AI and 3D printing help researchers create heat- and pressure-resistant materials for aerospace and defense applications

AI models are designing new metal alloys that have been 3D-printed and tested in the lab. The results are then fed back into the AI to accelerate alloy discovery.

By: Houlong Zhuang, Arizona State University and Vitor Rielli, UNSW Sydney, The Conversation

Outlets: The Conversation

Published: March 4, 2026

Words: 1,122

Last Updated: 6 days, 8 hours ago

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By Houlong Zhuang, Arizona State University and Vitor Rielli, UNSW Sydney

From hypersonic aircraft to nuclear-powered submarines, many of today’s most advanced defense systems rely on a special class of materials known as refractory alloys. This class refers to metals that do not melt or weaken easily, even in extreme heat.

An alloy is a material made by combining two or more metallic elements to achieve properties no single metal …

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