The news earlier this year concerning the National Institute of Standards and Technologies' investment in an R&D program, to perfect metalcasting techniques for aluminum and magnesium structures that feature ceramic elements ("nanocomposites") in a metal-matrix structure, certainly was a hopeful sign. The dollar value of the research program is not extraordinary — $10 million over five years — but the promise is significant.

FM&T covered the announcement in a January news item.

Now, a few further details have been revealed, including a general summary of the metallurgical theory behind the metal-matrix composite and the news that some ingots of the material have been produced already.

If there is to be a rebirth of strong domestic manufacturing, it will be on a foundation built by creative efforts like this one, which propel known technologies into applications that are practical now — not premised on various objectives and mandates but not on actual demand.