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

该项目的目标是一种新的通用技术(UltraMAT)，用于流体和半流体相材料的加工，这两种技术在制造业中广泛存在，例如部件的焊接和粘接、大宗复合材料部件的制造以及传统的粉末冶金(HIP)和半固态铸造。UltraMAT的主要目的是在经济和环境需求的推动下，在制造和运输过程中减少能源消耗和排放，从而能够在比强度(屈服/疲劳/冲击)和模数、疲劳寿命以及从而轻量化方面逐步提高已制造部件的生产。实现工具是功率超声，具有特定形状的力场，用于控制均匀纳米结构的移动和尺寸创建，以实现：(1)生产均匀分布和形状的纳米颗粒、纤维或颗粒)。UltraMAT将通过对一些日益重要的关键结构/接头类型的样品的制造和测试来验证，这些结构/接头类型在航空航天或汽车车身/发动机中尤其重要：(I)钛/铝纤维层压板(Ii)含纤维/颗粒(陶瓷TiC/碳化硅)的钛/铝金属基复合材料，钛/铝激光焊接和(Iv)铝半固态铸造。将使用石墨烯(G)和碳纳米管(CNT)来研究均化性能，因为G和NT的强烈团聚倾向阻碍了它们实现商业应用的能力，这些组件具有超高的比强度。在短脉冲回波模式下，UltraMAT将借助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.