and detectors
of electromagnetic radiation. One area of potential application
for superconductors that is under investigation by NRL is space
systems, specifically the development of high-temperature superconducting
components and devices operating int he reduced-temperature environment
of space satellites.
Ion Implantation
Technique - In 1977, NRL researchers devised a
surface modification technique for developing new materials with
unique and extraordinary properties by forcibly implanting ions
(electrified atoms) into ordinary materials. Ion implantation
offers broad new areas of applications including corrosion-resistant
ball bearings, wear-resistant sliding bearings, and radiation-resistant
semiconductor devices. In 1986, ion implantation of gas turbine
aircraft bearings was demonstrated on an industrial scale as
a result of the successful completion of a Manufacturing Technology
program by NRL and Spire Corporation. More recently, in 1991,
NRL assisted a defense contractor by using ion implantation to
improve the performance of an experimental vibrating beam accelerometer
(a guidance instrument). It will result in an increase in guidance
reliability and accuracy, as well as a reduction in the weight
of guidance systems.
Permanent Magnet
Materials - In 1980, NRL researchers were the
first to examine the magnetic properties of rare earth-iron-boron
alloys, which showed promise for permanent magnet use. These
new magnet materials promise to be useful by both the military
and commercial sectors for improved microwave tubes; sensors;
powerful, lightweight, electric motors and generators; computer
peripherals; and faster, more compact actuators.
The U.S. Naval Research Laboratory is the Navy's full-spectrum corporate laboratory, conducting a broadly based multidisciplinary program of scientific research and advanced technological development. The Laboratory, with a total complement of nearly 2,500 personnel, is located in southwest Washington, D.C., with other major sites at the Stennis Space Center, Miss., and Monterey, Calif. NRL has served the Navy and the nation for over 85 years and continues to meet the complex technological challenges of today's world. For more information, visit the NRL homepage or join the conversation on Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube.
Comment policy: We hope to receive submissions from all viewpoints, but we ask that all participants agree to the Department of Defense Social Media User Agreement. All comments are reviewed before being posted.