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
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
Evolution of Contact Damage in Layer Structures. Brittle layer structures (eg brittle coating on ceramic substrate) can be much more damage tolerant than their constituent material components - cracks tend to remain contained within the coating. Very little is known about the factors that control this behaviour. This project will exploit unique local expertise in modelling damage evolution to fill a niche in a large study being carried out at the National Institute of Standards (NIST) in the U ....Evolution of Contact Damage in Layer Structures. Brittle layer structures (eg brittle coating on ceramic substrate) can be much more damage tolerant than their constituent material components - cracks tend to remain contained within the coating. Very little is known about the factors that control this behaviour. This project will exploit unique local expertise in modelling damage evolution to fill a niche in a large study being carried out at the National Institute of Standards (NIST) in the U.S.A. An understanding of the factors that maximise the containment of cracks is essential to the design and development of the next generation of advanced layer composites for many biomechanical and other engineering applications.Read moreRead less
Grain-boundary sliding in high-temperature ceramics: mechanical spectroscopy of high-purity magnesium oxide. The demise of elastic behaviour in materials stressed at sufficiently high temperature limits the usefulness of ceramics for structural applications, and is also responsible for reduced wave speeds and associated attenuation of seismic waves in the Earth's interior. Yet the nature of the transition in fine-grained materials tested at high temperature from elastic through anelastic to vis ....Grain-boundary sliding in high-temperature ceramics: mechanical spectroscopy of high-purity magnesium oxide. The demise of elastic behaviour in materials stressed at sufficiently high temperature limits the usefulness of ceramics for structural applications, and is also responsible for reduced wave speeds and associated attenuation of seismic waves in the Earth's interior. Yet the nature of the transition in fine-grained materials tested at high temperature from elastic through anelastic to viscous rheology remains poorly understood. Through a combination of mechanical testing by torsional forced oscillation/ microcreep methods of carefully fabricated and characterised specimens of polycrystalline MgO and associated micro-mechanical modelling we seek to clarify this fundamental and general aspect of high-temperature mechanical behaviour.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
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0775771
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$280,000.00
Summary
Physical Property Measurement System for Materials Characterisation. The Physical Property Measurement System (PPMS) is a versatile, state-of-the-art instrument that is capable of measuring a broad range of magnetic, electronic and thermodynamic materials properties. The instrument will greatly extend materials characterisation capabilities in the Sydney region, leading to major advances in fundamental and applied research and to essential postgraduate training in chemistry, physics and enginee ....Physical Property Measurement System for Materials Characterisation. The Physical Property Measurement System (PPMS) is a versatile, state-of-the-art instrument that is capable of measuring a broad range of magnetic, electronic and thermodynamic materials properties. The instrument will greatly extend materials characterisation capabilities in the Sydney region, leading to major advances in fundamental and applied research and to essential postgraduate training in chemistry, physics and engineering. The importance of materials discovery and characterisation is vital to the development of new technologies over the next decade, as recognised in the national priority area 'Frontier Technologies for Building and Transforming Australian Industries'. Read moreRead less
Use of rammed earth in Aboriginal communities of Australia. An exhaustive set of engineering and construction guidelines for rammed earth will be elaborated in order to produce affordable, safe and cost-effective houses in Aboriginal areas of Australia. The outcome of this project is the production of a 'Proposal Form for Standards Development' for rammed earth to be submitted to Standards Australia.
Artificial Proteins for the Control of Colloid and Surface Properties. A large amount of Australia's wealth arises from mining and the processing of small (colloidal) particles. This project will develop new coatings for particles, which will allow better control of the properties of particle suspensions. Control of surface properties is also important in the preparation of ceramics and in the preparation of implants and biosensors. The development of new coatings will also offer opportunitie ....Artificial Proteins for the Control of Colloid and Surface Properties. A large amount of Australia's wealth arises from mining and the processing of small (colloidal) particles. This project will develop new coatings for particles, which will allow better control of the properties of particle suspensions. Control of surface properties is also important in the preparation of ceramics and in the preparation of implants and biosensors. The development of new coatings will also offer opportunities for improved performance in these areas.
Many existing coating technologies rely on procedures using organic solvents, which are hazardous to human health and the environment. The proposed research will develop coatings that are made and used in solutions of water only, thereby minimizing pollution production.
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