ITHACA, NY (WSKG) - Cornell University has just received $7.1 million from the Air Force to expand the Cornell High Energy Synchrotron Source (CHESS).
The new high energy x-ray beams will also be available to manufacturers.
The beams allow researchers to see materials at a molecular level to better understand how they fail, performance limits, and how long a part can last.
Arthur Woll is the Director of Materials Solutions Network at CHESS. He explained some of the practical applications of their research.
"All of that research is really modernizing how we engineer new materials like steels, titanium or aluminum," he said.
He explained the information the high energy x-ray provides.
"What are limits of these materials? How can we improve things? How can we make them lighter but still strong and durable and safe if I want to put it in a car, an airplane," he said
Woll said the research is useful to manufacturers like John Deere, Boeing and BorgWarner.
Full disclosure: Cornell University is a WSKG underwriter.