Inside Scoop on UConn’s Performance at IMAT Conference
By Razil Fernandes, Written Communications Specialist
(Back from left to right): Benjamin Gwinnell ’25, Jackson Boulter ’26, Connor Storicks ’26, Wyeth Haddock ’26, and Reid Morrow ’27. Front from left to right: Catherine Cala ’26, Jaclyn Grace B.S. ‘24, Rachel Harris ’26, and Carlin Quigley ’26)
Each year, the International Materials Application & Technologies (IMAT) Conference selects a specific topic, and this time it was energy storage. The event took place from September 30 to October 3 in Cleveland, Ohio in partnership with the International Federation for Heat Treatment and Surface Engineering (IFHTSE) World Congress and American Society for Metals (ASM) Annual Meeting. This collaboration provided opportunities for networking across the materials science network and technology network. The conference included professional development sessions, exhibits, and student-focused events. UConn MSE students competed in two main competitions: “Strong Bar” and “DomesDay.”
“Strong Bar” is a heat treatment competition hosted by the Heat Treatment Society. The goal is to create a bar with the right balance of mechanical strength, ductility, and hardness properties through heat treatment. Reid Morrow, Carlin Quigley, Rachel Harris, and Catherine Cala made up the team, named “The Dairy Bar,” with Ben Gwinnell serving as the team lead. Since the start of the Fall semester, the team has been preparing for the competition through design blueprints, research, heat treating, and foundry work. At the conference, students were provided with 4-inch bars of AISI 9254 steel. They began by cutting one of the bars up into 1/4″ disks and varying austenitizing temperature between 850°C-870°C for 30 minutes, followed by quenching in canola oil at an elevated temperature of 200°C. Then they performed tempering at specific temperatures, averaged their data, and completed a second round of tempering. The result was a bar that held 32kN force with a 7 mm deflection, achieving what team led Ben described as a “perfectly plastic condition.” Last year, students placed 1st, but unfortunately, they did not place this year.
“DomesDay” is a geodesic dome fabrication competition hosted by ASM International. The team named “Dome Hurley” included Connor Storicks, Wyeth Haddock, and Jackson Boulter with Jaclyn Grace serving as team lead. At the 2023 conference, the team placed 1st, and this year, they placed 2nd. Dome Hurley began by modeling their dome using Fusion360, refining it through multiple iterations. They analyzed the deformation using the platform Ansys Mechanical to ensure it met design requirements and team expectations. The team added a hexagonal pouring sprue and air vents before 3D printing the dome. They worked with Ben Gwinnell and Matthew Carragher to create an investment mold. After removing the dome from the mold, they completed the heat treatment and tempering process and added rubber for increased friction. Domes were judged based on their strength-to-weight ratio, with Dome Hurley’s weighing 460 g and withstanding 44 kN.
Another UConn student, Leena Alam, showcased her work in the HTS Fluxtrol poster competition, gaining valuable experience despite not advancing to the next round.
Regardless of placements, UConn was strongly represented by these talented MSE students at the IMAT Conference, who put their knowledge and skills to the test. Notably, Dome Hurley set a new record, as they were able to withstand four times the force as last year’s dome. Overall, the IMAT Conference proved to be an innovative and collaborative learning experience.
Published: October 31, 2024
Categories: conferences, contest, news, undergraduate students
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