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
Optimising the Formability of Strip-Cast Low Carbon Steel. Recent advances in strip casting of low carbon steel have the potential for producing formable sheet products at a fraction of the cost of conventional slab casting and secondary processing. The aim of the project is to develop a deeper understanding of the effect of solidification microstructure of strip-cast steel on the development of microstructure and texture following cold rolling and annealing in an attempt to improve the formabi ....Optimising the Formability of Strip-Cast Low Carbon Steel. Recent advances in strip casting of low carbon steel have the potential for producing formable sheet products at a fraction of the cost of conventional slab casting and secondary processing. The aim of the project is to develop a deeper understanding of the effect of solidification microstructure of strip-cast steel on the development of microstructure and texture following cold rolling and annealing in an attempt to improve the formability of the final strip product. The project is also expected to produce an outstanding Australian researcher relevant to industry with expertise in ferrous physical metallurgy.Read moreRead less
New Generation Pipeline and Q&T Plate Steels. If successful, the progressive reformulation of the alloy design of a new family of steels would enhance their properties, greatly reduce the complexity of manufacture, ensure more efficient steelmaking production practices and enable the full capacity of the domestic pipe mills and plate manufacturing facilities to be realised. This innovative and new approach opens up opportunities for market growth and export potential in areas of fundamental impo ....New Generation Pipeline and Q&T Plate Steels. If successful, the progressive reformulation of the alloy design of a new family of steels would enhance their properties, greatly reduce the complexity of manufacture, ensure more efficient steelmaking production practices and enable the full capacity of the domestic pipe mills and plate manufacturing facilities to be realised. This innovative and new approach opens up opportunities for market growth and export potential in areas of fundamental importance to Australia's infrastructure and mining industries and defence capability. Implementation of this newly developed technology would, for the first time, create export market opportunities for Australian pipe manufacturers.
Read moreRead less
Dynamic recrystallization and preferred orientation in ultra-thin steel-strip under conditions of fluctuating temperature and stress. We aim to develop a sound understanding of the origins of ridge-buckle defects in flat-rolled steel sheet and to train researchers in advanced techniques. By studying dynamic recrystallisation and texture formation, not of the bulk, but of isolated pockets of material within the bulk that are subject to fluctuating conditions of temperature and stress, defect form ....Dynamic recrystallization and preferred orientation in ultra-thin steel-strip under conditions of fluctuating temperature and stress. We aim to develop a sound understanding of the origins of ridge-buckle defects in flat-rolled steel sheet and to train researchers in advanced techniques. By studying dynamic recrystallisation and texture formation, not of the bulk, but of isolated pockets of material within the bulk that are subject to fluctuating conditions of temperature and stress, defect formation will be related to the intricate interplay between rolling dynamics and microstructural development. Through this new approach a scientifically founded quantitative model should emerge so that defect occurrence can be forecasted, preventative action predicted and industry's competitive position be retained. Read moreRead less
Hot Rolling Model for Control of Nb Bearing Steels. High strength Nb bearing strip steels are used to reduce the weight of automotive and construction products. The manufacture of these steels is challenging because of difficulties encountered in maintaining constant properties and strip thickness. The aim of the current work is to develop a model for Nb bearing steels that describes the effect of processing conditions and composition on the microstructure evolution during hot rolling. The model ....Hot Rolling Model for Control of Nb Bearing Steels. High strength Nb bearing strip steels are used to reduce the weight of automotive and construction products. The manufacture of these steels is challenging because of difficulties encountered in maintaining constant properties and strip thickness. The aim of the current work is to develop a model for Nb bearing steels that describes the effect of processing conditions and composition on the microstructure evolution during hot rolling. The model to be developed will incorporate a new approach to describing dynamic recrystallization and will lead to better property and dimensional control. It will also assist in new grade development.Read moreRead less
Development of a Microstructure Model for Process and Product Development. It is possible to mathematically model the evolution of the microstructure of steel during hot rolling and cooling to room temperature. By linking the microstructure to the product performance these models can be used for computer based development of new products and processes. The current work involves an extension of these concepts to the Smorgon Steel minimill. The project involves the development of new equations ....Development of a Microstructure Model for Process and Product Development. It is possible to mathematically model the evolution of the microstructure of steel during hot rolling and cooling to room temperature. By linking the microstructure to the product performance these models can be used for computer based development of new products and processes. The current work involves an extension of these concepts to the Smorgon Steel minimill. The project involves the development of new equations to handle the high residual content from the use of remelted scrap and the use of these models to enhance current and future local and export grades.Read moreRead less
New Wrought Magnesium Alloys: Manipulating the Annealed Microstructure. One of the main impediments to increased use of wrought magnesium is its characteristic but mediocre mechanical properties. The proposed work paves the way for new improved wrought magnesium alloys by determining how the constituent nano-structures, micro-structures and deformation conditions can be manipulated to control the evolution of properties during annealing. The project will deliver mathematical models describing th ....New Wrought Magnesium Alloys: Manipulating the Annealed Microstructure. One of the main impediments to increased use of wrought magnesium is its characteristic but mediocre mechanical properties. The proposed work paves the way for new improved wrought magnesium alloys by determining how the constituent nano-structures, micro-structures and deformation conditions can be manipulated to control the evolution of properties during annealing. The project will deliver mathematical models describing the annealed microstructure and mechanical properties. The work will also explore the potential of a recent discovery made by the CI of a simple technique to randomise the alignment of the annealed atomic lattice structure, which promises to markedly improve formability.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
Development of Low Cost, High Quality Nitrides for Solid-State Lighting and Other Power Saving Applications. The advent of high brightness, low cost, compact, low power white light-emitting diodes (LEDs) will revolutionise lighting as we currently know it. Incandescent light bulbs and fluorescent tubes are inefficient light sources and their replacement with high efficiency solid state LED lighting over the next 10 years will provide a 10% reduction in global greenhouse gas emissions. The develo ....Development of Low Cost, High Quality Nitrides for Solid-State Lighting and Other Power Saving Applications. The advent of high brightness, low cost, compact, low power white light-emitting diodes (LEDs) will revolutionise lighting as we currently know it. Incandescent light bulbs and fluorescent tubes are inefficient light sources and their replacement with high efficiency solid state LED lighting over the next 10 years will provide a 10% reduction in global greenhouse gas emissions. The development and enhancement of a recent Australian innovation for the fabrication of low cost high brightness LEDs will enable Australia to be at the frontier of this technology and to be a world leader in the next stage of its development.Read moreRead less