[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 116 (Monday, September 10, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1618-E1619]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                            SUPER HARD STEEL

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. MICHAEL K. SIMPSON

                                of idaho

                    in the house of representatives

                       Monday, September 10, 2001

  Mr. SIMPSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Daniel 
Branagan, Elizabeth Taylor, Joseph Burch, James Fincke, David Swank, 
and DeLon Haggard on their upcoming R&D 100 Award to be presented next 
month in Chicago. The R&D 100 award celebrates the 100 most significant 
technological achievements for the year 2001 as recognized by R&D 
Magazine. This talented group of scientists made this unique 
contribution to American science and industry as a materials research 
team for the Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory 
(INEEL). The honor that this team has earned is the 27th such award for 
the INEEL. Specifically, this team is being recognized for their 
creation of the new material known as Super Hard Steel.
  Super Hard Steel, created through an innovative process that 
transforms steel alloy into a non-crystalline metallic glass, has 
hardness properties among the highest ever reported for a metallic 
substance. Once sprayed on, the Super Hard Steel coating cannot be 
removed--even with a hammer and chisel. This tough, low cost, wear and 
corrosion resistant coating is expected to replace, and indeed 
outperform, much more expensive materials in high-stress machine parts. 
Already, more than 15 companies are evaluating the metal with an eye 
towards licensing it and the Department of Defense is expected to soon 
begin tests of the metal in various demanding environments. Also, the 
story of the R&D Magazine's award, which has appeared in publications 
such as USA Today, has already added to the list of companies pursuing 
this new material.
  The work of this intrepid group of Idahoan scientists will soon 
benefit the entire American economy as their metallic coating, with 
wide-ranging applications in products such as knife blades and mining 
rock crushers, becomes integrated into products that affect the lives 
of all Americans. Who knows exactly how many machine parts will someday 
be made with Super Hard Steel. It is innovation such as this that 
everyone at the INEEL, and the entire state of Idaho, are proud to be a 
part of.
  Mr. Speaker, there are a series of government-funded national 
laboratories across this

[[Page E1619]]

great country doing important work akin to this remarkable achievement 
of the INEEL. The Super Hard Steel Project was funded through the 
Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency and the INEEL's own 
discretionary research fund. As Secretary of Energy Spencer Abraham 
recently said, ``. . . this accomplishment demonstrates the value of 
government-funded research to the Nation.'' Breakthroughs such as Super 
Hard Steel prove beyond a doubt that the investment of taxpayer money 
in these priceless institutions is well spent. I urge my colleagues to 
join me in wishing these unique individuals and the laboratories that 
employ them continued success in their important endeavors.

                          ____________________