Unlocking the diverse property profile of ultra-lightweight magnesium alloys. This project aims to develop the theory behind why micro alloying contributes to the formation of surface film properties. The exemplar is a prototype Magnesium-Lithium (Mg-Li) base alloy, with high specific-strength and corrosion resistance. This project will lead to the development of a new processable ultra-lightweight, corrosion resistant Mg-Li alloy family that is stronger than the prototype alloy, and with, at le ....Unlocking the diverse property profile of ultra-lightweight magnesium alloys. This project aims to develop the theory behind why micro alloying contributes to the formation of surface film properties. The exemplar is a prototype Magnesium-Lithium (Mg-Li) base alloy, with high specific-strength and corrosion resistance. This project will lead to the development of a new processable ultra-lightweight, corrosion resistant Mg-Li alloy family that is stronger than the prototype alloy, and with, at least, comparable ductility and corrosion resistance. Not only will the outcomes of the work be a fundamental advance to the fields of metallurgy and corrosion science, they will lead to the identification of an optimised compositional window for creating our second generation Mg-Li alloy family capable of being manufactured into ultra-lightweight, corrosion resistant metal products.Read moreRead less
Light steel roof and wall systems under combined wind and bushfire actions. The project aims to investigate the complex behaviour of light cold-formed-steel roof and wall systems involving localized failures under the combined action of wind and bushfire using wind suction tests at elevated temperatures combined with advanced numerical modelling. It will generate new knowledge of the behaviour and strength of cold-formed-steel roof and wall systems under bushfire conditions. Expected outcomes in ....Light steel roof and wall systems under combined wind and bushfire actions. The project aims to investigate the complex behaviour of light cold-formed-steel roof and wall systems involving localized failures under the combined action of wind and bushfire using wind suction tests at elevated temperatures combined with advanced numerical modelling. It will generate new knowledge of the behaviour and strength of cold-formed-steel roof and wall systems under bushfire conditions. Expected outcomes include new design models for wind, bushfire and cold-formed-steel Standards. This will significantly improve the bushfire safety of buildings, since non-combustible steel roof and wall systems are used as building envelopes in bushfire prone areas, but are not designed to withstand recently discovered bushfire-enhanced winds.Read moreRead less
Environmentally friendly lubricants for higher productivity in cold rolling. This project aims to develop an oil free aqueous lubricant for cold rolling to replace the existing oil-in-water emulsion. The lubricant will be molecularly engineered to combine synergy between nanomechanics and tribochemistry of boundary additives to deliver integrated functionalities in the strip rolling. During cold rolling , lubricant starvation often occurs at high speed and it has restricted the productivity of t ....Environmentally friendly lubricants for higher productivity in cold rolling. This project aims to develop an oil free aqueous lubricant for cold rolling to replace the existing oil-in-water emulsion. The lubricant will be molecularly engineered to combine synergy between nanomechanics and tribochemistry of boundary additives to deliver integrated functionalities in the strip rolling. During cold rolling , lubricant starvation often occurs at high speed and it has restricted the productivity of the rolling mill and affected the strip gauge and surface quality. Expected outcomes of this project include an innovative oil free lubricant with significant environmental benefits and an ability for manufacturers to improve productivity by operating at higher speeds, lower costs, and achieve superior strip surface quality.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
Approaching near-ideal strength for bulk amorphous metals. This project aims to develop a novel metal materials design strategy to break the strength ceilings of nanocrystalline metals and bulk metallic glasses. This strategy is based on a novel concept of synergy between a bulk amorphous matrix and phase-transforming nanocrystallites embedded within. The nanocrystallites, via their uniform transformation lattice distortion, prevent the formation of shear bands in the amorphous matrix and enable ....Approaching near-ideal strength for bulk amorphous metals. This project aims to develop a novel metal materials design strategy to break the strength ceilings of nanocrystalline metals and bulk metallic glasses. This strategy is based on a novel concept of synergy between a bulk amorphous matrix and phase-transforming nanocrystallites embedded within. The nanocrystallites, via their uniform transformation lattice distortion, prevent the formation of shear bands in the amorphous matrix and enable collective atomic load transfer to allow the amorphous matrix to continue to load to achieve its intrinsic near-ideal strength. The amorphous matrix eliminates the grain boundary plasticity of the nanoscrystallites. This concept is novel and untested in the history of physical metallurgy.Read moreRead less
Transformation Dual Phase Synergy for Unprecedented Superelasticity. This project aims to develop metallic materials of unprecedented mechanical properties based on a novel concept of transformation triggered dual-phase synergy. This is enabled by harnessing the intrinsic strength of interatomic bonds in solids using the nanoscience principle of lattice strain matching between phase transforming bodies. The project will provide significant benefits, such as innovating our metal production techno ....Transformation Dual Phase Synergy for Unprecedented Superelasticity. This project aims to develop metallic materials of unprecedented mechanical properties based on a novel concept of transformation triggered dual-phase synergy. This is enabled by harnessing the intrinsic strength of interatomic bonds in solids using the nanoscience principle of lattice strain matching between phase transforming bodies. The project will provide significant benefits, such as innovating our metal production technology and to value-add the metal processing and manufacturing industries of Australia.Read moreRead less
Mechanics of the shape of thin strip with varying thickness. This project aims to develop an innovative technology for the production of thin strip with controlled varying longitudinal thickness and shape. The project will propose a new thin strip rolling theory and strip shape control strategy providing an improved understanding of the mechanics of manufacturing thin strips with varying longitudinal thickness. The technology to manufacture rolled products with varying thickness for lightweight ....Mechanics of the shape of thin strip with varying thickness. This project aims to develop an innovative technology for the production of thin strip with controlled varying longitudinal thickness and shape. The project will propose a new thin strip rolling theory and strip shape control strategy providing an improved understanding of the mechanics of manufacturing thin strips with varying longitudinal thickness. The technology to manufacture rolled products with varying thickness for lightweight structures is in significant demand for the automotive, aerospace and electronics industries to reduce weight through optimum strip thickness and minimum joints. The benefits will include reduced weight, fuel consumption and construction time of automobiles and aircraft when the developed novel thin strip products are used, and therefore reducing manufacturing costs and negative environmental impacts.Read moreRead less
Net-shape micro manufacturing of composite micro channels. This project aims to develop a high precision net-shape micro manufacturing technology for the production of composite micro channels in a one-step process with excellent overall performance in quality and productivity. The new technology will enhance the production of commercial micro channels which have extensive applications in micro-electromechanical systems, health, medical and communications industries. This project will improve th ....Net-shape micro manufacturing of composite micro channels. This project aims to develop a high precision net-shape micro manufacturing technology for the production of composite micro channels in a one-step process with excellent overall performance in quality and productivity. The new technology will enhance the production of commercial micro channels which have extensive applications in micro-electromechanical systems, health, medical and communications industries. This project will improve the competitive advantage for Australia in the field of advanced manufacturing and has the potential to stimulate economic benefit and growth of the manufacturing industry.Read moreRead less
New biocompatible titanium alloys for next-generation metallic biomaterials. This project aims to develop a new class of titanium alloy biomaterials with enhanced mechanical compatibility, biocompatibility, and bio-functionality. The project expects to generate new knowledge in phase transformation mechanisms and advanced surface modification techniques for these alloys. Expected outcomes also include developments in phase transformation theories that enable high yield strength and low Young's m ....New biocompatible titanium alloys for next-generation metallic biomaterials. This project aims to develop a new class of titanium alloy biomaterials with enhanced mechanical compatibility, biocompatibility, and bio-functionality. The project expects to generate new knowledge in phase transformation mechanisms and advanced surface modification techniques for these alloys. Expected outcomes also include developments in phase transformation theories that enable high yield strength and low Young's modulus, and innovations in manufacturing techniques for new titanium alloys. This project will provide significant benefits to both Australian healthcare providers and bone-implant recipients through greater implant lifespans, improved patient outcomes and valuable savings to the healthcare system.Read moreRead less
Designing metallic glass structures for damage tolerance via 3D printing. This project aims to make breakthrough developments in understanding the processing-structure-property relationships that govern the fracture toughness of bulk metallic glasses produced by laser powder bed fusion additive manufacturing. The project intends to generate new knowledge on how to control fracture toughness of bulk metallic glasses via novel processing approaches that create designed glassy microstructures. Expe ....Designing metallic glass structures for damage tolerance via 3D printing. This project aims to make breakthrough developments in understanding the processing-structure-property relationships that govern the fracture toughness of bulk metallic glasses produced by laser powder bed fusion additive manufacturing. The project intends to generate new knowledge on how to control fracture toughness of bulk metallic glasses via novel processing approaches that create designed glassy microstructures. Expected outcomes will be an enhanced capacity to develop and commercialise bulk metallic glasses with mechanical properties superior to conventional metal alloys. Anticipated benefits will be improved products for the aerospace, defence, transportation, biomedical device, consumer product, and 3D printing industries.Read moreRead less