Bio
Prior to joining ORNL Paul Prichard was a Corporate Research Fellow at the Kennametal Technology Center, and served the R&D leader for the Additive Manufacturing Technology Team for commercializing binder jet of WC-Co materials. Previously, he was a Senior Staff Engineer in the Innovation Ventures Group at Kennametal, which evaluated, developed, and commercialized emerging technologies to create new business opportunities including: hybrid grinding-milling tool, Beyond BlastTM metal cutting tools, lightweight claddings for aluminum, titanium powder processing and Additive Manufacturing technologies.
During the past 20 years, he has collaborated with numerous academic institutions, government labs and entrepreneurial organizations throughout his career. He has served as the Industrial Liaison to CMU for Kennametal’s University Alliance, University of Pittsburgh MOST consortium, Penn State ARL Laser consortium, Industrial Advisory Board to MSE at Michigan Tech, founding member of America Makes, led a $1 million NAVAIR funded project on lightweight claddings and has led numerous Open Innovation projects.
In addition to Kennametal, Paul has worked in R&D roles at 3M, Ames Laboratory and Howmet Aerospace, and has over 20 patents related to materials and manufacturing. He is the past-Chairman of the TMS Powder Committee, member of the TMS Materials Processing & Manufacturing Division Council, Additive Manufacturing committee and actively participates in ASM, APMI and SME.
Professional Experience
Corporate Fellow
Kennametal Inc. Latrobe PA
Additive Manufacturing 2022 - 2024
Leading R&D efforts to commercialize materials and processes in support of Kennametal Additive Manufacturing Operations. Develop strategic technology roadmaps for the integration of emerging AM technology into business operations. Engage the external Additive manufacturing community as Kennametal’s technology voice, and liaison for new relationships and business opportunities. Evaluate emerging technologies for commercial viability and potential for Kennametal integration.
Senior Staff Engineer
Kennametal Inc. Latrobe, PA
Additive Manufacturing 2017- 2021
Led development of binderjet processing of tungsten carbide and StelliteTM alloys. This role involved ongoing technical assessment of associated and competitive AM processes, development of R&D projects to support powder development, printing technology, sintering, and understanding of process-structure-property relationships. Engaging with leading academic, government, institutional and industrial organizations to leverage state of the art knowledge in additive manufacturing. Advising Kennametal technology executives on strategic planning for growth and development of additive manufacturing enterprise.
Senior Staff Engineer
Kennametal Inc. Latrobe, PA
Innovation Ventures Group 2014 – 2017
Led projects related to business and technology development for component manufacturing with low-cost Titanium powder. Conducted technology landscape analysis for metal injection molding, powder atomization capabilities, and additive manufacturing. Developed external relationships and projects with CMU, University of Louisville, North Carolina State University and Oak Ridge National Laboratory through America Makes, APMI, SME and TMS.
Staff Engineer
Kennametal Inc. Latrobe, PA
Breakthrough Technology 2001 – 2014
Led process development project for producing Co-enriched surface of WC-Co turning grades. Led projects and participated on project teams related to innovative metal cutting tooling such as beyond blast and grinding milling tool. Acted as liaison for CMU University Alliance program which supported 4 PhD students. Led a NAVAIR project worth $1 million for the development of wear resistance surface treatments for Ni-base engine components and aluminum alloys.
Senior Metallurgist
3M Company St. Paul, MN
Advanced Materials Technology Center 1997 – 2001
Established the Advanced Materials Technology Center laboratory for tribological testing. Contributing team member for commercialization of fluorinated metal working fluids, collaborated with colleagues on the Next Generation of Abrasives and superabrasive pad conditioners for Si wafer planarization.
R&D Materials Engineer
Technology Center Whitehall, MI
Howmet Aerospace 1986 - 1994
Investigated investment casting of aluminum-based metal matrix composites. Conducted R&D on nickel based intermetallic for aerospace applications. Led team to develop processes for Spraycast-XTM products for Rene’88DT turbine engine disks and Waspaloy engine cases.
Education
BS Metallurgical Engineering Michigan Technological University 1984
MS Materials Science and Metallurgy Case Western Reserve University 1986
PhD. Materials Science and Engineering Iowa State University, 1997
Professional Service
TMS Powder Materials Chair Committee 2011-2014
Additive Manufacturing: Beyond the Beam Symposium 2019-2022
TMS Additive Manufacturing Bridge Committee 2015-2022
TMS Industrial Advisory Committee 2005-2006
Michigan Technological University 2012 - 2015
Materials Science Advisory Board
Professional Affiliations
ASM International
The Mining, Metals and Materials Society
APMI International
Society of Manufacturing Engineers
Trademarks and Patents
US 11,065,863 “Cemented Carbide Powders for Additive Manufacturing”, P.D. Prichard and G. B. Collins, July 20, 2021.
US 10,662,716 “ Thin-walled boring tools for earth cutting,” P.D. Prichard, John Brosnahan, Roger Stark, May 26, 2020.
US 11,065,862 “Methods of making sintered articles,” P. Stoyanov and P.D. Prichard, July 20, 2021.
US app 20190168299, “Additive Manufacturing Techniques and Applications Thereof”, P.D. Prichard, Kevin Gamble, John Skwara, June 6, 2019
US app 20200346365, “Cemented Carbide Powder for Additive Manufacturing”, Zhuqing Wang, and P.D. Prichard, pub. November 5, 2020.
“Milling Cutter and Milling Insert with Coolant Delivery”, P.D. Prichard and L.R. Andras, Kennametal Inc., US7625157
US 8,256,998 “Metal Cutting System for Effective Coolant Delivery”, P.D. Prichard. L.R. Andras, T.R. Massa, September 4, 2012.
US 7,802,945 “Cutting Tool for Roughing and Finishing”, Sheffler, Hyatt, Prichard and Andras, December 1, 2009.
US 6,669,745 “Abrasive Article with optimally oriented particles and method of making the same”, P.D. Prichard, Kyung H. Moh, David Koskenmaki, December 30, 2003.
US 5,309,976 "Continuous pour directional Solidification Method", P.D. Prichard and P.R. Aimone, Howmet Corporation. March 16, 1993.
US 5,939,151 "Method and Apparatus for Reactive Plasma Atomization", P.D. Prichard, M.F. Besser, and D.J. Sordelet, Iowa State University Research Foundation, October 23, 1997.
Other Publications
P.D. Prichard and R. Dalal, “Spraycast-XTM Superalloys for Aerospace Applications”, ed.
Antolovich, S D, Stusrud, R W, MacKay, R A, Anton, D L, Khan, T, Kissinger, R D, & Klarstrom, D L. Superalloys 1992.
P.D. Prichard, M.F. Besser, D.J. Sordelet, and I.E. Anderson, "Reactive Plasma Atomization of Aluminum Nitride Powder", Symposia on novel Synthesis Techniques of Powders, Whiskers and Platelets, TMS Annual Meeting 1997.
P.D. Prichard and I.E. Anderson, "Structure-Property Relationship of Atomized Fe-Al-Si Sintered Powders", Proceedings of the 1997 World Congress on Powder Metallurgy, MPIF, 1997.
I.E. Anderson, P.D. Prichard, B.K. Lograsso, and J. Kameda, "Miniature Mechanical Testing of Compression Molded Fe-Al-Si Powder compacts", Proceedings of the 1996 World congress on Powder Metallurgy and Particulate Materials, MPIF, 1996.
Peng Fan, Jun Guo, Zhigang Zak Fang and Paul Prichard, "Effects of Liquid-Phase Composition on its Migration during Liquid-Phase Sintering of Cemented Carbide", Metallurgical & Materials Transactions A, 2009, 40A(8), 1995-2006.
Harry Chien, Carlos Diaz-Jimenez, Gregory S. Rohrer, Zhigang Ban, Paul Prichard, Yixiong Liu,
“The influence of residual thermal stresses on the mechanical properties of multilayer α-Al2O3/TiCxN1−x coatings on WC/Co cutting tools”, Surface and Coatings Technology, Vol 215, 2013,119-126.
P.D. Prichard, Z. Wang, H Miyanaji, “Microstructural Development in Binder Jet Additive Manufacturing of WC-Co”, 20th Plansee Seminar Proceedings, HM33, May 30-June 3, 2022.