Zachary A. Chase

About Zachary A. Chase

I am a PhD candidate in Materials Science at Caltech in the Katherine Faber Group, working in collaboration with NASA\'s Jet Propulsion Laboratory. My research centers on the additive manufacturing of advanced ceramic composites for space applications. I develop hybrid laser powder bed fusion and reaction bonding (L-PBF/RB) methods for Al–Al₂O₃–YSZ systems without the use of binders or compaction. Recently, I introduced the use of eutectic dopants to disrupt oxide barriers and improve densification in these processes. This method enables phase-specific dopant incorporation, stabilizes cubic zirconia, and reduces thermal cracking—advancing the design of high-temperature ceramic structures for spacecraft componentry.Personal Website:

Experience

1. Visiting Researcher

   NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory

   Aug 2023 — Present · Pasadena, CA, US

   Developing the kinetic models for structural control processes that design ordered, reproducible, and dimensionally uniform porous structures for spacecraft assimilation.• Characterizing the physical, chemical, and mechanical behavior of materials manufactured through a novel additive manufacturing process to establish property-processing relationships in aluminum oxide-based systems.

Education

• Caltech

  Doctor of Philosophy - PhD, Materials Science

• The University of Southern Mississippi

  B.S. in Polymer Science and Engineering

  2018

• Caltech

  Master of Science - MS, Materials Science