Battelle Researches the Impact of Extreme Cold on Materials; Darren Wolfe Comments

Researchers at Battelle are exploring the impact of cold temperatures on various equipment and materials, The Columbus Dispatch reported Monday.

Dean Narciso writes Darren Wolfe, a Battelle research scientist, tested a panel from Blackhawk helicopter’s dashboard in very low temperatures.

The dashboard’s incandescent lighting stopped working due to vibrations and Battelle researchers switched the material with a liquid crystal display panel, according to the report.

“Every material has a temperature range it will function in. If you’re trying to use it outside of its range, you will have some issues,” Wolfe told the publication.

Wolfe connected the dashboard to test materials inside the Thermotron machine and adjusted the temperature below 40 degrees, the report says.

Narciso writes Battelle has larger test cubicles where scientists can raise the temperature 8 degrees beyond the water’s boiling point.