ARC Centre of Excellence for Design in Light Metals

Activity in the State Government of Victoria funded Victorian Facility for Light Metals Surface Technology commenced in late 2006, and has seen a very successful period since then with intensification of activity and realisation of key milestone and cultivation of key infrastructure between the nodes at Monash University and Deakin University. The facility is funded in support of the core research activities of the Centre of Excellence Research Program D, assisting in the attainment of unified research outcomes via the strategic investment towards the ability to acquire and maintain high level infrastructure and personnel.

Milestones to date include:

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Appointment of Dr. Nick Birbilis as Research Program Leader at Monash University.

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Appointment of Dr. Alireza Shokouhi as Research Program Leader at Deakin University.

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Implementation of the dedicated laboratory space at both Monash and Deakin for characterisation of the physical properties of light metal surfaces.

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Appointment of a post-graduate scholar (Mr. Aaron Südholz) based at Monash and working on light metals surface technology.

Major equipment delivered in 2007:

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Scanning Probe Microscope (AFM / STM) with full electrochemical functionality (Monash) (see Figure 1)

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High temperature Tribometer (pin-on-disk) system (Deakin).

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High resolution multi-channel potentiostat for electrochemical testing (Monash) (see Figure 2).

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Portable AC/DC potentiostat for electrochemical testing (Monash).

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EBSD system for FEG-SEM (Monash).

The research associated with this Facility includes:

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Investigation into the effect of the effect of specific alloying additions on the corrosion of Mg-based alloys. This is a large program aimed at elucidating the basic science behind the development and design of more stainless Mg alloys.

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Utility of Atomic Force Microscopy as a tool to characterise light alloy surfaces and their microstructure on the nano-scale, whilst tying this into surface sensitive properties.

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Investigation into the effects of surface structure (viz. grain size and grain orientation) on the reaction kinetics of magnesium.

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Sol-gel / silane conversion coating of Al-based alloy systems for enhancing corrosion resistance.

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Investigation and control of the surface properties Mg alloys with respect to ignition control of magnesium and high temperature oxidation.

This work has also involved cooperation with the Cooperative Research Centre for Cast Metals Manufacturing (CRC-CAST), Australian Magnesium Technology Ltd., and engagement with both CSIRO and DSTO.

During 2007, the VFLMST also welcomed several visitors from abroad, including a formal engagement with Prof. Rudolph Buchheit from The Ohio State University in the US.

Plans for the coming year already include numerous high profile visitors to engage in tangible collaborative research in the facility (for extended periods), including visitors from Spain, USA, Korea and China. Furthermore, the facility will see increased usage of the key infrastructure together with access to other key instruments that are arriving as a result of successful LIEF grants across the partner institutions involved. This will cultivate a truly comprehensive and versatile hub in Victoria for surface technology, characterisation, and control of light metal surfaces.