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Engineering Microstructures Homepage

Key strengths in aerospace alloys

Key strengths in aerospace alloys

We design alloys for next generation faster, cleaner and safer air travel.

Meet our team
Structure-property relationships

Structure-property relationships

Multi-scale correlative methods for characterisation, testing and modelling.

Check out our facilities
Advanced manufacturing

Advanced manufacturing

Seeking balance between fundamental discovery and industrial application.

View current projects
Interface engineering

Interface engineering

Expertise in '6 degrees of freedom' (crystallography and chemistry) characterization and engineering of interfaces.

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Interested in a PhD?

Interested in a PhD?

We train next generation leaders in physical metallurgy.

For PhD applicants
We are part of 3D additive!

We are part of 3D additive!

State-of-the-art microscopy techniques to analyse interfaces in 3D printed components.

Visit 3D additive website

A short video about us


Watch Sophie and her team introducing their research on engineering microstructures. Learn where these structural metallic materials are used in real-life applications. Get a glimpse at the state-of-the-art facilities available at UNSW Sydney Materials Science & Engineering, and hear what current students think about being part of engineering microstructures.

Selected recent publications


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Effects of high deposition rate during cold metal transfer additive manufacturing on microstructure and properties of Ti-6Al-4V

Additive Manufacturing 71 (2023) 103592. (OPEN ACCESS)

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Review of microstructure-property relationships in cast & wrought Ni-based superalloys with boron, carbon, and zirconium microalloying additions

Advanced Engineering Materials (2022) 2201514. (OPEN ACCESS)

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On the microstructure and texture evolution in 17-4 PH stainless steel during laser powder bed fusion: Towards textural design

Journal of Materials Science & Technology 117 (2022) 183-195. (OPEN ACCESS)

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Selected Projects


Highlights of our current research program on engineering microstructures are in aerospace materials, additive manufacturing and design of hierarchical microstructures.

More about current projects
  • All
  • Applied
  • Defence
  • Fundamental
  • UNSW sponsored

Encoding 3D microstructural gradients via metal additive manufacturing


S. Primig Australian Research Council Future Fellowship (FT240100398)

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Sustainable and robust Australian Ni-based superalloy manufacturing


S. Primig, S. Street Australian Research Council Linkage Project (LP230100155)

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In-situ grain boundary engineering during metal additive manufacturing


S. Primig, N. Haghdadi Australian Research Council Discovery Project (DP230101063)

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Advanced hard metals: microstructure-property-processing relationships


S.P. Ringer, S. Primig, C. Czettl Australian Research Council Linkage Project (LP190100850)

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Structure-property relationships of next generation aero-engine materials


S. Primig, S.P. Ringer, B. Oberwinkler Australian Research Council Linkage Project (LP190101169)

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Industry collaborations


Direct industry collaborations with leading specialty alloy manufacturers

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Microstructure control during additive manufacturing


Research to advance the frontiers of metal 3D printing has received a major boost, with a partnership between UNSW researchers led by AProf Sophie Primig, researchers at The University of Sydney and six US-based universities, receiving a $5 million grant for an additive manufacturing initiative in Australia.

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Advancing the Australian specialty alloy processing capability


S. Primig, Australian Research Council Linkage Project (LP180100144)

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Unlocking the diverse property profile of ultra-lightweight magnesium alloys


M. Ferry, S. Primig, N. Birbilis, P. Nakashima, Australian Research Council Discovery Project (DP190103592)

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Microstructural design of next generation Ni-based superalloys via conventional and advanced manufacturing


Sophie's UNSW Scientia Fellowship

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Engineering hierarchical microstructures in high strength low alloy steels


Sophie's Australian Research Council DECRA Fellowship (DE180100440)

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Latest News


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May 19, 2025

Our first group strategy retreat at Q station


On May 16 we had our first half-day group strategy retreat in Manly. This was great initiative mostly driven by Andrew with lots of help from David Pham – Thank You! Following an early ferry ride (surprisingly all made it on time), we had a number of talks and breakout sessions on equipment needs, collaborations, […]

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Apr 28, 2025

Ming’s spicy thesis submission dinner


Congratulations to Ming for submitting his excellent thesis on grain boundary engineering in superalloys and stainless steels via additive manufacturing. We celebrated his achievements at a Chinese restaurant with spicy food typical to the area where he grew up. Some not so spicy options were on offer too. Sadly, Sophie was down with a bad […]

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Apr 01, 2025

Nana graduation and farewell (double congrats)!


Nana celebrated his PhD graduation together with his best buddies from our group… Sophie was glad to see this as she had to celebrate with them in spirit due to an unfortunate clash with the TMS meeting in the US. Congratulations Nana, we are super proud of you of you. We are also super excited […]

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About Us


The team of engineering microstructures are leaders in microstructural engineering of superalloys, advanced steels and more.

We aim to achieve better properties than currently available by engineering the inner material structure, via advancing processing routes.

We are excited about the discovery of next generation of aerospace alloys in collaboration with industrial partners.

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Recent News


3D Additive website is online!

Jan 13, 2020

Prof. Chris Berndt (Swinburne) visited UNSW and our group

Sep 4, 2019

Nana thesis submission dinner and celebrations

Oct 17, 2024

Sophie‘s UNSW profile page


https://research.unsw.edu.au/people/professor-sophie-primig

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