Microstructure control of hot-dip coated Al-Zn based alloy layers on steel . The process of hot-dip metal coating of steel has evolved to provide reliable products that find widespread application in many industries, including building and construction. This project aims to address and understand an intermittent processing problem using innovative approaches involving characterisation by synchrotron techniques and state-of-the art microscopy. Expected outcomes include increased manufacturing e ....Microstructure control of hot-dip coated Al-Zn based alloy layers on steel . The process of hot-dip metal coating of steel has evolved to provide reliable products that find widespread application in many industries, including building and construction. This project aims to address and understand an intermittent processing problem using innovative approaches involving characterisation by synchrotron techniques and state-of-the art microscopy. Expected outcomes include increased manufacturing efficiencies by identifying the cause of an intermittent processing defect and implementing methods of controlling this defect. This will help BlueScope and Australia maintain a world-leading reputation for high-quality coating products for domestic and export markets.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE130100165
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$390,000.00
Summary
Thermal and mechanical simulation laboratory for light metals. The creation of a thermal and mechanical simulation laboratory for light metals will provide the critical infrastructure needed for generating new alloys and composites. This will extend Australia's competitive advantage in the design of better alloys for expanding applications in the construction, packaging, automotive and aerospace sectors.
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE110100115
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$430,000.00
Summary
Facility for the development of new lightweight extruded alloys and structures. This will be Australia's only large-scale, research-dedicated extrusion facility. It is expected to lead to the development of new light metal alloys, metal-matrix composites, micro-truss structures and powder base metals for structural and biomedical applications.
Advanced high strength steels produced by energy efficient direct strip casting. Over one billion tonnes of steel is produced every year and one method of reducing the environmental footprint of this production is through strip casting. This process reduces the energy required to process liquid steel into thin sheet product by an astounding 90 per cent. This proposal aims to expand the application of this technology to new steel grades.
Controlling nickel-base alloy high temperature corrosion in CO2-rich gases. Coal provides cheap energy for Australia but emits carbon dioxide (CO2) in large quantities. The solution is to improve the efficiency of coal fired power plants and use CO2 capture technology. This is feasible by raising steam temperatures and using oxyfuel process where coal is burnt in oxygen rather than in air. Thus the hot combustion gas is very rich in CO2 plus water vapour, which is however very corrosive at high ....Controlling nickel-base alloy high temperature corrosion in CO2-rich gases. Coal provides cheap energy for Australia but emits carbon dioxide (CO2) in large quantities. The solution is to improve the efficiency of coal fired power plants and use CO2 capture technology. This is feasible by raising steam temperatures and using oxyfuel process where coal is burnt in oxygen rather than in air. Thus the hot combustion gas is very rich in CO2 plus water vapour, which is however very corrosive at high temperatures. Traditional steels are inadequate. Instead, nickel-base alloys are needed. This project aims to investigate the corrosion behaviour of nickel base alloys in carbon dioxide - water atmospheres, and ways of preventing this corrosion by controlling gas composition and appropriate alloying, which is essential for next generation power plant design.Read moreRead less
Role of oxide grain boundaries in controlling high temperature corrosion of steels by carbon dioxide-rich gases. Advanced coal combustion technologies make carbon dioxide capture possible, but require improved materials to handle hot carbon dioxide-rich gases. These gases are surprisingly corrosive and the corrosion process is not fully understood. This project aims to achieve this understanding and to provide the basis for future alloy design.
Industrial Transformation Research Hubs - Grant ID: IH130100017
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$5,000,000.00
Summary
ARC Research Hub for Australian Steel Manufacturing. ARC Research Hub for Australian Steel Manufacturing. The aim of this Research Hub is to develop breakthrough process and product innovations to enable the Australian steel industry to improve its global competitiveness. Based on an integrated, value chain-wide approach to innovation in the steel sector the Research Hub includes projects on innovation strategy and management, customer-focused product development, innovation in coating and surfa ....ARC Research Hub for Australian Steel Manufacturing. ARC Research Hub for Australian Steel Manufacturing. The aim of this Research Hub is to develop breakthrough process and product innovations to enable the Australian steel industry to improve its global competitiveness. Based on an integrated, value chain-wide approach to innovation in the steel sector the Research Hub includes projects on innovation strategy and management, customer-focused product development, innovation in coating and surface engineering technology, and economic and environmental sustainability of iron and steelmaking.Read moreRead less
High performance cast magnesium alloys. Reducing the weight of cars, particularly their engines, enables substantial reductions in fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. A new generation of magnesium alloys will be developed by this project for the manufacture of considerably lighter components with improved mechanical performance for powertrain and structural applications.
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE220100527
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$420,000.00
Summary
Novel high-performance copper-based materials via additive manufacturing. This project aims to develop novel high-performance copper-based materials produced by additive manufacturing for the electrification revolution, which will provide significantly higher mechanical performance, superior electrical and thermal properties and enable flexible complex shape options. Atomic-scale microstructural analysis using advanced microscopy techniques will reveal profound new insights into the process-stru ....Novel high-performance copper-based materials via additive manufacturing. This project aims to develop novel high-performance copper-based materials produced by additive manufacturing for the electrification revolution, which will provide significantly higher mechanical performance, superior electrical and thermal properties and enable flexible complex shape options. Atomic-scale microstructural analysis using advanced microscopy techniques will reveal profound new insights into the process-structure-property relationship. Expected outcomes include new understandings of the fundamental physics of new functional materials, eco-friendly products, and an ability to facilitate the increasingly widespread use of the copper-based materials for renewable electricity towards a more sustainable society and economy.Read moreRead less
Innovative aluminium extrusion: increased productivity through simulation. This project seeks to develop new approaches to increase the productivity and competitiveness of the Australian aluminium extrusion industry. The project will use customised simulation software to optimise the design of extrusion dies, thereby substantially reducing the time and cost of developing new extrusion dies. It intends to similarly optimise the processing conditions for high quality extrusion, further contributin ....Innovative aluminium extrusion: increased productivity through simulation. This project seeks to develop new approaches to increase the productivity and competitiveness of the Australian aluminium extrusion industry. The project will use customised simulation software to optimise the design of extrusion dies, thereby substantially reducing the time and cost of developing new extrusion dies. It intends to similarly optimise the processing conditions for high quality extrusion, further contributing to cost reduction. Anticipated project outcomes include fundamental models of material deformation behaviour and damage accumulation that, through computer simulation, will increase die life and reduce scrap.Read moreRead less