Reducing tool wear through novel surface treatments and improved lubrication. High strength steels can be used to make vehicles lighter and safer but forming them into parts requires large forces. This can lead to problems with tool wear and poor surface finish. This project will lead to improved understanding of what makes a lubricant effective and how to design a tool surface to reduce wear. This new knowledge will lead to improved tool designs and products. The competitiveness of the Australi ....Reducing tool wear through novel surface treatments and improved lubrication. High strength steels can be used to make vehicles lighter and safer but forming them into parts requires large forces. This can lead to problems with tool wear and poor surface finish. This project will lead to improved understanding of what makes a lubricant effective and how to design a tool surface to reduce wear. This new knowledge will lead to improved tool designs and products. The competitiveness of the Australian automotive manufacturing industry will be improved and there will be benefits for the local tooling industry, especially in the competition for overseas markets.Read moreRead less
Strength Enhancement of Aluminium Extrusion Alloys via Novel Thermal Processes and Alloy Composition Control. The aluminium industry in Australia produces ~4% of total goods and services exports nationally and over $2 billon per year in export earnings. The importance of developing energy-efficient processing and manufacturing technologies for aluminium and its alloys is reflected in the Federal Government's Light Metals Action Agenda. The proposed project has the potential to establish a platfo ....Strength Enhancement of Aluminium Extrusion Alloys via Novel Thermal Processes and Alloy Composition Control. The aluminium industry in Australia produces ~4% of total goods and services exports nationally and over $2 billon per year in export earnings. The importance of developing energy-efficient processing and manufacturing technologies for aluminium and its alloys is reflected in the Federal Government's Light Metals Action Agenda. The proposed project has the potential to establish a platform for intelligent design and development of thermal processing technologies for aluminium extrusion alloys with improved mechanical properties. Such technologies are expected to help the Australian aluminium industry to expand its international market share.Read moreRead less
Advanced Testing and Structural Analysis for Assessment and Control of Hydrogen Damage in Structural Steels. Hydrogen offers the potential for reducing emissions in transport and energy generation industries as it is a low emission energy carrier. However, there remain questions in relation to the effects of hydrogen gas on the structural integrity of large structural steel components, such as gas distribution pipelines. The project aims to provide guidance on the safe use of hydrogen in high pr ....Advanced Testing and Structural Analysis for Assessment and Control of Hydrogen Damage in Structural Steels. Hydrogen offers the potential for reducing emissions in transport and energy generation industries as it is a low emission energy carrier. However, there remain questions in relation to the effects of hydrogen gas on the structural integrity of large structural steel components, such as gas distribution pipelines. The project aims to provide guidance on the safe use of hydrogen in high pressure vessels manufactured from low alloy ferritic steels. This project will increase confidence in relevant safety codes and standards, consequently increasing the likelihood of large scale uptake of hydrogen energy technologies. Read moreRead less
Influence of hydrogen on metallic components for clean energy. Hydrogen (H) energy technology for a future H economy, and much of the world's current electricity generation by H-cooled turbogenerators, rely on the availability of affordable materials that are resistant to hydrogen embrittlement (HE), sudden mechanical failure owing to absorption of H atoms. This project will lead to better understanding of the HE resistance of commercial medium-strength steels for use in H pipelines and pressure ....Influence of hydrogen on metallic components for clean energy. Hydrogen (H) energy technology for a future H economy, and much of the world's current electricity generation by H-cooled turbogenerators, rely on the availability of affordable materials that are resistant to hydrogen embrittlement (HE), sudden mechanical failure owing to absorption of H atoms. This project will lead to better understanding of the HE resistance of commercial medium-strength steels for use in H pipelines and pressure vessels, and of the specific steels used in turbogenerator components. More efficient, cheaper and safer clean energy will be the result.Read moreRead less
Improving Tribological Performance Through The Control of Surface Microstructure Using Plasma Based Surface Engineering Technologies. This project aims to improve the tribological performance of a new type of rotary valving system required to operate under marginal boundary lubrication conditions. The intention is to develop innovative plasma based methods of generating inherently low friction modified surfaces through the control of microstructure. The latter will be analysed using focused ion ....Improving Tribological Performance Through The Control of Surface Microstructure Using Plasma Based Surface Engineering Technologies. This project aims to improve the tribological performance of a new type of rotary valving system required to operate under marginal boundary lubrication conditions. The intention is to develop innovative plasma based methods of generating inherently low friction modified surfaces through the control of microstructure. The latter will be analysed using focused ion beam milling. The performance of modified surfaces will be assessed in simulated friction and wear tests. Success could lead to more widespread adoption of the technology within the automotive industry with benefits for more efficient use of energy and cleaner exhaust emissions.Read moreRead less
Metallurgical Influences on Stress Corrosion Cracking (SCC) of Rock Bolts. This project seeks to understand the metallurgy of stress corrosion cracking (SCC) of rock bolts. Rock bolts are the most effective means of roof support in underground mines and, as a consequence, rock bolts are widely used in the mining industry worldwide. Failure of rock bolts by SCC has significant safety and economic implications. The consequent rock falls have the potential to kill or main any person caught undernea ....Metallurgical Influences on Stress Corrosion Cracking (SCC) of Rock Bolts. This project seeks to understand the metallurgy of stress corrosion cracking (SCC) of rock bolts. Rock bolts are the most effective means of roof support in underground mines and, as a consequence, rock bolts are widely used in the mining industry worldwide. Failure of rock bolts by SCC has significant safety and economic implications. The consequent rock falls have the potential to kill or main any person caught underneath. If a stoppage is caused of the long wall operation in a typical Australian colliery, the typical value of the lost production is of the order of a million dollars a day.Read moreRead less