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Dr. Enrique J. Lavernia, M. Katherine Banks Chair and Dr. Julie M. Schoenung, Wofford Cain Chair III, both of whom are professors in the Department of Materials Science & Engineering, and in the Mike J. Walker ’66 Department of Mechanical Engineering, have joined forces to write “Metallic Powders for Additive Manufacturing: Science and Applications,” published by Wiley, Inc.

Additive manufacturing refers to the process of creating and building an object one layer at a time. The most common example of this is 3D printing. The recent explosive interest in 3D printing — one of the most common forms of additive manufacturing (AM) — has fueled the need to understand and implement the atomization of metal powder. Many AM processes require metal powders to create the final objects. Atomization refers to the process of transforming liquid metal into a powder.

“Given our active involvement in this field, we saw the need for a book dedicated to the exploration of metal powders within the framework of additive manufacturing,” Lavernia said.

Read more.

Dr. Lavernia has just been named the awardee of the 2024 TMS Bruce Chalmers Award. This award, presented by the Minerals, Metals and Materials Society (TMS) recognizes an individual who has made outstanding contributions to the science and/or technology of materials processing and includes a life-membership to TMS.

Dr. Lavernia stated, “I am surprised and humbled by this recognition. I want to thank the many students and colleagues who have enriched my personal and professional life and contributed to this award. I am also grateful to TMS, a society I joined in 1982 as a graduate student.”

TMS cites that Dr. Lavernia was chosen as the recipient for  “innovative and pioneering studies on the fundamental mechanisms that govern the interrelationship between processing, microstructure, and mechanical behavior of structural materials.”

TMS Bruce Chalmers award & announcement. 

Congratulations Dr. Lavernia!

Drs. Enrique Lavernia, Kaka Ma, Julie Schoenung, James Shackelford, and Baolong Zheng have released a new book, Metallic Powders for Additive Manufacturing: Science and Applications.

Description:

“Metallic Powders for Additive Manufacturing introduces the readers to the science and technology of atomized metal powders beyond empirical knowledge and the fundamental relationships among the chemistry, microstructure, and morphology of atomized metallic powders and their behavior during additive manufacturing. The text sets a foundation of the underlying science that controls the formation and microstructure of atomized metallic droplets, including the relations among the properties of metallic powders, their performance during the manufacturing processes, and the resulting products. Other topics covered include the influence of powder on defect formation, residual stress, mechanical behavior, and physical
properties. The concluding two chapters encompass considerations of broader societal implications and overarching themes, including the exploration of alternative feedstock materials, economic analysis, and sustainability assessment. These chapters offer valuable perspectives on the prospective trajectory of the field.”

The book can be purchased here.

Just this month, Dr. Enrique Lavernia was inducted into the Texas Academy of Medicine Engineering Science, and Technology (TAMEST).

With more than 340 members, 8 Nobel Laureates, and 22 member institutions, TAMEST is composed of Texas-based members of the three National Academies (National Academy of Medicine, National Academy of Engineering and National Academy of Sciences) and other honorific organizations. They bring together the state’s brightest minds in medicine, engineering, science and technology to foster collaboration, and to advance research, innovation and business in Texas.

The conference that took place this February explored the current practical and clinical use of AI/ML, examined its limitations and investigated its true potential for significant advancements in science and society. Speakers examined the challenges and opportunities of AI/ML in aerospace, defense, high-performance computing, self-driving technology, precision medicine and health care delivery.

Congratulations to your formal joining of the Texas Academy of Medicine Engineering, Science, and Technology Dr. Lavernia!

Dr. Enrique Lavernia joined Texas A&M University in November 2023. He is a joint faculty member of the Department of Materials Science and Engineering and the J. Mike Walker ’66 Department of Mechanical Engineering.

Recognized as a National Academy of Engineering member, Lavernia came to Texas A&M from the University of California, Irvine.

Lavernia earned master’s and doctoral degrees in materials engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and a bachelor’s degree in solid mechanics from Brown University.

While at the University of California (UC), Lavernia served in several impactful positions, including dean of the College of Engineering at UC Davis and provost and executive vice chancellor at UC Irvine.

His research interests include:

• Synthesis and behavior of nanostructured and multi-scale materials with a particular emphasis on processing fundamentals and mechanical/physical behavior
• Novel deformation phenomena in face-centered cubic and hexagonal close-packed metals
• Powder synthesis and processing of materials
• Synthesis and behavior of structural materials, including high entropy metals
• High temperature-high pressure atomization processes
• Mathematical modeling of advanced materials and processes
• Additive manufacturing of metallic structures using laser-based systems