NETL researchers and scientists in Oregon had the opportunity to network with potential industrial collaborators in the area of material coatings and corrosion prevention during a tour of the Lab’s Albany campus by members of the Association for Materials Protection and Performance (AMPP) Portland chapter Thursday, April 13.

The AMPP visit allowed its members to gain a better understanding of NETL-Albany’s research and technical capabilities. NETL-Albany has specialized facilities for materials fabrication and performance testing of advanced high-temperature, corrosion-resistant structural ceramic composites and metal alloys. This research is crucial in decarbonization efforts by helping to develop more efficient power plants and industrial facilities to operate at higher temperatures and pressures while consuming less fuel and emitting fewer greenhouse gases.

“Events like the AMPP visit to NETL are important because they open the doors to new collaboration opportunities, allowing both entities to share their knowledge and gain new perspectives,” said Zineb Belarbi, materials scientist for NETL and chair of the AMPP Portland chapter. “As chair of the AMPP Portland chapter, I want to maximize the effectiveness of both organizations to realize our shared goals of advancing materials science for the good of society.”

Over the years, scientists and engineers working at NETL’s Albany site have been awarded numerous patents, and they have substantially contributed to the fields of metals and materials research. The Albany complex is near Oregon State University and the University of Oregon, providing opportunities for extensive research collaboration with scientists in academia. In addition, the Albany facility is situated in the heart of the reactive and other high-temperature metals industries, which are critical to the nation’s economic health.

NETL-Albany is internationally recognized for its leadership in designing, developing and deploying advanced materials for use in energy applications and extreme service environments. Several industries in the region have evolved out of research conducted at this laboratory.

In addition to a tour of NETL Albany, the visitors from AMPP were provided with an overview of the site’s research capabilities, a discussion on protective coatings for energy infrastructure and a presentation on NETL’s ongoing investigation into protecting the nation’s pipelines from corrosions with new metallic coatings.

AMPP is a global community of professionals dedicated to materials protection through the advancement of corrosion control and protective coatings. The organization works to protect infrastructure and assets worldwide through member and workforce education and credentialing, company accreditation, technological innovation and global standardization.

NETL is a U.S. Department of Energy national laboratory that drives innovation and delivers technological solutions for an environmentally sustainable and prosperous energy future. By leveraging its world-class talent and research facilities, NETL is ensuring affordable, abundant and reliable energy that drives a robust economy and national security, while developing technologies to manage carbon across the full life cycle, enabling environmental sustainability for all Americans.