Metals and Alloys
The Department of Materials Science and Engineering has a large research program on metals and alloys, ranging from light alloys, brass to advanced steels. This program is focused on thermomechanical processing, microstructural characterisation using electron microscopes and the synchrotron, evaluation of mechanical and corrosion properties, modelling of phase transformations and microstructure-property relationships, and constitutive modelling of mechanical properties of metallic materials.
Areas
- Aluminium and its alloys
- Magnesium and its alloys
- Titanium, nickel based alloys & intermetallics
- Steels and stainless steels
- Copper and its alloys, brass and zinc alloys
- Metallic multi-materials and high entropy alloys
Aluminium and its alloys
Expertise:
- Production techniques (casting, spark plasma sintering, 3D printing by SLM & DLD)
- Processing routes (heat treatment, rolling, extrusion, forging, HIPing)
- Microstructural analysis (grain structure and texture, precipitate distribution, atomic structure, chemical bonding, surface structure and morphology, phase identification, theoretical modelling)
- Analysis of properties (yield strength, strain hardening, age hardening, elongation, fatigue, fracture toughness, impact, corrosion, theoretical modelling)
- Application-oriented manufacturing solutions (aerospace, automotive, packaging)
Experts
- Prof. Nick Birbilis
- Prof. Christopher Hutchinson
- Prof. Jian-Feng Nie
- Prof. Emeritus Ian Polmear
- Prof. Xinhua Wu
- A/Prof. Laure Bourgeois
- A/Prof. Nikhil Medhekar
- A/Prof. Phil Nakashima
- A/Prof. Matthew Weyland
Magnesium and its alloys
Expertise
- Production techniques (casting)
- Processing routes (heat treatment, rolling, extrusion, forging, HIPing)
- Microstructural analysis (grain structure and texture, precipitate distribution, atomic structure, surface structure and morphology, phase identification, theoretical modelling)
- Analysis of properties (yield strength, strain hardening, age hardening, elongation, fatigue, fracture toughness, impact, corrosion, theoretical modelling)
- Application-oriented manufacturing solutions (automotive, rail, battery materials)
Experts
- Prof. Nick Birbilis
- Prof. Jian-Feng Nie
- Prof. Emeritus Ian Polmear
- A/Prof. Nikhil Medhekar
- A/Prof. Phil Nakashima
- Dr. Zhuoran Zeng
Titanium, nickel based alloys & intermetallics
Expertise
- Production techniques (casting, spark plasma sintering, 3D printing by SLM & DLD)
- Processing (surface engineering and finishing)
- Analysis of properties (biocompatibility and function)
- Application-oriented manufacturing solutions (aerospace, corrosion resistant alloys, biomedical implants)
Experts
Steels and stainless steels
Expertise
- Production techniques (casting, spark plasma sintering, 3D printing by SLM & DLD)
- Processing routes (heat treatment, rolling, extrusion, forging, HIPing)
- Microstructural analysis (grain structure and texture, constitutive modelling)
- Analysis of properties (yield strength, strain hardening, age hardening, elongation, fatigue, fracture toughness, impact, corrosion, theoretical modelling)
- Application-oriented manufacturing solutions (automotive, oil and gas, mining, tools)
Experts
Copper and its alloys, brass and zinc alloys
Expertise
- Processing routes (heat treatment, rolling, extrusion)
- Microstructural analysis (grain structure and texture, precipitate distribution, chemical bonding, surface structure and morphology, phase identification, theoretical modelling)
- Analysis of properties (yield strength, strain hardening, age hardening, elongation, fatigue, fracture toughness, impact, corrosion, theoretical modelling)
- Application-oriented manufacturing solutions (electrical, plumbing, thermal management)
Experts
Metallic multi-materials and high entropy alloys
Expertise
- Production techniques (casting, spark plasma sintering, 3D printing by SLM & DLD)
- Processing routes (heat treatment, rolling, extrusion, forging, HIPing)
- Microstructural analysis (structure and texture, elemental distribution, phase identification)
- Analysis of properties (corrosion resistance and response to corrosive environments, mechanical properties)
- Application oriented composition design (aerospace, automotive, oil and gas, cladding and repair, corrosive environments)
Experts