Light Metals Centre of Excellence Based at Materials Engineering, Monash University

Astrid and barry

A major activity within the Department, which builds on the light metals strength we have had for many years (initiated by Ian Polmear when he joined as Foundation Head of the Department all those years ago) is the ARC Centre of Excellence for Design in Light Metals is inclusive of the leading groups in light metals research nationally, creating a team that commands global recognition. Not only is Materials Engineering a major player, but the Centre is administrated and run from Materials Engineering, Monash University. The Research Director of the Centre of Excellence is Professor Barry Muddle, a Federation Fellow in the Department of Materials Engineering. Federation Fellowships are highly prestigious fellowships given to leading researchers to enable them to focus on their research and to lead larger research teams and directions, as is the case here.

As well as improving the design and durability of light alloys, would also characterise and model the structure, properties and performance of these materials. In the short time that it has been funded, the Centre has successfully forged a strong and effective collaboration with both the CRC for Cast Metals Manufacturing (CAST) and the CSIRO Light Metals Flagship, having established the Australian Partnership in Light Metals Research. This represents a unique opportunity in the national context, creating an alignment of national research capability that spans the full range from ‘upstream’ minerals processing and metal production to ‘downstream’ materials processing and light metals manufacture. The vision captured in the accompanying figure will be realised in terms of structure; the welcome challenge is to now realise the potential.

The Centre of Excellence for Design in Light Metals (CoE) and the Cooperative Research Centre for Cast Metals Manufacturing (CAST CRC) are also joint collaborators with CSIRO through the CSIRO Flagship Collaboration Program which was launched at Monash University on the 18th of August. CSIRO Flagships are targeted at national goals which are closely aligned to the Commonwealth Governments National Research priorities. Each Flagship involves collaboration between leading Australian scientists, research institutions, commercial companies and CSIRO. The technology focus of the Cluster encompasses both short and longer term approaches to reduction in unsprung weight of vehicles through substitution of light metal alloy and composite components for conventional steel forgings, castings and sheet. It also addresses the production of cost-effective titanium products from powder precursors.

From the time of application, the Centre has been fortunate to attract the strong support of the Victorian State Government. Funding of ~$1.5m for the period 2006-08 will see creation of a Victorian Facility for Light Metals Surface Technology as a key platform in the Centre’s research capability. Surface engineering of the light metals is a burgeoning field of research and development globally, and the development of a unique Facility and associated capability within the Victorian manufacturing precinct has exciting potential for the State. Output from this Facility will have potentially strong impact in the automotive, aerospace and packaging sectors. The Centre has recently appointed Dr. Nick Birbilis to lead the Victorian Facility for Light Metals Surface Technology. Nick completed his PhD in corrosion at Monash University under the supervision of Professor Maria Forsyth and will coordinate the Surface Engineering program of the Centre’s research (see his profile elsewhere in this report). There are many Materials Engineering people involved in this Centre, both academic staff and Research Fellows including Barry, Colleen Bettles, Nick Birbilis, Rimma Lapovok, Chris Hutchinson, Frederic De Geuser, HP Ng, Julian de Costa Teixeira, Chris Davies, Jianfeng Nie and shortly Yuri Estrin (profile also in this newsletter). The Chjief Operating Officer of the Centre is none other than our own Dr Astrid Nordmann, a former graduate in ceramic engineering (supervisor Yibing Cheng) who did postdoctoral work in the UK, before joining Monash and working with Barry in CAMT (the Centre of Advanced Materials Technology) which is concerned with Monash University – industry interaction.

The Centre is getting new offices in Building 27 at Monash University, overlooking the large STRIP building on the east side of the campus, and this space should be completed by the middle of the year. In the meantime, many of the staff are housed in the STRIP building itself (Building 75). For information about the Centre please contact Barry (barry.muddle@eng.monash.edu.au) or Astrid (astrid.nordmann@eng.monash.edu.au)