ArcHIDep · revolutionary tailored ARChitected Heterostructures obtained by solId state DEPosition

Imagine having unlimited freedom in design and scalable fabrication of engineering components with an almost arbitrary selection of mixed composition, inner spatial arrangement and outer shape; this implies the ability to integrate multiple heterogeneity indexes to selectively adjust a variety of site-specific properties over several length-scales in one single component. To offer this treat, ArcHIDep challenges the traditional (composition-structure-process)-function correlations that currently neglect or are incapable to include the intriguing concept of heterogeneity. ArcHIDep paves the way to understand and exploit the synergistic strengthening mechanisms induced by compositional and architectural heterogeneity to offer unprecedented functionalities. My recent studies confirm the significant potential of solid state powder deposition for obtaining 3D metallic objects with notable structural integrity; I also achieved tunable mechanical properties by tailoring heterogeneity features in micro-nanophase deposits thru this method. Thus, I believe solid state deposition holds the key to add extra degrees of freedom (multi-indexed heterogeneity) to customization of metal-based products, beyond what is currently thought as the limits of engineering. I will outline novel mechanism-based strategies to establish a revolutionary tailored 3D manufacturing scheme that will offer countless uncharted functional opportunities. This is achieved by pairing a versatile and scalable solid state fabrication technique with advanced in-situ micro-mechanical tests and multiscale computational models. Successful implementation of ArcHIDep will give rise to in-depth conceptual developments towards a non-existing framework that enables design and real-time tailoring of compositional and structural complexity. This will be reinforced by inexhaustible recipes of bulk heterogeneity regarding chemical composition, microstructure, fraction and hierarchical arrangement of dissimilar phases.