Accelerating discovery and manufacturing of nanocrystalline high-entropy alloys as next-generation structural materials

金属是我们社会的主要主力。在许多关键应用中，它们是不可替代的。例如，航空发动机部件是由金属制成的，因为它们需要在高温和高应力环境中长时间工作。在现代工业快速发展的今天，呼唤能够承受更苛刻条件的下一代结构材料。这对材料性能和制造工艺提出了更高要求。因此，发展先进材料和制造业对于加强加拿大在当今世界经济中的竞争地位至关重要。我在多伦多大学的研究小组拥有金属和制造方面的专业知识，旨在使用新颖的实验方法来创造具有传统技术无法获得的优化性能的新金属材料，特别是在航空航天和其他关键应用中。 在这一长远愿景下，我们团队将开发和制造纳米晶(NC)高熵合金(HEAs)作为下一代结构材料。纳米(或纳米晶)金属表现出极高的强度，在结构应用中非常有吸引力，但即使在中等温度下也不稳定，因此不适合高温加工和应用。近年来，作为一个发展中的物理冶金领域，HEAs具有优异的力学性能和热稳定性。该方案概述了一种新的方法：通过微制造和纳米机械测试来设计小规模的NC-HEA，然后使用添加制造(3D打印)的方法来大规模生产NC-HEA。我们的小组将试图回答以下科学问题：什么化学成分能产生最好的NC-HEAS的热稳定性和机械稳定性？工程目标是通过加法制造批量生产NC-HEA组件。 我提议的研究的最初好处将是对新合金和制造的深入了解。长期的好处将是制造商消耗更少的昂贵原材料和能源，减少材料浪费，并在飞机上使用更轻但更坚固的材料，从而降低燃油消耗和二氧化碳排放。对于更广泛的影响，研究方法将引发其他相关学科的新研究和应用的连锁反应，例如在能源和环境部门。 利用拟议的支出，我将培训两名博士生和大约十名本科生。我的研究小组为学员提供了从事最先进的设备和关键科学问题的巨大机会，同时也将为这些领域的下一代研究人员和工程师提供独特的培训机会，并加强加拿大在全球对高素质人才(HQP)竞争中的地位。

Metals are a major workhorse of our society. In many critical applications, they are irreplaceable. For example, aerospace engine components are made of metals, as they need to operate in high-temperature and high-stress environments for long durations. Today, the rapid development of modern industry is calling for next-generation structural materials that can withstand even more demanding conditions. This requires superior material properties and manufacturing processes. Hence, developing advanced materials and manufacturing is critical to strengthening Canada's competitive position in today's world economy. Having expertise in metals and manufacturing, my research group at the University of Toronto aims to use novel experimental methods to create new metallic materials with optimized properties that cannot be obtained using conventional techniques, especially for aerospace and other critical applications. With this long-term vision, our group will develop and manufacture nanocrystalline (nc) high-entropy alloys (HEAs) as next-generation structural materials. Nc (or nano-grained) metals exhibit remarkably high strength and are very attractive in structural applications, but they are unstable at even modest temperatures, rendering them unsuitable for high-temperature processing and applications. Recently, as an evolving field of physical metallurgy, HEAs exhibit excellent mechanical properties and thermal stability. This proposal outlines a new methodology: designing nc-HEAs at small scales by microfabrication and nanomechanical testing, followed by producing nc-HEAs at large scales using an additive manufacturing (3D printing) approach. Our group will seek to answer the following scientific question: What chemical compositions yield the best thermal and mechanical stability of nc-HEAs? The engineering goal is to produce nc-HEA components in bulk by additive manufacturing. The initial benefits of my proposed research will be in-depth knowledge of new alloys and manufacturing. The long-term benefits will be that manufacturers consume much less of expensive raw materials and energy, reduce waste of materials, and use lighter but stronger materials in airplanes, permitting lower fuel consumption and CO2 emissions. For broader impacts, the research methodology would trigger a chain reaction of new research and applications in other related disciplines, such as in the energy and environmental sectors. Using the proposed expenditure, I will train two doctoral students and approximately ten undergraduate students. Providing trainees great opportunities to work on state-of-the-art equipment and critical scientific questions, my research group will also provide unique training opportunities for next-generation researchers and engineers in these fields and strengthen Canada's position amidst global competition for highly qualified personnel (HQP).