Strength Enhancement of Aluminium Extrusion Alloys via Novel Thermal Processes and Alloy Composition Control. The aluminium industry in Australia produces ~4% of total goods and services exports nationally and over $2 billon per year in export earnings. The importance of developing energy-efficient processing and manufacturing technologies for aluminium and its alloys is reflected in the Federal Government's Light Metals Action Agenda. The proposed project has the potential to establish a platfo ....Strength Enhancement of Aluminium Extrusion Alloys via Novel Thermal Processes and Alloy Composition Control. The aluminium industry in Australia produces ~4% of total goods and services exports nationally and over $2 billon per year in export earnings. The importance of developing energy-efficient processing and manufacturing technologies for aluminium and its alloys is reflected in the Federal Government's Light Metals Action Agenda. The proposed project has the potential to establish a platform for intelligent design and development of thermal processing technologies for aluminium extrusion alloys with improved mechanical properties. Such technologies are expected to help the Australian aluminium industry to expand its international market share.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE100100030
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,200,000.00
Summary
Advanced focused ion beam (FIB) / scanning electron microscopes (SEM) for nanometre scale characterisation and fabrication. These instruments are designed to provide fundamental insights into physical and biological systems though characterisation and fabrication of structures at nanometre length scales. These versatile platforms will support a wide range of projects covering three national research priority areas. These range from the characterisation of light alloys for improving and building ....Advanced focused ion beam (FIB) / scanning electron microscopes (SEM) for nanometre scale characterisation and fabrication. These instruments are designed to provide fundamental insights into physical and biological systems though characterisation and fabrication of structures at nanometre length scales. These versatile platforms will support a wide range of projects covering three national research priority areas. These range from the characterisation of light alloys for improving and building Australia's Aluminium, Magnesium and Titanium alloy industries, to the study of aerosol particles for improved pulmonary drug delivery for asthma patients, the development of advanced solar cells and the study of the integrated behaviour of the soil-microbe system for sustainable agriculture.Read moreRead less
High-resolution in situ annealing studies of sub-micron grain structures. The proposed research is an extension of considerable ongoing collaboration between the applicants and will utilise advanced characterisation techniques to provide a more fundamental understanding than that presently available of the thermal stability of particle-containing nanocrystalline alloys. The project will reinforce the strong collaboration between our research groups and will expose Australian researchers to cutti ....High-resolution in situ annealing studies of sub-micron grain structures. The proposed research is an extension of considerable ongoing collaboration between the applicants and will utilise advanced characterisation techniques to provide a more fundamental understanding than that presently available of the thermal stability of particle-containing nanocrystalline alloys. The project will reinforce the strong collaboration between our research groups and will expose Australian researchers to cutting-edge research techniques, with particular emphasis on broadening the training experience of early career researchers. Several joint journal papers are expected from this work.
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Isothermal Forging of Titanium Aluminide Based Intermetallic Alloys for Golf Club Head Applications. This project aims to produce prototype premium golf club heads of titanium aluminide alloys using isothermal forging technology. It is expected that innovative materials and processes will be developed that will keep the industry partner, SAT, ahead of its competitors and expand their export market share. It is also anticipated that these advanced materials and processes will lead to further ap ....Isothermal Forging of Titanium Aluminide Based Intermetallic Alloys for Golf Club Head Applications. This project aims to produce prototype premium golf club heads of titanium aluminide alloys using isothermal forging technology. It is expected that innovative materials and processes will be developed that will keep the industry partner, SAT, ahead of its competitors and expand their export market share. It is also anticipated that these advanced materials and processes will lead to further applications in biotechnology and automotive and aerospace engineering.
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ARC Centre of Excellence - Design in Light Metals. Under the national Light Metals Action Agenda, Australia recognizes a strategic interest in the production, processing and applications of the light metals, and a growth in global markets for light metals technology. Light metals research is a designated national priority, and this Centre will provide the national focus in strategic fundamental research, the critical level of investment and the level of innovation necessary to achieve competiti ....ARC Centre of Excellence - Design in Light Metals. Under the national Light Metals Action Agenda, Australia recognizes a strategic interest in the production, processing and applications of the light metals, and a growth in global markets for light metals technology. Light metals research is a designated national priority, and this Centre will provide the national focus in strategic fundamental research, the critical level of investment and the level of innovation necessary to achieve competitive advantage from an outstanding research base. As a major contributor to a strategic network of national research capabilities, it will underpin substantial developments in the light metals industry nationally and globally, and extend linkages with major research centres internationally.Read moreRead less
Interplay of Microbiological Corrosion and Alloy Microstructure in Failures of Advanced Stainless Steels and their Weldments in Marine Environments. The proposed research program investigates the role of microbiologically-induced corrosion (MIC) on stress corrosion cracking (SCC) of weldments of advanced stainless steels (SS). Extensive premature SCC failures of SS weldments have lately become increasingly significant in Australian marine industry, following the inability of advanced SCC-resista ....Interplay of Microbiological Corrosion and Alloy Microstructure in Failures of Advanced Stainless Steels and their Weldments in Marine Environments. The proposed research program investigates the role of microbiologically-induced corrosion (MIC) on stress corrosion cracking (SCC) of weldments of advanced stainless steels (SS). Extensive premature SCC failures of SS weldments have lately become increasingly significant in Australian marine industry, following the inability of advanced SCC-resistant SS to alleviate failures. Inconsistencies in SCC data call for an improved understanding of the role of MIC on SCC, particularly because recent failure analyses have indicated a profound role of microbiological activity on localised corrosion (viz., pitting) of stainless steels and their weldments, as well as because pitting is known to facilitate SCC initiation.Read moreRead less
Special Research Initiatives - Grant ID: SR0354521
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$10,000.00
Summary
Network for Advanced Materials for Engineering Applications. Advances in modern technology and a competitive manufacturing industry depend critically on new and improved materials. The pace of change is rapid, and many countries are taking steps to improve and coordinate developments. Australia has a very successful record of materials research and innovation and is developing a substantial infrastructure in the area. However, the materials research community is scattered, and research effect ....Network for Advanced Materials for Engineering Applications. Advances in modern technology and a competitive manufacturing industry depend critically on new and improved materials. The pace of change is rapid, and many countries are taking steps to improve and coordinate developments. Australia has a very successful record of materials research and innovation and is developing a substantial infrastructure in the area. However, the materials research community is scattered, and research effectiveness is sometimes lessened by a lack of critical mass. This network will bring together university, government and industry researchers, and promote collaborative research, access to each other's facilities, staff and student exchanges, improved access to existing infrastructure and coordinated planning for new acquisitions.Read moreRead less
In-situ transmission electron microscopy nanoindentation investigation of advanced structural metallic materials. This project will apply in-situ transmission electron microscopy nanoindentation to understand the relationships among microstructures, deformation mechanisms and mechanical properties of advanced metallic materials, including nanostructured alloys and metallic amorphous-crystalline composites. The results will deliver the fundamental science to design materials with optimum mechanic ....In-situ transmission electron microscopy nanoindentation investigation of advanced structural metallic materials. This project will apply in-situ transmission electron microscopy nanoindentation to understand the relationships among microstructures, deformation mechanisms and mechanical properties of advanced metallic materials, including nanostructured alloys and metallic amorphous-crystalline composites. The results will deliver the fundamental science to design materials with optimum mechanical properties for a wide range of applications, such as fuel-efficient aircraft and road vehicles. The project will bring a cutting-edge technique to Australian science that adds an important arm to our already prominent research strengths in materials science, and will provide Australian scientists greater capability to understand and design advanced materials.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0882926
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$100,000.00
Summary
Transmission Electron Microscope-Nanoindenter for Nano-Mechanical Testing. A transmission electron microscope (TEM)-nanoindenter enables us to record simultaneously the mechanical behaviour of materials under force and their structures and structural evolutions at sub-nanometre resolution. The acquisition of a TEM-nanoindenter will significantly enhance the capability of investigating the structural effect on the behaviour of materials under applied force, which is a key issue in materials scien ....Transmission Electron Microscope-Nanoindenter for Nano-Mechanical Testing. A transmission electron microscope (TEM)-nanoindenter enables us to record simultaneously the mechanical behaviour of materials under force and their structures and structural evolutions at sub-nanometre resolution. The acquisition of a TEM-nanoindenter will significantly enhance the capability of investigating the structural effect on the behaviour of materials under applied force, which is a key issue in materials science and engineering. The results obtained using the TEM-nanoindenter will reveal the fundamental origins of materials mechanical properties and will be used to improve materials processing procedures and to guide the design of stronger and lighter materials for structural applications.Read moreRead less
Metal injection moulding of aluminium. The aim of this project is to develop a metal injection moulding (MIM) system for aluminium by employing point defect engineering to enhance the solid state sintering of aluminium. This study will also incorporate an econometric analysis of the potential for specific aluminium MIM parts. Using this novel, multidisciplinary approach, the market definition and the technology development will occur concurrently. The outcome will be an aluminium MIM system and ....Metal injection moulding of aluminium. The aim of this project is to develop a metal injection moulding (MIM) system for aluminium by employing point defect engineering to enhance the solid state sintering of aluminium. This study will also incorporate an econometric analysis of the potential for specific aluminium MIM parts. Using this novel, multidisciplinary approach, the market definition and the technology development will occur concurrently. The outcome will be an aluminium MIM system and a new business opportunity for a Queensland manufacturing company in a market that is growing at 10-25% per year and is expected to exceed $US1 billion in 2003.Read moreRead less