Skip to Content
U.S. Department of Energy Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy

DOE-Funded Projects Win 35 Research and Development Awards

October 2, 2003

Scientists at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) display components made from the R&D 100 Award-winning New Cast Stainless Steel for High-Temperature Performance, or CF8C-Plus, which was developed jointly by ORNL and Caterpillar.

Scientists at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) display components made from the R&D 100 Award-winning New Cast Stainless Steel for High-Temperature Performance, or CF8C-Plus, which was developed jointly by ORNL and Caterpillar. This material is designed to drastically improve high-temperature durability, performance, and reliability based on ORNL's unique engineered microstructure alloy development methodology. The research leading to the development of this material was sponsored in part by DOE's FreedomCAR and Vehicle Technologies Program.

Secretary of Energy Spencer Abraham has announced that researchers at Department of Energy (DOE) laboratories and companies with research funded by DOE have won 35 of the 100 awards given this year by R&D Magazine for the most outstanding technology developments with commercial potential. "The range of these cutting-edge technologies demonstrates the breadth of expertise at our national laboratories," Abraham said. "The accomplishments of these innovative researchers will benefit our entire Nation."

DOE's FreedomCAR and Vehicle Technologies Program, together with Caterpillar and DOE's Distributed Energy Resources Program, sponsored research behind one of the award-winners — New Cast Stainless Steel for High-Temperature Performance, or CF8C-Plus — which is designed to drastically improve high-temperature durability, performance, and reliability. The material is based on Oak Ridge National Laboratory's (ORNL's) unique engineered microstructure alloy development methodology. The engineered microstructure method dramatically changes CF8C-Plus from steel that cannot be used above 600-650 degrees C to steel that can be used up to 850 degrees C and resists failure during creep, mechanical fatigue, and thermal fatigue. End users such as Caterpillar (who is the joint recipient of the award) or commercial foundries like MetalTek will benefit from CF8C-Plus because it is a cost-effective product with higher performance and immense reliability.

The DOE researchers winning the 2003 R&D 100 Awards work in 11 of the department's laboratories across the country. Eighteen of the awards are shared with businesses and universities. Two of the awards are for research at companies funded by DOE. Descriptions of the technologies are available on the department's Office of Science web site.

An independent panel of some 60 experts and editors of R&D Magazine selected the winning technologies. The awards will be presented at a ceremony in Chicago in October. The complete list of 2003 R&D 100 Awards can be found on the R&D Magazine web site.