Structure-property relationships in compositionally complex alloys. Physical metallurgy has entered a new era of compositionally complex metallic alloys that show unprecedented combinations of mechanical properties enabling the design of more energy-efficient and economically viable applications. This project aims to generate new knowledge about how locally-resolved, nano-scale atomic arrangements control macroscopic deformation behavior in these materials and develop a fundamental understanding ....Structure-property relationships in compositionally complex alloys. Physical metallurgy has entered a new era of compositionally complex metallic alloys that show unprecedented combinations of mechanical properties enabling the design of more energy-efficient and economically viable applications. This project aims to generate new knowledge about how locally-resolved, nano-scale atomic arrangements control macroscopic deformation behavior in these materials and develop a fundamental understanding of their processing-structure-fracture toughness relationships. Expected outcomes include an enhanced capacity to design materials with damage-tolerant properties superior to existing alloys from bottom up, thereby allowing for commercial benefits throughout transportation, defense, and biomedical device sectors.Read moreRead less
Structure-property relationships of next generation aero-engine materials. We aim to design a novel manufacturing process for superalloy aero-engine parts with superior mechanical properties. This is significant because optimisation of the hot-forging route of the most commonly used Alloy 718 will enable targeted control of its nanoscale precipitate microstructure leading to substantial increases in the high-temperature strength. The expected scientific outcomes are new physical metallurgy knowl ....Structure-property relationships of next generation aero-engine materials. We aim to design a novel manufacturing process for superalloy aero-engine parts with superior mechanical properties. This is significant because optimisation of the hot-forging route of the most commonly used Alloy 718 will enable targeted control of its nanoscale precipitate microstructure leading to substantial increases in the high-temperature strength. The expected scientific outcomes are new physical metallurgy knowledge of the microstructure-property relationships of superalloys. The expected technological and societal outcomes include enhanced aero-engine material performance, creating benefits such as shorter flights over longer distances, and safer, more fuel-efficient air travel.Read moreRead less
Engineering alloy design reimagined as a driven system. This project investigates a new approach to engineering alloy design that explicitly takes into account, and exploits, the energy delivered into an alloy during deformation processing. The work intends to resolve fundamental questions concerning the effect of deformation processing of the evolution of the material structure and the effect this structure has on the resulting mechanical and corrosion properties. The new structures resulting f ....Engineering alloy design reimagined as a driven system. This project investigates a new approach to engineering alloy design that explicitly takes into account, and exploits, the energy delivered into an alloy during deformation processing. The work intends to resolve fundamental questions concerning the effect of deformation processing of the evolution of the material structure and the effect this structure has on the resulting mechanical and corrosion properties. The new structures resulting from this approach are remarkably fine and uniform suggesting they will be both strong and corrosion resistant. The proposed work intends to uncover the origins of both these structures and new properties, and exploit them for the design of new engineering alloys with greatly improved properties.Read moreRead less
Improving mechanical properties through heterogeneous structures. This project aims to explore the mechanisms of how heterogeneous structures have superior mechanical properties relative to homogenous structures by investigating how stacking fault energy affects the mechanical properties of materials. Materials with heterogeneous structures demonstrate superior mechanical properties, partly due to the simultaneous activation of multiple deformation mechanisms. Stacking fault energy plays a criti ....Improving mechanical properties through heterogeneous structures. This project aims to explore the mechanisms of how heterogeneous structures have superior mechanical properties relative to homogenous structures by investigating how stacking fault energy affects the mechanical properties of materials. Materials with heterogeneous structures demonstrate superior mechanical properties, partly due to the simultaneous activation of multiple deformation mechanisms. Stacking fault energy plays a critical role in determining deformation mechanisms, yet the mechanism of this effect on the mechanical properties of materials with heterogeneous structures is not understood. This project is expected to provide guidance in structural and compositional design of heterogeneous metallic structures with optimum mechanical properties, which will significantly benefit Australian metallurgical and related industries.Read moreRead less
Advancing the Australian specialty alloy processing capability. This project aims to advance Australia’s specialty alloy processing capability by developing novel processing routes to overcome current bottlenecks that prevent supply meeting demand. New knowledge will be generated on alternative means of the processing of Rene 41, a Nickel-based superalloy with limited formability through a comprehensive experimental and modelling-based research program. Rene 41 is strategically important for man ....Advancing the Australian specialty alloy processing capability. This project aims to advance Australia’s specialty alloy processing capability by developing novel processing routes to overcome current bottlenecks that prevent supply meeting demand. New knowledge will be generated on alternative means of the processing of Rene 41, a Nickel-based superalloy with limited formability through a comprehensive experimental and modelling-based research program. Rene 41 is strategically important for manufacturing next generation turbofan engines. The expected outcome is the identification of innovative processing routes to provide stronger, defect-free specialty alloys for aerospace applications, vital to Australia’s advanced manufacturing.Read moreRead less
Engineering Processable, Tough Hydrogels with Biological Activity. The project aims to design a new class of tough hydrogels to address issues in engineering complex soft and robust structures. These hydrogels have superior properties compared with current materials as they are biologically active, processable by various manufacturing techniques, elastic and have a capacity for rapid self-recovery that are ideal for soft tissues. Their physical property is tunable by modification of their compos ....Engineering Processable, Tough Hydrogels with Biological Activity. The project aims to design a new class of tough hydrogels to address issues in engineering complex soft and robust structures. These hydrogels have superior properties compared with current materials as they are biologically active, processable by various manufacturing techniques, elastic and have a capacity for rapid self-recovery that are ideal for soft tissues. Their physical property is tunable by modification of their compositions that enable construction of complex seamless structure such as valved conduit with anistropic property. Expected outcomes of this project include new insights into material design, multi-physics modelling, and multi-material additive manufacturing for broad applications in soft robotics and medical implants.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE200101105
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$423,856.00
Summary
Probing the nanomechanics of single grain boundary with decorated solutes. Grain boundaries (GBs) are thermodynamically susceptible to attract solutes to reduce system energy. Elaborately manipulating the GB nanostructure and chemistry via segregation can essentially be conducive, rather than detrimental, to materials performance. However, the underlying mechanism of GB segregation and its detailed effect on material properties remain elusive due to the GB complexities in the polycrystals. Throu ....Probing the nanomechanics of single grain boundary with decorated solutes. Grain boundaries (GBs) are thermodynamically susceptible to attract solutes to reduce system energy. Elaborately manipulating the GB nanostructure and chemistry via segregation can essentially be conducive, rather than detrimental, to materials performance. However, the underlying mechanism of GB segregation and its detailed effect on material properties remain elusive due to the GB complexities in the polycrystals. Through correlative in-situ nanomechanical testing and atom probe tomography, this project aims to unravel the rationale of segregation behaviour of individual GBs and its effectiveness to enhance the material performance, and hence enable nanostructural design of advanced metallic materials with unprecedented properties.Read moreRead less
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
Lower-cost processing of formable magnesium alloys. This project aims to develop higher speed extrusion and rolling of magnesium alloys through the enhanced control of alloying elements and processing schedules. Expected outcomes of this project include the development of novel alloys and processing technologies that can produce lighter, better performing magnesium products with lower processing costs. This project will deliver magnesium products that can improve fuel efficiency, resulting in lo ....Lower-cost processing of formable magnesium alloys. This project aims to develop higher speed extrusion and rolling of magnesium alloys through the enhanced control of alloying elements and processing schedules. Expected outcomes of this project include the development of novel alloys and processing technologies that can produce lighter, better performing magnesium products with lower processing costs. This project will deliver magnesium products that can improve fuel efficiency, resulting in lower emissions and less environmental pollution, along with lightweight portable consumer goods.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