This new super alloy from NASA could revolutionise hypersonic flight
As aircraft and rockets, as well as other things, get faster and more demands are put on them we need new materials that can handle the temperatures and stresses.
Key takeaways
- At the forefront of space exploration for decades, NASA doesn’t limit itself at building rockets and training astronauts to fly them.
- Unsurprisingly the material was created using a 3D printing, a process that could also make it very cost effective from a production standpoint, and the benefits of using Alloy GRX-810 go way beyond its characteristics.
- Combined its traits will allow, when used in a jet engine, for instance, to achieve lower fuel burn and lower operating temperatures, hence lower maintenance costs.
Cite or link to this article
Griffin, M. (2022) 'This new super alloy from NASA could revolutionise hypersonic flight', 311 Institute, 6 May. Available at: https://www.311institute.com/this-new-super-alloy-from-nasa-could-revolutionise-hypersonic-flight/ (Accessed: 1 October 2026).
It’s not every day one comes across a piece of news claiming a new material has been discovered or created - even though increasingly AI is getting better and faster at doing it. This is why as soon as something called NASA Alloy GRX-810 people were instantly intrigued. At the forefront of space exploration for decades, NASA doesn’t limit itself at building rockets and training astronauts to fly them. The organization is also heavily involved in research in several fields, including new materials and super alloys.
This week, the guys from the Glenn Research Center announced the creation of the said Alloy GRX-810. That would be an oxide dispersion strengthened (ODS) alloy meant to be used to make components and parts used in aviation and space exploration.
The Future of Aluminium, by Keynote Speaker Matthew Griffin
The metal, at least at first glance, is super strong. We’re told it is capable of withstanding temperatures of over 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit (1,093 Celsius), and, compared with other state-of-the-art materials, it’s twice more likely to resist fracturing, three and a half times more flexible, and can survive 1,000 times longer under stress at high temperatures which makes it ideal for hypersonic applications such as jet engines, rockets, or Mach 17 presidential aircraft like the Quarterhorse.
Unsurprisingly the material was created using a 3D printing, a process that could also make it very cost effective from a production standpoint, and the benefits of using Alloy GRX-810 go way beyond its characteristics. Combined its traits will allow, when used in a jet engine, for instance, to achieve lower fuel burn and lower operating temperatures, hence lower maintenance costs.
“This breakthrough is revolutionary for materials development. New types of stronger and more lightweight materials play a key role as NASA aims to change the future of flight,” said in a statement Dale Hopkins, deputy project manager of NASA’s Transformational Tools and Technologies project, the program that gave birth to the alloy.
At the time of writing, the space agency is tight-lipped when it comes to when and for what we’re likely to see Alloy GRX-810 used first but it’s yet another step in making the materials of the future which will then help usher in things like the transportation of the future and much more.
FAQ
Why does this matter?
As aircraft and rockets, as well as other things, get faster and more demands are put on them we need new materials that can handle the temperatures and stresses.
About the author
Matthew Griffin Founder, 311 Institute
Matthew Griffin is a multi-award winning Futurist and expert in Disruption and Innovation, Geopolitics, Leadership, and Technology, who NASA have described as a "walking encyclopaedia of the future" and a "futurist Polymath."
Read full bio
Matthew Griffin is a multi-award winning Futurist and expert in Disruption and Innovation, Geopolitics, Leadership, and Technology, who NASA have described as a "walking encyclopaedia of the future" and a "futurist Polymath." 15-time best selling author of the "Codex of the Future" series, Matthew is the Founder and Futurist in Chief of the 311 Institute, a global Futures and Deep Futures advisory firm working with royal households, world leaders, G7, G20, and G77 governments, NGOs, and multi-national mid and mega cap firms to help them explore, shape, and lead the next 50 years of business and society.
An award-winning YouTube creator with over a million followers, with an unrivalled global reach and impact, Matthew is a highly sought-after international keynote speaker, lecturer, and mentor who collaborates with global leaders through the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) and United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) to shape pivotal initiatives such as the UN’s AI for Humanity program, the United Nations Conference of the Parties (UN COP), and the World Economic Forum in Davos.
As the former Global Head of Cloud, National Security, and Enterprise Sales for companies including Atos, Dell-EMC, and IBM, Matthew has a proven track record of building multi-billion dollar business units and turning failing divisions into market leaders. His ability to identify, analyse, and communicate the implications of hundreds of emerging technologies and trends is unparalleled, and his insights are trusted by many of the world’s most respected organisations, including ABB, Accenture, Adidas, AON, ARM, BCG, Centrica, Citi, Coca-Cola, Dentons, Deloitte, Dow Jones, EY, Google, KPMG, Lego, Legal & General, LinkedIn, Microsoft, PepsiCo, Qualcomm, RWE, Samsung, Siemens AG and Siemens Energy, T-Mobile, UBS, VISA, Walmart, Workday, Worldpay and many others.
Regularly featured in the global media including the AP, BBC, Bloomberg, CNBC, Discovery, Forbes, Khaleej Times, Telegraph, TIME, ViacomCBS, WIRED, and the WSJ, Matthews mission is to help organisations create a fair and sustainable future whose benefits are shared by everyone irrespective of their ability, background, or circumstances.
What future do you need to see?
Choose one to get started on industry and manufacturing and the future of your organisation.
Sources and further reading
Source: first published by the 311 Institute on 6 May 2022. Cite as: Griffin, M. (2022). This new super alloy from NASA could revolutionise hypersonic flight. 311 Institute. https://www.311institute.com/this-new-super-alloy-from-nasa-could-revolutionise-hypersonic-flight/
You are welcome to quote this article with credit and a link to the original.