Mechanics of the shape of thin strip with varying thickness. This project aims to develop an innovative technology for the production of thin strip with controlled varying longitudinal thickness and shape. The project will propose a new thin strip rolling theory and strip shape control strategy providing an improved understanding of the mechanics of manufacturing thin strips with varying longitudinal thickness. The technology to manufacture rolled products with varying thickness for lightweight ....Mechanics of the shape of thin strip with varying thickness. This project aims to develop an innovative technology for the production of thin strip with controlled varying longitudinal thickness and shape. The project will propose a new thin strip rolling theory and strip shape control strategy providing an improved understanding of the mechanics of manufacturing thin strips with varying longitudinal thickness. The technology to manufacture rolled products with varying thickness for lightweight structures is in significant demand for the automotive, aerospace and electronics industries to reduce weight through optimum strip thickness and minimum joints. The benefits will include reduced weight, fuel consumption and construction time of automobiles and aircraft when the developed novel thin strip products are used, and therefore reducing manufacturing costs and negative environmental impacts.Read moreRead less
Designed to last: novel gradient coatings for extreme environments. Hard coatings are frequently applied to equipment operating in harsh environments. Often such coatings are highly brittle and so fragile under stress, especially at high temperatures or in corrosive environments. Premature failure can affect safety and lead to negative economic and environmental consequences. The objective of this project is to combine bioinspired microstructural design with an emerging alloying concept to produ ....Designed to last: novel gradient coatings for extreme environments. Hard coatings are frequently applied to equipment operating in harsh environments. Often such coatings are highly brittle and so fragile under stress, especially at high temperatures or in corrosive environments. Premature failure can affect safety and lead to negative economic and environmental consequences. The objective of this project is to combine bioinspired microstructural design with an emerging alloying concept to produce a breakthrough in the development of engineering coatings; for example, overcoming the long standing trade-off between hardness and toughness. Such an innovative coating is expected to be highly durable in extreme conditions, and in so doing will help transform manufacturing, mining and desalination industries.Read moreRead less
Net-shape micro manufacturing of composite micro channels. This project aims to develop a high precision net-shape micro manufacturing technology for the production of composite micro channels in a one-step process with excellent overall performance in quality and productivity. The new technology will enhance the production of commercial micro channels which have extensive applications in micro-electromechanical systems, health, medical and communications industries. This project will improve th ....Net-shape micro manufacturing of composite micro channels. This project aims to develop a high precision net-shape micro manufacturing technology for the production of composite micro channels in a one-step process with excellent overall performance in quality and productivity. The new technology will enhance the production of commercial micro channels which have extensive applications in micro-electromechanical systems, health, medical and communications industries. This project will improve the competitive advantage for Australia in the field of advanced manufacturing and has the potential to stimulate economic benefit and growth of the manufacturing industry.Read moreRead less
A new role for vibration analysis in gear wear modelling and prediction. This project aims to improve prediction of the remaining useful life of gears. Gears are widely used in industry and transport. This project aims to integrate the two main methods of gear condition monitoring, vibration and oil analysis, and perform model-based wear prediction with the tribology and dynamic models continually updated on the basis of measured wear debris and vibration. New signal processing tools should allo ....A new role for vibration analysis in gear wear modelling and prediction. This project aims to improve prediction of the remaining useful life of gears. Gears are widely used in industry and transport. This project aims to integrate the two main methods of gear condition monitoring, vibration and oil analysis, and perform model-based wear prediction with the tribology and dynamic models continually updated on the basis of measured wear debris and vibration. New signal processing tools should allow estimation of relatively weak friction forces, previously neglected, as an important prognostic tool. This would allow detailed root cause analysis and prediction of remaining useful life. Improvements in gear prognosis would have safety and economic benefits by eliminating unforeseen catastrophic failures and optimising maintenance schedules.Read moreRead less
Environmentally friendly lubricants for higher productivity in cold rolling. This project aims to develop an oil free aqueous lubricant for cold rolling to replace the existing oil-in-water emulsion. The lubricant will be molecularly engineered to combine synergy between nanomechanics and tribochemistry of boundary additives to deliver integrated functionalities in the strip rolling. During cold rolling , lubricant starvation often occurs at high speed and it has restricted the productivity of t ....Environmentally friendly lubricants for higher productivity in cold rolling. This project aims to develop an oil free aqueous lubricant for cold rolling to replace the existing oil-in-water emulsion. The lubricant will be molecularly engineered to combine synergy between nanomechanics and tribochemistry of boundary additives to deliver integrated functionalities in the strip rolling. During cold rolling , lubricant starvation often occurs at high speed and it has restricted the productivity of the rolling mill and affected the strip gauge and surface quality. Expected outcomes of this project include an innovative oil free lubricant with significant environmental benefits and an ability for manufacturers to improve productivity by operating at higher speeds, lower costs, and achieve superior strip surface quality.Read moreRead less
A physically based abrasive wear model for high-speed steel at high temperature. The economic benefits of reducing roll wear, extending roll life and improving strip quality are very significant. This comprehensive project will provide new knowledge on tool wear to help the Australian manufacturing industry (e.g. steel and aluminium, machining) to better understand and optimise their processes to achieve maximum benefits.
A smart functional lubricant for hot strip rolling. This project aims to develop a new generation smart lubricant system through an innovative polymer micro-encapsulation strategy that allows in-situ creation of hierarchical coating before rolling and during hot rolling contacts. This coating is expected to deliver the integrated lubrication and functions to suppress secondary and tertiary scale growth while providing effective lubrication during the hot rolling. This project will make a signifi ....A smart functional lubricant for hot strip rolling. This project aims to develop a new generation smart lubricant system through an innovative polymer micro-encapsulation strategy that allows in-situ creation of hierarchical coating before rolling and during hot rolling contacts. This coating is expected to deliver the integrated lubrication and functions to suppress secondary and tertiary scale growth while providing effective lubrication during the hot rolling. This project will make a significant contribution to improved product yield, prolonged service life of work rolls, better strip surface quality, and overall improved process efficiency.Read moreRead less
A tribological approach to improve surface quality of silicon steel. This project aims to design a lubricant composite where multiple additives work in synergy and perform at high temperatures. In hot rolling of silicon and electrical steels, significant surface defects of red scales, severe work-roll wear and high friction are problems for traditional lubricant which cannot perform effectively under extreme thermal/loading conditions. The new lubricant is expected to eliminate red scale defects ....A tribological approach to improve surface quality of silicon steel. This project aims to design a lubricant composite where multiple additives work in synergy and perform at high temperatures. In hot rolling of silicon and electrical steels, significant surface defects of red scales, severe work-roll wear and high friction are problems for traditional lubricant which cannot perform effectively under extreme thermal/loading conditions. The new lubricant is expected to eliminate red scale defects, reduce oxidation and rolling force, improve surface quality and extend roll service life.Read moreRead less
A new adaptive composite phosphate-polymer lubricant for hot metal forming. The project proposes a new composite phosphate-polymer lubricant in aqueous solution for metal forming at high temperature. The lubricant is self-adaptive to the high pressure, shear and temperature, and will provide threefold synergistic functions: desired tribological performance (anti-wear and low friction); cooling effect; and, oxidation inhibition. This has the potential to significantly reduce overall costs, improv ....A new adaptive composite phosphate-polymer lubricant for hot metal forming. The project proposes a new composite phosphate-polymer lubricant in aqueous solution for metal forming at high temperature. The lubricant is self-adaptive to the high pressure, shear and temperature, and will provide threefold synergistic functions: desired tribological performance (anti-wear and low friction); cooling effect; and, oxidation inhibition. This has the potential to significantly reduce overall costs, improve product quality and lead to a cleaner working environment within the Australian manufacturing industry.Read moreRead less