Processing
Physical metallurgy labs based in the UNSW School of Materials Science and Engineering house state-of-the-art facilities for fabrication (casting and 3D printing), thermal and thermo-mechanical processing of structural alloys.
The photo shows one of our vacuum arc-melting facilities for synthesis of model alloys. Our Gleeble 3500 is a thermo-mechanical testing simulator that can be used to simulate real-world processing on lab scale and measure mechanical properties at high temperatures, for example for ductility testing. High heating and cooling rates enable studies of the effects of thermal cycling, similar to additive manufacturing.
Further state-of-the-art alloy processing facilities via melt metallurgical routes and metal 3D printing are available in-house, and via our local and international networks with leading research groups and industrial partners.
Structure
Our team are expert users in electron microscopy (SEM and (HR-)TEM), related techniques (EDX, FIB/P-FIB, (3D)-EBSD, TKD, EPMA), XRD, and 3D atom probe microscopy. We routinely use these techniques in a correlative manner to investigate the inner structure of alloys at the micro- and nano-scale. This enables us to reveal structure-property relationships as a function of processing history.
We have access to state-of-the-art high-resolution characterisation facilities at the UNSW Mark Wainwright Analytical Centre including the Electron Microscopy Unit. This includes several SEMs, focused ion beam (FIB) microscopes including a plasma FIB, many equipped with EBSD/EDX, several TEMs, XRDs, and an electron micro probe analyser. For a comprehensive list of facilities available at UNSW, please see here.
Microscopy Australia and international collaborations enable easy access to any required state-of-the-art structural characterisation technique underpinning our research. Most significantly, many of our team are expert users in atom probe microscopy, for performing 3D spatial and compositional analyses of alloys.
Property
In our research, we aim to engineer the inner structure of alloys via advanced processing, in order to unlock better properties than currently available.
To support this effort, several tools for thermal analysis, metallography, (thermo-) mechanical testing, as well as various techniques for measurements of functional materials properties are available within the UNSW School of Materials Science and Engineering.
For example, macro-scale quasi-static mechanical tests are conducted using tensile and compressive testing equipment by Instron. This allows the evaluation of key mechanical properties such as Young’s modulus, yield strength and ultimate tensile strength. Where high strain rates are required, we use Charpy impact testing. Using these tests, we gain insights into the impact toughness and evaluate the brittle-to-ductile transition temperature of alloys.
Outstanding facilities for micro-mechanical testing (nano-indentation, in-situ testing), high-temperature mechanical testing (e.g. creep), corrosion testing and more are available in-house, and via national and international collaborations.
Modelling
Our approach to research is to correlate our multi-scale characterisation and testing results with state-of-the-art modelling techniques across several length scales.
The team of engineering microstructures in the UNSW School of Materials Science and Engineering are expert users of CALPHAD (for predicating phase diagrams) and thermo-kinetic modelling of processing of structural alloys. The latter enables the predication of phase transformations and through-process modelling of the microstuctural evolution and mechanical properties. Tools available in our group are ThermoCalc, Dictra and MatCalc.
Other modelling techniques across several length scales may include finite element modelling at the macro-scale or first-principals at the atomic scale. These are available in-house or via national and international networks with industry and academia.
If you have specific questions about facilities available, please use our contact form: