Published: 14 Jul 2023 631 views
Applications are invited for our industrially funded PhD studentship in BCAST (Brunel Centre for Advanced Solidification Technology) for the project titled “Development of new casting aluminium alloys: composition, microstructure and mechanical properties”. Successful applicant will receive an annual stipend starting from £18,668 and increasing to £20,241 in the third year plus payment of their full-time tuition fees for a period of 36-months (3 years), starting on the 1st of October 2023.
Both international and UK home students are eligible for this studentship.
The Project
With the growing need for lightweight structures, improving strength and ductility of light alloys such as aluminium (Al) has become of paramount importance in industries. Micro-alloying is known to be one of the most effective strengthening strategies for Al alloys. Rare-earth and transition elements are effective elements and can strengthen Al alloys in three different ways. These are (1) grain refinement during casting, (2) precipitation hardening and (3) microstructural stabilization via recrystallization and grain growth inhibition. Despite their advantages, the industrial use of these elements has historically been limited due to high cost and difficulties in processing. However, they are expected to more widely used in the development of new Al alloys with in the next decade with enhanced awareness and improved more efficient extraction technologies and consequently decreased production cost. This PhD project is funded by an industrial partner, aiming to understand the effect of rare-earth and transition metallic elements on the microstructure and mechanical properties of casting Al alloys, through thermodynamics calculations and physical experiments. The project scope includes: (1) the effect of rare-earth and transition metallic elements on the microstructure and mechanical properties of new Al alloys and compositional optimization of the selected Al alloys; (2) microstructures and strengthening mechanisms under as-cast and heat treatment conditions; and (3) the mechanical properties of the Al alloys at room temperature and elevated temperatures.
Brunel University London is a public research university located in Uxbridge, London, United Kingdom. Founded in 1966, it was named after the Victorian engineer Isambard Kingdom Brunel. Brunel's campus is located on the outskirts of Uxbridge. It is organised into three colleges and three major research institutes, a structure adopted in August 2014 which also changed the university's name to Brunel University London. Brunel has over 12,900 students and 2,500 staff and had a total income of £200.7 million in 2014/15, of which 25% came from grants and research contracts. &nbs... continue reading
Successful applicant will receive an annual stipend starting from £18,668 and increasing to £20,241 in the third year plus payment of their full-time tuition fees for a period of 36-months (3 years), starting on the 1st of October 2023.
Applicants should have a background in materials science and engineering with familiarity and interest in metals and alloys and their processing. Exposure and training in mechanical testing, microscopy, and computer simulation would be considered a bonus.
The candidate will have or be expected to receive a 1st class or 2:1 honour degree in engineering or physical sciences. A postgraduate master’s degree is not required but may be an advantage.
Please submit the documents below as a single PDF file by email to [email protected] by 16:00 on 31 July 2023.
