Stout students perform research for NASA

The research of two University of Wisconsin-Stout students is helping NASA develop energy-efficient and environmentally friendly subsonic gas turbine engines.

Undergraduate students Casandra Baer, an engineering technology major, and Bryan Coddington, a manufacturing engineering major, have researched joining ceramics to metals to be used at high temperatures and explored creative approaches to lessen residual stresses in joints. While helping NASA tackle the manufacturing problem, the students used chemistry, materials science and engineering they learned in their college courses.

After creating brazed joints under controlled conditions, Baer and Coddington examined the joints for integrity using optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive spectroscopy and Knoop microhardness testing — a test for mechanical hardness used particularly for very brittle materials. Their data can be used to determine the best fuel tube material and brazing alloy for fuel injector use in the next generation of efficient gas turbines.

As a result, Coddington is the lead author of a paper accepted for presentation at the 34th International Conference & Exposition on Advanced Ceramics & Composites. He will present the paper at the conference, to be held at Daytona Beach in January 2010. Baer’s research was in a report for the Subsonic Rotary Wing Project.

MOVERS

>> Jennifer Guerndt has joined the Samuels Group in Wausau as vice president of sales and marketing.

>> Kathy Buenger is the new interim executive director of development for the University of Wisconsin – Stevens Point.

>> The National Bank of Commerce in Superior has hired Joel D. Braun as vice president-commercial loans.

>> Steve Melby is the new retail relationship manager in United Bank’s Osseo office.

BUSINESS BRIEFS

RIVER FALLS: Interfacial Solutions, LLC has received $115,000 tax credit allocation from the Department of Commerce for a 22,000-sq. ft. expansion project. Founded in 2003, the company develops proprietary products for the plastics industry, providing creative technology solutions to its client companies. Interfacial Solutions maintains an operations facility in River Falls and a warehouse in Hudson. The project will create 17 jobs, retain 20 jobs and represent $2.2 million in investment.

EAU CLAIRE: Bauman Associates Ltd. Certified Public Accountants and Advisors has acquired Robert T. Christenson Accounting, a Hudson-based accounting firm and will include the current office in its network of locations in western Wisconsin.