Zirconium alloying and grain refinement of magnesium alloys with ZirCAST. Zirconium alloying and grain refinement is a key issue restricting the commercial production of value-added zirconium-containing magnesium alloys for use in the automotive industry. This 3-year linkage program builds on the applicants' invention of a proprietary grain refiner ZirCAST, and is undertaken to investigate the major fundamental aspects of zirconium alloying and grain refinement with ZirCAST. In addition to an ex ....Zirconium alloying and grain refinement of magnesium alloys with ZirCAST. Zirconium alloying and grain refinement is a key issue restricting the commercial production of value-added zirconium-containing magnesium alloys for use in the automotive industry. This 3-year linkage program builds on the applicants' invention of a proprietary grain refiner ZirCAST, and is undertaken to investigate the major fundamental aspects of zirconium alloying and grain refinement with ZirCAST. In addition to an excellent postgraduate training environment, it aims to provide and develop, in partnership with industry, optimum zirconium alloying and grain refinement technology with ZirCAST and enhance Australia's leading global position in this strategically and commercially important area.Read moreRead less
Anisotropy of strengthening by solid solution and precipitation in concentrated Mg-Al and Mg-Zn alloys. The addition of solute increases the strength of Mg in some crystallographic directions but weakens the material in others. The weakening is called solid solution softening, and it can have profound effects on the mechanical behaviour of the material. Solid solution softening has been observed in the prismatic planes of single crystals of dilute Mg-Al and Mg-Zn alloys. Easier prismatic slip lo ....Anisotropy of strengthening by solid solution and precipitation in concentrated Mg-Al and Mg-Zn alloys. The addition of solute increases the strength of Mg in some crystallographic directions but weakens the material in others. The weakening is called solid solution softening, and it can have profound effects on the mechanical behaviour of the material. Solid solution softening has been observed in the prismatic planes of single crystals of dilute Mg-Al and Mg-Zn alloys. Easier prismatic slip lowers the strain hardening rate and increases the ductility of polycrystalline alloys in comparison with pure Mg. Despite their obvious significance, these effects have not been studied in single crystals of concentrated alloys. This is the main object of this project.Read moreRead less
The Development of High Strength Aluminium and Magnesium Alloys Using "Edge-to-edge" Matching Model. The theoretical, crystallographic "edge-to-edge" matching model for diffusion-controlled phase transformations will be applied to the practical development of improved industrial aluminium and magnesium alloys with assistance of computer simulations. The model will be used to enhance the precipitation hardening response and to identify more effective grain refiners in these light alloys. The aim ....The Development of High Strength Aluminium and Magnesium Alloys Using "Edge-to-edge" Matching Model. The theoretical, crystallographic "edge-to-edge" matching model for diffusion-controlled phase transformations will be applied to the practical development of improved industrial aluminium and magnesium alloys with assistance of computer simulations. The model will be used to enhance the precipitation hardening response and to identify more effective grain refiners in these light alloys. The aims will be the development of one high strength aluminium alloy with good ductility and one high strength magnesium alloy with good creep resistance at elevated temperatures. A computer program that will help to identify the most effective grain refiners for specific light alloys will also be produced.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0668469
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$195,000.00
Summary
The Rapid Kinetics Research Facility - an Integrated system for rapid kinetic studies of materials using synchrotron radiation. The Rapid Kinetics Research Facility will provide Australian researchers with the tools to follow and understand very rapid processes within advanced materials. This will greatly assist in: i) the development of more efficient materials processing technologies, ii) the development of advanced catalysts able to neutralize pollutants and reduce the energy cost of industri ....The Rapid Kinetics Research Facility - an Integrated system for rapid kinetic studies of materials using synchrotron radiation. The Rapid Kinetics Research Facility will provide Australian researchers with the tools to follow and understand very rapid processes within advanced materials. This will greatly assist in: i) the development of more efficient materials processing technologies, ii) the development of advanced catalysts able to neutralize pollutants and reduce the energy cost of industrial processes, iii) the development of viable hydrogen fuel storage media and iv) the training of young Australian researchers in advanced methods of materials characterization. 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
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0882221
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$580,000.00
Summary
A National Facility for Light Metal Powder Processing. Light metals research is a designated national priority and under the national Light Metals Action Agenda, Australia recognizes a strategic interest in the growth of global markets for light metals and light metal technology in key sectors such as vehicles for road, rail and marine transport; and in the production, processing and applications of the light metals. The proposed Facility will provide the critical level of investment and the str ....A National Facility for Light Metal Powder Processing. Light metals research is a designated national priority and under the national Light Metals Action Agenda, Australia recognizes a strategic interest in the growth of global markets for light metals and light metal technology in key sectors such as vehicles for road, rail and marine transport; and in the production, processing and applications of the light metals. The proposed Facility will provide the critical level of investment and the strategic national focus necessary to achieve competitive advantage in powder metallurgy processing. It will underpin substantial developments in the light metals industry nationally and globally. It will also support high profile Australian research groups.Read moreRead less
New Mg-based hydrogen storage material with destabilised hydrides. This project will develop a new magnesium-based hydrogen storage material for applications such as hydrogen-powered automobiles. Clean energy is a global challenge to reduce greenhouse emissions. Safe storage of hydrogen is a key barrier to the widespread implementation of hydrogen as a clean energy carrier. Magnesium is amongst the few materials able to meet the requirements for effective, safe, light-weight and cheap hydrogen s ....New Mg-based hydrogen storage material with destabilised hydrides. This project will develop a new magnesium-based hydrogen storage material for applications such as hydrogen-powered automobiles. Clean energy is a global challenge to reduce greenhouse emissions. Safe storage of hydrogen is a key barrier to the widespread implementation of hydrogen as a clean energy carrier. Magnesium is amongst the few materials able to meet the requirements for effective, safe, light-weight and cheap hydrogen storage. Light metals is a priority area for Australia with our large resources of aluminium and magnesium. Magnesium-based hydrogen storage could create a huge market for Australian magnesium and hydrogen storage systems. Read moreRead less
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
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0882347
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$340,000.00
Summary
High field magnet for materials processing and characterisation. The proposed infrastructure project will bring many Australian-based researchers together to create a completely new niche of materials processing research. Such a facility will be the first of its kind in Australia. This facility will be located in Australia and thus the time required to process and characterize materials will be significantly reduced without a need to send them overseas. As a consequence of the proposed collabora ....High field magnet for materials processing and characterisation. The proposed infrastructure project will bring many Australian-based researchers together to create a completely new niche of materials processing research. Such a facility will be the first of its kind in Australia. This facility will be located in Australia and thus the time required to process and characterize materials will be significantly reduced without a need to send them overseas. As a consequence of the proposed collaboration, a large number of high quality papers and patents are expected. The facility will increase Australia's position in the field of advanced materials processing and will also provide new ideas and concepts, which will be used in practical applications.Read moreRead less
The fabrication of amorphous metallic components by powder injection moulding. This project has both national and international significance and addresses the National Research Priority: Frontier Technologies - Advanced Materials (light alloys). It represents new science and innovative engineering and has the potential to produce valuable new intellectual property. The project will contribute to emerging Australian expertise in both bulk metallic glasses and powder injection moulding. It will tr ....The fabrication of amorphous metallic components by powder injection moulding. This project has both national and international significance and addresses the National Research Priority: Frontier Technologies - Advanced Materials (light alloys). It represents new science and innovative engineering and has the potential to produce valuable new intellectual property. The project will contribute to emerging Australian expertise in both bulk metallic glasses and powder injection moulding. It will train postgraduate students in powder processing, sintering science, metallic glasses and electron microscopy. Read moreRead less