Design of reactive foils for joining amorphous alloys. Amorphous alloys or metallic glasses are special materials that retain the random structure of a liquid but in a solid form. They can show special properties of very high strength, toughness and corrosion resistance. The enormous difficulty in joining amorphous alloys to make larger assemblies is greatly curbing their uptake in technology. In this research, state of the art experimental and computational tools will be used to investigate the ....Design of reactive foils for joining amorphous alloys. Amorphous alloys or metallic glasses are special materials that retain the random structure of a liquid but in a solid form. They can show special properties of very high strength, toughness and corrosion resistance. The enormous difficulty in joining amorphous alloys to make larger assemblies is greatly curbing their uptake in technology. In this research, state of the art experimental and computational tools will be used to investigate the extremely fast high temperature reactions occurring in reactive foils of layered metals which, when inserted at the proposed join and ignited, quickly produce a bond. The research will lay the foundation for a robust and reliable means for joining amorphous alloys by means of reactive foils. Read moreRead less
Surface Nanocrystallization and Surface Alloying of Nonferrous Alloys. The research will offer materials scientists a totally new way to undertake surface modification for nonferrous alloys. The low temperature surface alloying technique to be developed will considerably improve the surface durability, therefore increase the service life of components. Combination of the surface alloying treatment with the ageing process can save energy and lower the cost of product. This will enhance Austral ....Surface Nanocrystallization and Surface Alloying of Nonferrous Alloys. The research will offer materials scientists a totally new way to undertake surface modification for nonferrous alloys. The low temperature surface alloying technique to be developed will considerably improve the surface durability, therefore increase the service life of components. Combination of the surface alloying treatment with the ageing process can save energy and lower the cost of product. This will enhance Australia's competitive ability in international markets. The study of atomic diffusion in nanomaterials will significantly contribute to material science and increase Australian research reputation in the world. In addition, the project initiates the research on surface nanocrystallization in Australia. Read moreRead less
Prediction of Atomic Transport Properties in Multicomponent Engineering Alloys. Technological advances bring demands for new engineering materials and the improvement of existing ones. Since almost every property of such materials depends directly or indirectly on matter transport, it is imperative that the materials designer can accurately predict its direction and extent. This theoretical project, supported and tested by computer simulation, will provide this knowledge. It will develop a toolb ....Prediction of Atomic Transport Properties in Multicomponent Engineering Alloys. Technological advances bring demands for new engineering materials and the improvement of existing ones. Since almost every property of such materials depends directly or indirectly on matter transport, it is imperative that the materials designer can accurately predict its direction and extent. This theoretical project, supported and tested by computer simulation, will provide this knowledge. It will develop a toolbox of robust and versatile expressions for predicting and interpreting matter transport in alloy systems at high temperatures. With these expressions in hand, the designer will be in a superior position to tailor the properties of such materials.Read moreRead less
A Unified Crystallographic Theory of Phase Transformations in Solids. Phase transformations control the microstructures that govern the properties of metallic materials. The unified crystallographic theory to be developed will improve the understanding of phase transformation and then enhance the ability to produce high performance metals and alloys. This is particularly important in the automotive and aeronautical industries, as these sectors seek increasing fuel efficiency through weight reduc ....A Unified Crystallographic Theory of Phase Transformations in Solids. Phase transformations control the microstructures that govern the properties of metallic materials. The unified crystallographic theory to be developed will improve the understanding of phase transformation and then enhance the ability to produce high performance metals and alloys. This is particularly important in the automotive and aeronautical industries, as these sectors seek increasing fuel efficiency through weight reduction. The new scientific knowledge generated will significantly impact and contribute to the fields of physical metallurgy and materials science. Furthermore, the research will also strengthen Australia's international leading position in the fields because it is based on the theories developed in Australia.Read moreRead less
A Predictive Theory of Kinetic Demixing in Engineering Ceramics. Technological advances bring demands for new engineering ceramics and the improvement of existing ones. The properties of engineering ceramics are critically dependent on the composition and distribution of atomic components. However, separation or demixing of the components occurs in-service at high temperatures as a result of stress, electric fields or oxygen gradients. Demixing causes a major loss of performance and longevity. T ....A Predictive Theory of Kinetic Demixing in Engineering Ceramics. Technological advances bring demands for new engineering ceramics and the improvement of existing ones. The properties of engineering ceramics are critically dependent on the composition and distribution of atomic components. However, separation or demixing of the components occurs in-service at high temperatures as a result of stress, electric fields or oxygen gradients. Demixing causes a major loss of performance and longevity. This Project will develop a robust and versatile theory of demixing to enhance longevities of engineering ceramics. It will also guide the deliberate manipulation of demixing to generate novel compositionally-graded engineering ceramics having new properties of technological interest.Read moreRead less
The Coupling of Plasticity, Microstructure and Phase Transformations in the Design of Novel Magnesium Alloys for the Automotive Industry. The desire to reduce the weight of automobiles due to legislative requirements on fuel emissions and to reduce overall fuel consumption is the driving force behind research into the development of new Mg-based alloys to replace the heavier steel and Al-alloy components in automobiles. Given the enormous worldwide transportation market and the environmental and ....The Coupling of Plasticity, Microstructure and Phase Transformations in the Design of Novel Magnesium Alloys for the Automotive Industry. The desire to reduce the weight of automobiles due to legislative requirements on fuel emissions and to reduce overall fuel consumption is the driving force behind research into the development of new Mg-based alloys to replace the heavier steel and Al-alloy components in automobiles. Given the enormous worldwide transportation market and the environmental and legislative motivation for reducing fuel emissions, the development of new Mg-based alloys capable of meeting this demand from automotive manufacturers represents both a potentially large economic advantage to the country of development as well as helping to address the environmental concern about fuel emissions.Read moreRead less
A Theory to Predict and Control Porosity Occurring During Diffusion-Bonding. This Project will guide the design of strategies that will substantially improve the diffusion-bonding process and broaden the range of materials possible for bonding. Many Australian industries, from manufacturers of computer chip connectors to aircraft engines, could benefit significantly from the results of this research. By means of the training of computational and theoretical materials scientists/engineers, this P ....A Theory to Predict and Control Porosity Occurring During Diffusion-Bonding. This Project will guide the design of strategies that will substantially improve the diffusion-bonding process and broaden the range of materials possible for bonding. Many Australian industries, from manufacturers of computer chip connectors to aircraft engines, could benefit significantly from the results of this research. By means of the training of computational and theoretical materials scientists/engineers, this Project will also make a substantial contribution to building Australia's research capacity in this internationally recognized growth area.Read moreRead less
Intelligent Materials Processing: Microstructure And Texture Control In Bcc Metals. In Australia, steel companies are continuing to search for cost effective steel compositions and processing routes. Concurrently, applications for Ti alloys in chemical, medical and aerospace industries are continuing to widen. As an outcome of this project, the basis for the optimisation of processing routes in order to achieve enhanced product properties at lower cost will be established. In the course of this ....Intelligent Materials Processing: Microstructure And Texture Control In Bcc Metals. In Australia, steel companies are continuing to search for cost effective steel compositions and processing routes. Concurrently, applications for Ti alloys in chemical, medical and aerospace industries are continuing to widen. As an outcome of this project, the basis for the optimisation of processing routes in order to achieve enhanced product properties at lower cost will be established. In the course of this work, a new model for the prediction of microstructure and texture evolution during recrystallisation will be developed and new process routes will be designed. Read moreRead less
Interactions between Lattice Defects and Nanoscale Solute Aggregates: Strengthening and Creep Mechanisms in Magnesium Alloys. Advances in manufacturing and processing technologies in recent years have brought renewed interests in magnesium alloys for applications at elevated temperatures (100-200°C). Improvement in strength and creep resistance of existing alloys and development of new alloys require better understanding of strengthening and creep mechanisms and their correlations with deformat ....Interactions between Lattice Defects and Nanoscale Solute Aggregates: Strengthening and Creep Mechanisms in Magnesium Alloys. Advances in manufacturing and processing technologies in recent years have brought renewed interests in magnesium alloys for applications at elevated temperatures (100-200°C). Improvement in strength and creep resistance of existing alloys and development of new alloys require better understanding of strengthening and creep mechanisms and their correlations with deformation behaviour of the alloys. In this project, advanced imaging techniques of transmission electron microscopy and three-dimensional atom probe field-ion microscopy, combined with tensile and creep tests, will be used to study interactions between lattice defects and nanoscale solute aggregates and their quantitative effects on deformation behaviour of magnesium alloys at elevated temperatures. The aim of this project is to develop a robust theory for the design of magnesium alloys with improved strength and creep resistance.Read moreRead less
A Predictive Approach to the Formation of Plate-Shaped Strengthening and Toughening Constituents in Advanced Metallic and Ceramic Materials. Development of stronger and tougher materials has been largely empirical and the properties obtained so far are only a small fraction of the theoretical values. One of the key steps to develop stronger and tougher materials is to understand the mechanisms responsible for the formation and distribution of key strengthening and/or toughening components in the ....A Predictive Approach to the Formation of Plate-Shaped Strengthening and Toughening Constituents in Advanced Metallic and Ceramic Materials. Development of stronger and tougher materials has been largely empirical and the properties obtained so far are only a small fraction of the theoretical values. One of the key steps to develop stronger and tougher materials is to understand the mechanisms responsible for the formation and distribution of key strengthening and/or toughening components in the materials. This project seeks to make this step. The findings will provide guidance to the development of stronger and tougher materials for the aerospace, aircraft and automotive industries. This project provides opportunities to strengthen the collaboration with USA experts and to train early career researchers.Read moreRead less