HYBRIMET™ LLC
Metal Matrix Composites for Molten Salt, Liquid Metals and Extreme Environments
HybriMet™ LLC produces proprietary Metal Matrix Ceramic Composites (MMCs) and manufactures molded, machined and coated parts to solve the wear, corrosion and erosion issues for the pump, valve, seal and tank manufacturers that support Next-generation Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) facilities, Molten Salt Reactors (MSRs), and critical mineral/rare earth element (REE) pyrometallurgical refineries that rely on liquid salt processes operating continuously at temperatures exceeding 500°C.
Our structural composites are engineered to maintain mechanical integrity, extreme hardness, and dimensional stability at continuous operating temperatures up to 750°C. These nanocomposite materials demonstrate the longest-life and lowest-life-cycle-cost solutions for a variety of applications and can be applied as a thermal spray coating on metal components or sintered into net-shape components.
GOAL – REDUCE RISK and ACCELERATE SPEED TO MARKET for high temperature molten salt systems.
Unlike theoretical material concepts, HybriMet™’s composite materials have been empirically validated in active, extreme conditions. We possess existing corrosion and wear data demonstrating exceptional survivability and low degradation rates for valves, pumps and storage tanks in both:
Chloride Salt Environments (Critical for next-generation Concentrating Solar Power (CSP) and industrial thermal storage systems).
Fluoride Salt Environments (Critical for Gen IV Molten Salt Reactors (MSRs), nuclear fuel recycling loops, and fusion reactors).
HybriMet™ NiWC3b™ and HybriMet™ NiWC3b2™ (low cobalt) formulations directly solve the most frequent mechanical failure points in high-temperature liquid metal and salt systems, including:
- High-temperature journal bearings
- Pump foot bearings, shaft wear sleeves and guide bearings
- Dynamic valve seats and plugs, seals for flow control applications
- Thermal Energy storage tank coatings
Since 2018 HybriMet™ NiWC3b™ has earned a reputation as the first choice for valve seats, bushings and coatings in molten salts. HybriMet™ NiWC3b™ is the lowest risk choice to solve the very hot corrosion problem of molten salt systems.
HybriMet™ LLC has engineered and field-validated a proprietary Nickel Tungsten Carbide (NiWC3b™) and a low-cobalt grade (NiWC3b2™) material. NiWC3b™ bridges the gap between traditional metal alloys and advanced technical ceramics. A key attribute is these materials can be fabricated as a flame spray, HVOF, coating and as a spark plasma sintered, SPS, compression molded part.
Over the last eight years HybriMet™ NiWC3b™ and NiWC3b2™, supported by a series of DOE SBIR and development contracts, have been tested for use in molten chloride salt systems for concentrated solar power at 720°C. In 2023 and 2024, during tests at the University of Wisconsin and University of California – Berkley, this success was extended to FLiBe and FLiNaK fluoride salts used in MSR and fusion reactors. These tests have confirmed that HybriMet™ NiWC3b™ is the leading candidate material for bearings, seats and coatings in valves, pumps and tanks for high temperature molten salt applications. The core technologies of HybriMet™ LLC are patented metal matrix composites (MMC), cermets. This material is unique in the field of MMC because the patented manufacturing process provides near zero contiguity of near nano-sized ceramic particles in the metal matrix, maximizing the reinforcing effect of the ceramic particles and providing impermeability. HybriMet™ ceramic particle reinforced metals are unique, having the toughness of tool steel and at the same time the hardness of ceramics.
HybriMet™, NiWC3b™ and NiWC3b2™ are trademarks of HybriMet™ LLC.