Damage micromechanisms in alumina hybrid bilayers with graded interfaces. This project proposes a new design concept for high performance alumina hybrids with graded interfaces. The key to this process is the incorporation of thin graded interfaces between an outer homogeneous alumina layer for strength, hardness and wear resistance, and an inner heterogeneous alumina hybrid layer for damage tolerance. The project will explore unresolved issues concerning the effect of graded interfaces on the f ....Damage micromechanisms in alumina hybrid bilayers with graded interfaces. This project proposes a new design concept for high performance alumina hybrids with graded interfaces. The key to this process is the incorporation of thin graded interfaces between an outer homogeneous alumina layer for strength, hardness and wear resistance, and an inner heterogeneous alumina hybrid layer for damage tolerance. The project will explore unresolved issues concerning the effect of graded interfaces on the failure micromechanisms. Advances in this area will provide new strategy or insights for designing novel next generation layered materials.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE150101795
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$372,000.00
Summary
Exceptional properties by design – NiTi vision. The fundamental leaps in new technologies occur with improvements in the materials with which they are made. Until recently high performance metallic composite design had hit a 20 year blockage in nanocomposite design. The solution, a Nickel, Titanium and Niobium (NiTi-Nb) nanowire composite has been heralded as an era of new possibilities in materials design. This project aims to advance high performance metallic composite design by investigating ....Exceptional properties by design – NiTi vision. The fundamental leaps in new technologies occur with improvements in the materials with which they are made. Until recently high performance metallic composite design had hit a 20 year blockage in nanocomposite design. The solution, a Nickel, Titanium and Niobium (NiTi-Nb) nanowire composite has been heralded as an era of new possibilities in materials design. This project aims to advance high performance metallic composite design by investigating the mechanisms of exceptionally large elastic strains achieved in nanowires embedded in a phase-transforming metallic matrix (i.e. NiTi). An understanding of this high performance nanocomposite design has broad application in medicine and engineering.Read moreRead less
Effects of Phase Purity, Porosity and Oxygen Partial Pressure on the Thermal Stability of Nanolayered Ternary Carbides. The successful completion of this collaborative research will lead to (a) enhanced understanding of the roles of phase purity, porosity and atmosphere on the thermal stability of ternary carbides which is crucial for the design of high-performance ternary carbide heating elements; (b) fostering and strengthening of the continuing research collaboration between Curtin University ....Effects of Phase Purity, Porosity and Oxygen Partial Pressure on the Thermal Stability of Nanolayered Ternary Carbides. The successful completion of this collaborative research will lead to (a) enhanced understanding of the roles of phase purity, porosity and atmosphere on the thermal stability of ternary carbides which is crucial for the design of high-performance ternary carbide heating elements; (b) fostering and strengthening of the continuing research collaboration between Curtin University and the Institute of Metals Research; (c) development of high performance prototype ternary carbide heating elements for use in high temperature furnaces and ovens; and (d) potential joint ventures with local suppliers of furnaces in Australia and China, together with Kanthal of Sweden to assist in the manufacture of ternary carbide heating elements. Read moreRead less
Synthesis of Novel Nanostructured Ternary Carbide Composites. This research will lead to (a) new advances and provide contribution of new knowledge to the Priority Research Areas of Advanced Materials; (b) a novel vacuum heat-treatment process for nanostructured materials design. This will offer the ceramics industry in Australia a new technology for producing wear- and heat-resistant components for advanced engineering applications. (c) design of new layer-graded materials with a unique combina ....Synthesis of Novel Nanostructured Ternary Carbide Composites. This research will lead to (a) new advances and provide contribution of new knowledge to the Priority Research Areas of Advanced Materials; (b) a novel vacuum heat-treatment process for nanostructured materials design. This will offer the ceramics industry in Australia a new technology for producing wear- and heat-resistant components for advanced engineering applications. (c) design of new layer-graded materials with a unique combination of hardness for wear resistance and toughness for damage tolerance. This will enable the ceramics industry in Australia to compete internationally in the business of advanced and high performance ceramic products.Read moreRead less
Elastic Strain Engineered Transforming Metal Matrix-Nanowire Composite. This project aims to develop metallic composites of superior mechanical properties based on the principle of elastic strain coupling between ultrahigh-strength nanowires and phase transforming matrix. This new composite design concept has not been explored in the literature. Using the principle of elastic strain coupling, the composite is able to exhibit extraordinary mechanical properties unmatched by any existing engineeri ....Elastic Strain Engineered Transforming Metal Matrix-Nanowire Composite. This project aims to develop metallic composites of superior mechanical properties based on the principle of elastic strain coupling between ultrahigh-strength nanowires and phase transforming matrix. This new composite design concept has not been explored in the literature. Using the principle of elastic strain coupling, the composite is able to exhibit extraordinary mechanical properties unmatched by any existing engineering materials, including high strength, low Young’s modulus and high elastic strain limit. This new concept is a breakthrough and offers a unique opportunity to overcome a long-standing challenge in nanowire composite design, commonly known as the “valley of death”.Read moreRead less
Boundary Effects on Bridging-Stress/Crack-Opening Relationship and Specific Fracture Energy. This project is to investigate the boundary/interface influence on fracture/material properties of composites and thin layered structures along crack path to free boundary and bi-material interface. The local fracture energy dissipation along crack path is emphasised and used to study the boundary influence on the cohesive law - the relationship between crack bridging stress and crack opening displaceme ....Boundary Effects on Bridging-Stress/Crack-Opening Relationship and Specific Fracture Energy. This project is to investigate the boundary/interface influence on fracture/material properties of composites and thin layered structures along crack path to free boundary and bi-material interface. The local fracture energy dissipation along crack path is emphasised and used to study the boundary influence on the cohesive law - the relationship between crack bridging stress and crack opening displacement. New fracture mechanics model is proposed that incorporates the boundary/interface influence and the more popular size effect. The new boundary/interface effect model will be more relevant to modern materials applications related to layered ceramics, thin films, coatings in electronic and bio-medical applications.Read moreRead less
Development of a novel and practical method for fabricating carbon nanotube reinforced polymer composites for automotive applications. An effective, economical and environmentally friendly technology will be developed by this project to fabricate carbon nanotube reinforced polymer composites. The thus obtained products will be applied as automotive parts.
High performance metal oxide inks for printable memory arrays . This project aims to develop next generation printable memory devices with low cost and excellent stability. The goal will be achieved by developing a new class of metal oxide nanomaterials based inks and large scale printing technology, through optimizing the synthesis, printing process and electrode configuration. The expected outcomes will be new electronic materials for a wide range of end uses in flexible electronics, significa ....High performance metal oxide inks for printable memory arrays . This project aims to develop next generation printable memory devices with low cost and excellent stability. The goal will be achieved by developing a new class of metal oxide nanomaterials based inks and large scale printing technology, through optimizing the synthesis, printing process and electrode configuration. The expected outcomes will be new electronic materials for a wide range of end uses in flexible electronics, significant advances in energy efficient data storage devices, and commercialisation of the technology to Australian industries.Read moreRead less
Bio-inspired design to overcome strength-toughness trade-off of composites. This project aims to develop nature-inspired metal composites of exceptional mechanical properties that push the known boundaries of engineering materials. The design utilises a phase transforming metal to transcribe the attributes of biopolymers in nacre to harness the exceptional intrinsic strength of interatomic bonds at atomic scale and to devise adaptive ability for load redistribution for toughness at the macroscop ....Bio-inspired design to overcome strength-toughness trade-off of composites. This project aims to develop nature-inspired metal composites of exceptional mechanical properties that push the known boundaries of engineering materials. The design utilises a phase transforming metal to transcribe the attributes of biopolymers in nacre to harness the exceptional intrinsic strength of interatomic bonds at atomic scale and to devise adaptive ability for load redistribution for toughness at the macroscopic scale. The expected outcomes are an innovative bio-inspired material design strategy that may underpin the creation of many novel high-performance structural composites of unmatched strength and toughness properties, and potential to support new applications and to value-add Australia’s materials manufacturing industry.Read moreRead less