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
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE140100156
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$250,000.00
Summary
Advanced Laser Additive Manufacturing System for Extended Applications to Surface Engineering, Direct Manufacturing and New Alloy Development. Advanced laser additive manufacturing system for extended applications to surface engineering, direct manufacturing and new alloy development: This project will provide an advanced laser additive manufacturing system for extended applications. Although the facility was originally designed for forefront additive manufacturing, it enables innovative resear ....Advanced Laser Additive Manufacturing System for Extended Applications to Surface Engineering, Direct Manufacturing and New Alloy Development. Advanced laser additive manufacturing system for extended applications to surface engineering, direct manufacturing and new alloy development: This project will provide an advanced laser additive manufacturing system for extended applications. Although the facility was originally designed for forefront additive manufacturing, it enables innovative research on surface engineering to solve the long standing corrosion and wear problems associated with metal components and to produce biomedical coatings on titanium implants. The facility can also be used to develop high quality alloys, including titanium and magnesium alloys, through an accelerated metallurgy approach, leading to breakthrough progress in metal research. Such alloys are highly desired by automotive and aerospace industries to improve fuel efficiency through weight reduction. Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE140100012
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$890,000.00
Summary
Dual Column-Focused Ion Beam/Scanning Electron Microscope facility for Queensland. Dual column focused ion beam/scanning electron microscope facility: This facility will precisely cut specimens and surfaces that can be imaged in a variety of ways, including crystallographic and elemental space, of particular use for physical scientists, as well as biological specimens. This instrument will provide information at resolutions between optical and transmission electron microscopy, images that will ....Dual Column-Focused Ion Beam/Scanning Electron Microscope facility for Queensland. Dual column focused ion beam/scanning electron microscope facility: This facility will precisely cut specimens and surfaces that can be imaged in a variety of ways, including crystallographic and elemental space, of particular use for physical scientists, as well as biological specimens. This instrument will provide information at resolutions between optical and transmission electron microscopy, images that will effectively provide the biologist with the ability to develop the complete correlative picture of organelles and cells. The instrument will also provide a much needed resource for researchers across disciplines such as physics, chemistry, biology, geology and engineering.Read moreRead less
The design of new die-castable bulk metallic glasses exhibiting superior mechanical performance. The most dramatic illustration of non-equilibrium processing of a metal is the formation of an amorphous solid that can possess physical and/or functional properties superior to its equilibrium crystalline counterpart. This project will generate new types of net-shape-processed amorphous alloys with an excellent combination of properties.
Origin and impact of solute clustering in light alloys. This project is designed to provide a physical metallurgy platform for understanding and interpreting the role of clusters of micro-alloying elements in precipitation in light alloys and aiding new alloy development. Phase transformations play an important role in determining the mechanical properties of many engineering materials. Understanding the origin and impact of solute clustering in phase transformations is crucial for achieving unp ....Origin and impact of solute clustering in light alloys. This project is designed to provide a physical metallurgy platform for understanding and interpreting the role of clusters of micro-alloying elements in precipitation in light alloys and aiding new alloy development. Phase transformations play an important role in determining the mechanical properties of many engineering materials. Understanding the origin and impact of solute clustering in phase transformations is crucial for achieving unprecedented properties in these materials. This project plans to combine atomic-scale characterisation and multi-scale computation to reveal the geometry and energetics of solute clusters and cluster-assisted nucleation in light alloys based on aluminium and magnesium. Applications may include the development of stronger and less costly metallic materials for the aerospace, aircraft and automotive industries.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE120102588
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$375,000.00
Summary
A fundamental approach to generating new classes of light-weight amorphous alloys based on liquid-metal structures. An innovative alloy design method that harnesses the stable building blocks of the liquid structure will be used to develop new light-weight magnesium, aluminium, silicon and titanium amorphous metals. These new alloys will exhibit ultrahigh-strength, corrosion-resistance and functionality offering a new alternative to high performance materials.
Real-time imaging of crystal strengthening mechanisms in metals. The strength limit of a metal is marked by rapid motion of crystalline defects. The associated speeds can locally approach that of sound. To probe the associated mechanisms clearly requires both spatial and temporal resolution. We propose to create a new bulk x-ray technique with an unprecedented combination of temporal and spatial resolution. We plan to exploit the technique to mediate a step change in modelling strength based on ....Real-time imaging of crystal strengthening mechanisms in metals. The strength limit of a metal is marked by rapid motion of crystalline defects. The associated speeds can locally approach that of sound. To probe the associated mechanisms clearly requires both spatial and temporal resolution. We propose to create a new bulk x-ray technique with an unprecedented combination of temporal and spatial resolution. We plan to exploit the technique to mediate a step change in modelling strength based on twinning. The formation of crystalline twins is known to dictate the strength of the light metal magnesium. A fuller understanding of the effect of twinning on strength in this metal will provide much needed confidence to implement it more widely in energy saving applications.Read moreRead less
Ultra-lightweight alloys with unique multi-dimensional property profiles. Lightweight alloys with high specific-strength are an essential prerequisite in modern and future technologies. To be useful, they must also possess ductility and inherent corrosion resistance. The latter two properties, however, are inversely correlated with strength. This project proposes to break this paradox - not only in terms of a paradigm change regarding multi-property alloy design - but as applied to the most ligh ....Ultra-lightweight alloys with unique multi-dimensional property profiles. Lightweight alloys with high specific-strength are an essential prerequisite in modern and future technologies. To be useful, they must also possess ductility and inherent corrosion resistance. The latter two properties, however, are inversely correlated with strength. This project proposes to break this paradox - not only in terms of a paradigm change regarding multi-property alloy design - but as applied to the most lightweight engineering alloy system in existence, Magnesium-Lithium (Mg-Li), for which the impact on specific properties is immense. The aim is to develop ultra-lightweight Mg-Li based alloys with formidable property profiles via alloy design and thermomechanical processing. The expected outcome is a new class of structural corrosion resistant metal.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE120102778
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$375,000.00
Summary
Enabling a new generation of advanced high-strength aluminium alloys through materials design. This project will create an analysis-engine of novel atom-sensitive methods to unlock the materials science of hierarchy-strengthening. It will assist in determining how hierarchical structures evolve and synergistically strengthen a new generation of advanced high-strength aluminium alloys that are strong as steel, but a third the weight.
Net shape manufacturing of titanium alloys by powder metallurgy. This project is aiming at developing a novel net shape manufacturing for advanced materials (titanium alloys) and addresses Priority Goal of Advanced Materials of Research Priority 3: Frontier Technologies for Advanced Materials. It represents new science and innovative engineering and has the potential to produce valuable new intellectual property.