The CAST Cooperative Research Centre at Monash
The new CAST Cooperative Research Centre has received seven years worth of funding from the Australian government to conduct research in metals technology. The CAST CRC builds on the work of the previous CRC for Cast Metals Manufacturing (1999-2005) and CRC for Alloy Solidification Technology (1993-1999). CRCs represent a collaboration between government, industry and research bodies and the participants collaborating in CAST include 12 companies, 2 industry associations, 7 research organisations and 1 government agency. A particular feature of the new CAST CRC is the involvement of the value chain in projects where suppliers and customers work together with CAST researchers to create solutions that lead to competitive advantage.
Monash played a significant role in CAST's predecessor, the CRC for Cast Metals Manufacturing and continues to be an important member of the new CAST. Some of the highlights of Monash's involvement with CAST include the development of the new highly castable and coatable magnesium alloy, AM-lite. The development of AM-lite was lead by Monash University researcher Dr Trevor Abbott, who has since left Monash to join Advanced Magnesium Technologies to commercialise the discovery. AM-lite is valuable as a niche product for applications requiring lightweight metals with a high surface finish and sales are beginning to increase with initial application of AM-lite to designer homewares. Monash researchers have also been involved in successful CAST research projects on:
- development of creep resistant magnesium alloys for automotive powertrain applications;
- wrought magnesium;
- grain refinement of aluminium alloys.
This latter work has led to real cost savings for Melbourne-based industry partner, Comalco.
Currently CAST activities at Monash focus on improving the properties of high pressure die cast creep resistant magnesium alloys for powertrain applications. Monash researchers Jian-Feng Nie and Suming Zhu are improving our understanding of how microstructure effects creep while Mark Easton attempts to understand how alloy variations affect high pressure die castability. Chris Hutchinson is developing a new sand cast alloy. Chris Davies leads CAST research activity in the development of magnesium extrusion alloys with processability and properties similar to aluminium alloys, with support from Suming. Research continues into developing new aluminium cast house products led by Mark, who is also investigating the microstructural effects on hot tearing, whilst Nie, Sam Gao and XiangYuan Xiong perform atom probe studies on foundry alloys. Raman Singh is also involved with a project focussing on the protection of magnesium components from corrosion attack in aerospace applications, research that involves DSTO and Henkel. All Monash work on CAST research projects is ably supported by the practical assistance of Graham Prior and Yeannette Lizama.
Mark Easton
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