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
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
ECOLOGICALLY SAFE RECYCLING OF ELECTRONIC SCRAP - CHEMICAL THERMODYNAMICS OF NOVEL HIGH TEMPERATURE PROCESSING TECHNOLOGY. As a developed industrialized society we are faced with increasing problems associated with the obsolete electronic materials. These materials are classed as hazardous wastes because they contain heavy metals and other elements that must be removed or made chemically inert before they can be disposed of safely. Electronic components however also represent a source of valuabl ....ECOLOGICALLY SAFE RECYCLING OF ELECTRONIC SCRAP - CHEMICAL THERMODYNAMICS OF NOVEL HIGH TEMPERATURE PROCESSING TECHNOLOGY. As a developed industrialized society we are faced with increasing problems associated with the obsolete electronic materials. These materials are classed as hazardous wastes because they contain heavy metals and other elements that must be removed or made chemically inert before they can be disposed of safely. Electronic components however also represent a source of valuable elements that can be recovered and reused. The project will assist in finding safe, cost-efficient ways in which we can process these materials and, at the same time, recover the valuable metals contained within them. The project will thus contribute to the sustainable use of our raw materials and a cleaner environment.Read moreRead less
Development of new aluminium alloys through big data analytics. This project aims to address a long-term problem to effectively discover new alloys and processes using big data analytics. It expects to develop new and high-performance aluminium alloys and to generate new knowledge in the area of materials science from investigation of the strengthening and toughening mechanisms. The intended outcomes also include a validated big data analytic model for new alloy development, which further enhan ....Development of new aluminium alloys through big data analytics. This project aims to address a long-term problem to effectively discover new alloys and processes using big data analytics. It expects to develop new and high-performance aluminium alloys and to generate new knowledge in the area of materials science from investigation of the strengthening and toughening mechanisms. The intended outcomes also include a validated big data analytic model for new alloy development, which further enhances the interdisciplinary collaboration. The high performance aluminium alloys should provide significant benefits to automotive and aerospace industries as these sectors target at improving fuel efficiency through weight reduction at lower cost.Read moreRead less
Understanding grain boundary segregation - a route to developing new advanced engineering materials. This project will investigate atomic-scale grain boundary segregation - one of the most important factors influencing the properties of engineering alloys. This will be applied in the development of new Ti, Zr and nanocrystalline alloys with a large potential market and for which Australia is extremely well positioned to become a major producer.
Design of tuneable microstructures for additive manufacturing. The project intends to develop methods to tune the microstructure of materials in additive manufacturing so that components can be manufactured with maximum productivity and properties. Additive manufacturing is leading the mass customisation of manufacturing. Designed tunable microstructures enable structure and properties to be tailored for specific applications. One of the greatest challenges, however, is how to control the scale ....Design of tuneable microstructures for additive manufacturing. The project intends to develop methods to tune the microstructure of materials in additive manufacturing so that components can be manufactured with maximum productivity and properties. Additive manufacturing is leading the mass customisation of manufacturing. Designed tunable microstructures enable structure and properties to be tailored for specific applications. One of the greatest challenges, however, is how to control the scale and morphology of the microstructure. This project aims to use the interdependence model of grain refinement to control and design grain sizes. The project first plans to investigate the near-rapid solidification conditions in aluminium alloys. It then plans to re-design the harder-to-manufacture titanium alloys to improve grain size control.Read moreRead less
An Investigation into the Behaviour of Light Gauge Steel Structures under Fire Conditions. This research will clearly result in a major national benefit with potential reduction in loss of life, loss of property and reduced insurance rates with improved fire resistant construction. Australian maufacturers will have a leading edge internationally with the use of high strength steels. There is an opportunity for Australia to become a world leader in an area of fire research. The project will assis ....An Investigation into the Behaviour of Light Gauge Steel Structures under Fire Conditions. This research will clearly result in a major national benefit with potential reduction in loss of life, loss of property and reduced insurance rates with improved fire resistant construction. Australian maufacturers will have a leading edge internationally with the use of high strength steels. There is an opportunity for Australia to become a world leader in an area of fire research. The project will assist in developing fire resistant prefabricated building systems. In also provides valuable research training to young Australians. Most importantly it will contribute to Australia's major initiatives in protecting its critical infrastructure.Read moreRead less
A new methodology for the measurement of transition metals ions in complex, high temperature oxide systems relevant to non-ferrous metal production. Complex multi-component molten oxide phases, known commonly as slags, are used in the high temperature production and refining of metals. The slag systems of commercial interest contain transition metals species, such as, Fe2+, Fe3+. Each of these species behaves as if it were a separate chemical component. Researchers at the University of Queensla ....A new methodology for the measurement of transition metals ions in complex, high temperature oxide systems relevant to non-ferrous metal production. Complex multi-component molten oxide phases, known commonly as slags, are used in the high temperature production and refining of metals. The slag systems of commercial interest contain transition metals species, such as, Fe2+, Fe3+. Each of these species behaves as if it were a separate chemical component. Researchers at the University of Queensland have developed a new methodolgy, which enables the concentrations of these transition metal ions to be measured.
These types of measurements cannot be made with any of the techniques currently in use. The study will provide data on high temperature slags in a number of industrially and scientifically important systems. This approach will be applicable to a wide range of chemical systems in the fields of extractive metallurgy, materials science and geology; systems which could not previously be characterised.Read moreRead less
Design of Cost-effective Compositionally Complex Alloys. This project aims to develop low-cost and corrosion resistant compositionally complex alloys and associated processes to concurrently achieve high strength and high toughness using an innovative design strategy. The project expects to overcome the major limitations of this new type of alloys, enabling their practical applications in industry, creating new knowledge of materials science. Expected outcomes include commercialisation ready ne ....Design of Cost-effective Compositionally Complex Alloys. This project aims to develop low-cost and corrosion resistant compositionally complex alloys and associated processes to concurrently achieve high strength and high toughness using an innovative design strategy. The project expects to overcome the major limitations of this new type of alloys, enabling their practical applications in industry, creating new knowledge of materials science. Expected outcomes include commercialisation ready new alloys, breakthrough fundamental understanding of the mechanisms and long-term institutional collaboration. This should provide significant benefits, such as enhancement of Australia’s capacity of alloy development and manufacturing and strengthening the country’s world leading position in this area.Read moreRead less
Improvement of Additive Manufacturing Processability of Alloys and Ceramics. As the current materials that can be additively processed are still very limited, this project aims to increase the additive manufacturing processability of commercial engineering materials through developing effective and practical grain refinement technology so that more engineering parts can be additively fabricated. The project expects to widen the applications of this advanced manufacturing technology in industry p ....Improvement of Additive Manufacturing Processability of Alloys and Ceramics. As the current materials that can be additively processed are still very limited, this project aims to increase the additive manufacturing processability of commercial engineering materials through developing effective and practical grain refinement technology so that more engineering parts can be additively fabricated. The project expects to widen the applications of this advanced manufacturing technology in industry productions. Expected outcomes include commercialisation ready grain refinement technologies and breakthrough fundamental understanding of the physical metallurgy of melt pools. This should enhance Australia’s capability to establish world-leading additive manufacturing activities serving to various other industry sectors. Read moreRead less