Join us: Thermal Spray Open Mic Series
Ad Astra - Professional Life Lessons from Blue Origin Thermal Spray Engineers for Reaching the Stars!
October 18, 2023 9 am EST
REGISTER HERE
Join us for the October TSS Open mic session, where we delve into the fascinating world of aerospace engineering with the theme "Ad Astra – Professional Life Lessons from Blue Origin Thermal Spray Engineers for Reaching the Stars!" Explore the remarkable journey of these engineers, learn from their professional experiences, and gain insights into the cutting-edge world of thermal spray technology. Discover how their work contributes to the advancement of space exploration and the pursuit of reaching the stars. Don't miss this opportunity to engage with experts who are propelling us closer to the cosmos!
Our moderator, as has been the case in the past, is Dr. Rogerio Lima. Our panelists, all from Blue Origin, are:
· Dr. Hugo Hernandez-Alvarez, Sr. Materials & Process Engineer, Blue Engines M&P – Thermal Spray Coatings
· Dr. Li Li, Principal Research Engineer, TPS Materials & Technologies, Space Systems Development
· Christos Perdikaris, Senior Materials and Process Engineer
Speaker Descriptions:
Dr. Hugo Hernandez-Alvarez
Dr. Hernandez-Alvarez is a Sr. Process and Materials Engineer at Blue Origin's rocket engine production facility in Huntsville, AL, USA.
He provides engineering and technical direction in design, development, analysis, qualification, and manufacturing production of Cold and Thermal Spray coatings to be used in components such as rocket engines, reentry vehicles, and moon lander, etc.
Before coming to Blue Origin, he worked as Principal Manufacturing Engineer / Principal Key Expert at Siemens Energy for more than 16 years. He led the Manufacturing Production Team and R&D activities required for developing, qualifying, and commercializing wear and thermal barrier coatings products and processes for the power generation industry. He served as a key resource in the layout and start-up of the multi-million-dollar Siemens Energy Thermal Spray Facility at Charlotte, NC.
Dr Hernandez-Alvarez is a Professional Engineering with more than 25 years' experience and knowledge in Thermal Spray Coatings along with project management, equipment evaluation, troubleshooting, quality control, new product launch and failure analysis. Strong hands-on manufacturing experience in the power generation, aerospace, oil/gas, metal/mining industries. He had sprayed components for companies such as Siemens Energy, Score Pacific (Callidus), Velan Valves, Bombardier, Volvo Aerospace, US Army, Blue Origin, etc.
He holds a BSc (1994) and MSc (1997) degrees from the Faculty of Chemistry at the National Autonomous University of Mexico, a PhD (2001) in Metallurgical Engineering from the Dept. of Mining and Materials Engineering at McGill University. He is member of the ASM Thermal Spray Society since 2003.
"My industrial manufacturing background fits perfectly with the Thermal Spray Industry. I enjoy developing new spray set ups and finding coating solutions for complex problems"
Dr. Li Li
Dr. Li Li is currently a Principal Research Engineer at Blue Origin in Kent, WA. He is mainly involved in research and development on thermal protection materials and technologies for space exploration. Li moved to Blue Origin only a year ago, prior to which he was Materials Business Specialist for Ceramic Matrix Composites Program for Rolls-Royce in Indianapolis for Six Years. In this effort he was not only responsible for CMC coating development, but also associated with engine testing, building materials and coating specifications, supply chain and also responsible for University funded research programs.
Prior to working in Rolls-Royce, Li spent more than 10 years at Praxair Surface Technologies in Indianapolis. Here he developed competence in various high temperature coating materials and processes supporting many OEM application development to qualification to production. As a Development Engineering Manager he led key TBC/EBC projects, engaged in joint research products with both Industry and Universities, organizing research facilities to support the developments.
Li received multifaceted education prior to his industrial engagement. He completed undergraduate in Mechanical Engineering in China with specializations in Welding and Engineering Management. After a brief stint in Industry, he moved to US to obtain a Masters in Mechanical Engineering at the University of Akron where he was exposed to solidification science which led to his interest in thermal spray solidification of impacted droplets. He joined the Stony Brook CTSR team and was a member of an interdisciplinary team on Splat Impact and Solidification. Li coined the term "splatology" and illustrated different types of splats formed through range of thermal spray processes, materials and parameters. After graduating from Stony Brook, Li spent one and a half year in UC Santa Barbara as a Post-doc researcher in Materials Department, where he conducted comprehensive and innovative research on the thermal barrier coatings for aircraft engine turbine blades.
Li has over 20 patents and an equivalent number of publications and presentations. He has been active in the ASM Thermal Spray Society and supports many committees engaged in thermal spray and coating developments.
Christos Perdikaris
Senior Materials & Processes Engineer, Blue Origin LLC, Huntsville, AL.
Currently working to improve wear coatings for turbo pumps on various liquid fuel rocket engines. Joined Blue Origin a little over a year ago.
Graduated from SUNY at Stonybrook, NY, with a Master's degree in
Materials Science and Engineering under Professors H. Herman and C.C. Berndt.
Have been in the thermal spray industry for almost 30 years. Prior to Blue Origin I gained hands on experience with thermal spray job shops (7 years at Bender Machine Inc., Vernon, CA), and extensive experience in powder development for thermal spray powder manufacturers and thermal spray equipment manufacturers (14 years with Osram-Sylvania currently GTP, Towanda, PA; 2 years with Sulzer-Metco currently Oerlikon-Metco, Westbury, NY). Additionally, I worked several years as a thermal spray consultant.
A lot of my experience has been in developing coatings for the paper-pulp industry, steel manufacturing, automotive, aircraft and large diesel engines. I hold two patents, one in the field of sheet steel manufacturing and one in tissue paper production.
I always enjoyed the thermal spray field. Having worked in R&D, sales, and production support roles, I faced many challenging requirements for thermal spray coatings. Developing elegant thermal spray solutions to such challenges gives me pleasure.
------------------------------
Carrie Hawk
ASM International
Community Engagement Specialist
440-338-5497
carrieh@asminternational.org------------------------------