Power ultrasound as a generic tool for micro/nanoscale processing of materials

该项目的目标是一种用于流体和半流体相材料加工的新型通用技术（UltraMAT），该技术广泛应用于制造业，例如组件的焊接和粘合剂连接，散装复合材料组件的制造以及传统的PM（HIP）和半固态铸造。UltraMAT的主要目的是使制造部件的生产能够逐步提高比强度（屈服/疲劳/冲击）和模量，疲劳寿命，从而实现轻量化;由经济和环境需求驱动，以减少制造和运输中的能耗和排放。使能工具是功率超声，其具有用于均匀纳米结构的受控移动和尺寸产生的目的成形力场，以使得能够：（1）产生均匀分布和成形的纳米级微粒、纤维或颗粒。(2)增强层间和填料-基体粘结力：UltraMAT将通过制造和测试一些关键结构/接头类型的样品进行验证，这些结构/接头类型的重要性日益增加，尤其是在航空航天或汽车车身/发动机中：（i）Ti/Al纤维层压板（ii）含纤维/颗粒（陶瓷TiC/SiC）的Ti/Al金属基复合材料，Ti/Al激光焊接和（iv）Al半固态铸造。将使用石墨烯（G）和碳纳米管（CNT）研究均匀化性能，因为G和NT的强团聚倾向阻碍了它们在商业上实现超高比强度组件的能力。在短脉冲回波模式下，UltraMAT将通过预测性大分析在线自我评估其性能。

The project goal is a novel generic technology (UltraMAT) for materials processing of fluid and semi fluid phases that are widespread in manufacturing e.g. in the welding and adhesive joining of components, the manufacture of bulk composite components and in traditional, PM (HIP) and semi solid casting. The key purpose of UltraMAT is to enable production of manufactured components with step improvements in specific strength (yield/ fatigue/ impact) and modulus, fatigue life and thus lightweighting; driven by economic and environmental needs to reduce energy consumption and emissions in manufacture and transport. The enabling tool is power ultrasound with purpose shaped force fields for controlled movement and size creation of uniform nano structures to enable: (1) Production of homogeneously distributed and shaped nanoscale particulates, fibres or grains). (2) Enhancement of interlayer and filler-matrix adhesion bonds.UltraMAT will be validated through the fabrication and testing of samples of a number of key structure/joint types of growing importance especially in aerospace or automotive bodies/engines: (i) Ti/Al fibre laminates (ii) Ti/Al metal matrix composites with fibre/ particulate (ceramic TiC/SiC), Ti/Al laser welding and (iv) Al semi solid casting. Homogenisation performance will be studied using graphene (G) and carbon nanotubes (CNT) because the strong agglomeration tendencies of G and NT is impeding their ability to realise commercially, components of ultra high specific strength. In short pulse echo mode, UltraMAT will self evaluate its performance on line aided by predictive big analytics.