Designing metallic glass structures for damage tolerance via 3D printing. This project aims to make breakthrough developments in understanding the processing-structure-property relationships that govern the fracture toughness of bulk metallic glasses produced by laser powder bed fusion additive manufacturing. The project intends to generate new knowledge on how to control fracture toughness of bulk metallic glasses via novel processing approaches that create designed glassy microstructures. Expe ....Designing metallic glass structures for damage tolerance via 3D printing. This project aims to make breakthrough developments in understanding the processing-structure-property relationships that govern the fracture toughness of bulk metallic glasses produced by laser powder bed fusion additive manufacturing. The project intends to generate new knowledge on how to control fracture toughness of bulk metallic glasses via novel processing approaches that create designed glassy microstructures. Expected outcomes will be an enhanced capacity to develop and commercialise bulk metallic glasses with mechanical properties superior to conventional metal alloys. Anticipated benefits will be improved products for the aerospace, defence, transportation, biomedical device, consumer product, and 3D printing industries.Read moreRead less
Liquid metal solvents for high entropy and atomically configured systems. Significant challenges remain in developing high entropy alloys, which are future disruptors in metallurgy, ranging from configurational entropy to atomic ordering. To address such challenges, we will explore liquid metal solvents for synthesising high entropy and atomically configured systems from the combination of reactive and high melting point elements stabilised in metallic solvents. Molecular imprinting, mechanical ....Liquid metal solvents for high entropy and atomically configured systems. Significant challenges remain in developing high entropy alloys, which are future disruptors in metallurgy, ranging from configurational entropy to atomic ordering. To address such challenges, we will explore liquid metal solvents for synthesising high entropy and atomically configured systems from the combination of reactive and high melting point elements stabilised in metallic solvents. Molecular imprinting, mechanical and electrochemical triggers will control interfacial atomic organisation and precipitation. The growth mechanisms, both at the interface and in the bulk, will be explored by high energy probing techniques and computational simulations. We will offer new metallurgical paradigms for future catalysis and sensing concepts.Read moreRead less
Accessing Liquid Noble Metals for Low Temperature Chemical Reactions. We will explore noble metals in liquid form at low temperatures. We will show that while noble metals melting points are above 1000°C, a gallium matrix will allow their existence in liquid form at low temperatures (<75°C). A variety of noble metal gallium alloy combinations will be investigated for their catalytic activities which are expected to show very high kinetics. We will study both bulk and low dimensional analogues to ....Accessing Liquid Noble Metals for Low Temperature Chemical Reactions. We will explore noble metals in liquid form at low temperatures. We will show that while noble metals melting points are above 1000°C, a gallium matrix will allow their existence in liquid form at low temperatures (<75°C). A variety of noble metal gallium alloy combinations will be investigated for their catalytic activities which are expected to show very high kinetics. We will study both bulk and low dimensional analogues to understand the atomic dispersion of noble metals on interface and in the core of the alloys, for discoveries regarding the liquid state catalytic properties of the mixes. Subsequently, model chemical reactions will reveal the enhancement of the kinetics and what the project can offer to industrial innovations. Read moreRead less
In-situ grain boundary engineering via metal additive manufacturing. We aim to develop a capability for targeted specialty alloy microstructure design via metal 3D printing. Our approach to generate customised grain boundary networks in stainless steels and superalloys will unlock superior mechanical, corrosion and technological properties, without subsequent thermomechanical treatments. Scientific outcomes are new physical metallurgy knowledge on the targeted selection of desirable interfaces v ....In-situ grain boundary engineering via metal additive manufacturing. We aim to develop a capability for targeted specialty alloy microstructure design via metal 3D printing. Our approach to generate customised grain boundary networks in stainless steels and superalloys will unlock superior mechanical, corrosion and technological properties, without subsequent thermomechanical treatments. Scientific outcomes are new physical metallurgy knowledge on the targeted selection of desirable interfaces via recrystallisation and coupled segregation-precipitation phenomena. Technological outcomes are processing maps for printing parts with customised microstructures. This will diminish anisotropy, residual stress and defects, benefitting defence, aerospace and energy applications, all vital to the Australian economy.Read moreRead less
Corrosion triggered self-passivation of magnesium alloys . This project aims to sustainably protect magnesium alloys from aqueous corrosion in engineering services through an unprecedented self-passivation mechanism (analogues to stainless steel). This project is expected to generate new knowledge in the area of passivation mechanisms for magnesium alloys in corrosive environments through high-throughput screening and in-situ corrosion characterisation at atomic scale. This should provide signif ....Corrosion triggered self-passivation of magnesium alloys . This project aims to sustainably protect magnesium alloys from aqueous corrosion in engineering services through an unprecedented self-passivation mechanism (analogues to stainless steel). This project is expected to generate new knowledge in the area of passivation mechanisms for magnesium alloys in corrosive environments through high-throughput screening and in-situ corrosion characterisation at atomic scale. This should provide significant benefits, such as enabling the debut of a scientific strategy to transform the magnesium alloy market with respect to end use (such as electric car industry), energy composition and emissions, which has significant industrial interest as it will provide new opportunities to minimise carbon footprint.Read moreRead less
Metallic materials with combined chemical and structural heterogeneities. This project aims to explore how combined spatial gradients in composition and microstructure affect the mechanical properties of metallic materials. Manipulation of composition and microstructure has been widely used to strengthen materials but this often deteriorates the ductility. The trade-off could be overcome through the introduction of gradient structures because the variations in both composition and microstructure ....Metallic materials with combined chemical and structural heterogeneities. This project aims to explore how combined spatial gradients in composition and microstructure affect the mechanical properties of metallic materials. Manipulation of composition and microstructure has been widely used to strengthen materials but this often deteriorates the ductility. The trade-off could be overcome through the introduction of gradient structures because the variations in both composition and microstructure would trigger simultaneous activation of multiple deformation mechanisms. This project is expected to provide guidance in the design of gradient metallic structures with optimum mechanical properties, which will significantly benefit Australian metallurgical and related industries.Read moreRead less
Stronger, coarser-grained biodegradable zinc alloys. This project aims to develop stronger and more durable zinc alloys for a new generation of biodegradable metals for potential load-bearing orthopaedic applications. It expects to deliver a group of novel zinc alloys with better properties and a new technology for manufacturing them, and to use advanced experimental techniques to reveal deformation and strengthening mechanisms that underlie the unusual Hall-Petch and anomalous twinning phenomen ....Stronger, coarser-grained biodegradable zinc alloys. This project aims to develop stronger and more durable zinc alloys for a new generation of biodegradable metals for potential load-bearing orthopaedic applications. It expects to deliver a group of novel zinc alloys with better properties and a new technology for manufacturing them, and to use advanced experimental techniques to reveal deformation and strengthening mechanisms that underlie the unusual Hall-Petch and anomalous twinning phenomena and the unprecedented properties of these alloys. Expected outcomes are likely to form the technology and scientific basis for developing better biodegradable metallic alloys. This has the potential eventually to create a better life for thousands of Australian patients.Read moreRead less
Innovative Zn alloys with essential mechanical and biofunctional properties. This project aims to develop a breakthrough understanding of the impact of alloying additions on the strengthening mechanisms, degradation behaviour, antibacterial properties and biofunctionalities of zinc alloys. The project expects to generate new knowledge in alloying strategies, plastic deformation and surface modification of zinc alloys to achieve mechanical, corrosion and biofunctional properties satisfying the re ....Innovative Zn alloys with essential mechanical and biofunctional properties. This project aims to develop a breakthrough understanding of the impact of alloying additions on the strengthening mechanisms, degradation behaviour, antibacterial properties and biofunctionalities of zinc alloys. The project expects to generate new knowledge in alloying strategies, plastic deformation and surface modification of zinc alloys to achieve mechanical, corrosion and biofunctional properties satisfying the requirements of biodegradable metallic materials. The expected outcomes are the development of novel zinc alloys and practical technologies for industry applications, such as thermomechanical processing and surface coating. The benefits are expected to extend to physical metallurgy and biomaterial manufacturing.Read moreRead less
Making Strong Alloys Ductile and Hydrogen-Tolerant via Tuning Nanogradients. This project aims to develop a novel design concept of gradient segregation engineering (GSE) to produce high-performance alloys. The innovative GSE will synergistically introduce a chemical gradient via grain boundary segregation and a physical gradient by microstructure control to simultaneously achieve an excellent strength-ductility combination and exceptional resistance to hydrogen embrittlement. This project expec ....Making Strong Alloys Ductile and Hydrogen-Tolerant via Tuning Nanogradients. This project aims to develop a novel design concept of gradient segregation engineering (GSE) to produce high-performance alloys. The innovative GSE will synergistically introduce a chemical gradient via grain boundary segregation and a physical gradient by microstructure control to simultaneously achieve an excellent strength-ductility combination and exceptional resistance to hydrogen embrittlement. This project expects to create new fundamental knowledge and provide critical perspectives for future mechanistic alloy design. The results will enhance Australia’s capacity to develop next-generation advanced alloys to underpin current and emerging industrial applications and strengthen the country’s leading position in materials engineering.Read moreRead less