DOE Announces RFI For Materials That Can Withstand Harsh Environments

By Lynn L. Bergeson and Ligia Duarte Botelho, M.A.

On August 19, 2020, the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Office of Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy (EERE) issued a request for information (RFI) on advances in components, systems, and products that can withstand harsh environments and extended service lifetimes. According to DOE, equipment used in the American energy sector often encounters material stability and durability challenges due to high-temperature, corrosive, oxidizing, mechanically wearing, embrittling, and thermal cycling. Consequently, these challenges present constraints to the implementation of energy-efficient, cost-effective, and high-performance products and processes.

DOE’s RFI seeks input on accelerated research, development, and deployment; testing and qualification methods; and cost-effective manufacturing routes for materials designed to operate under the circumstances outlined below:

• Corrosive environments;
   
• Very high temperature environments;
   
• High mechanical wear/stress conditions;
   
• Alloy embrittlement conditions; and
   
• Other extreme conditions, such as extreme cryogenic conditions.
   

Responses to the RFI must be submitted on or prior to 5:00 p.m. (EDT) on September 21, 2020. The full submission guidelines can be accessed here.