Development of heat treatable ultra--high strength Alloys for automotive applications

先进的或工程材料，包括金属、陶瓷、复合材料和超导体，在工程学的所有分支中都扮演着非常重要的结构部件的角色。因此，充分了解这些材料的结构、加工、特性和性能，使其适合于应用是非常重要的。对这些材料的研究现在已经是一个成熟的领域，跨越了几十年。然而，尽管该领域取得了进展，但对具有特定性质的材料的需求不断增长，这意味着该领域的工作远未枯竭。最近的研究[1]表明，通过适当控制机械变形和中温时效，可以实现力学性能的逐步提高。拟议的工作将侧重于现有和改进的铝合金的固态加工，以实现屈服强度的阶梯变化，同时保持适当的延展性。这些合金的微观组织和机械性能将利用伦敦布鲁内尔大学的设备进行表征，以了解变形和析出在提高所观察到的性能方面的综合作用。目的研究计划的一些拟议目标包括但不限于：开发具有高极限拉伸强度的铝合金，同时保持可接受的延性和断裂韧性。利用X射线衍射仪、透射电子显微镜等多种表征手段，对高性能合金的微观结构性能进行了研究。测量合金的机械性能；抗拉强度、韧性等。制造可用于评估用于原型开发的合金的性能的新型试件。将实验研究的结果记录成符合布鲁内尔大学授予博士学位要求的连贯论文。

Advanced or engineering materials which include; metals, ceramics, composite materials, and superconductors, play a very crucial role as structural components in all branches of engineering. Therefore, it is very important to understand these materials fully in terms of structure, processing, characterisation and properties that make them suitable for applications. Research into these materials is now a mature field, spanning over decades. However, despite the advancements in the field, the ever-increasing demand for materials with specific properties means that work in this field is far from exhausted. Recent research [1] indicate that a step increase in the mechanical properties may be achieved by appropriate control of mechanical deformation and ageing at intermediate temperatures. The proposed work will focus on the solid-state processing of existing and modified Al alloys to achieve a step change in yield strength while retaining appropriate ductility. Microstructure and mechanical properties of these alloys will be characterised using the facilities at the Brunel University London to understand the combined role of deformation and precipitation on the enhancement of the properties observed.OBJECTIVESSome of the proposed objectives of the research programme are but not limited to: Development of aluminium alloys with high ultimate tensile strength while maintaining acceptable values of ductility and fracture toughness. Use various characterisation techniques such as XRD and, TEM to probe the micro-structural properties of the high-performance alloys. Measure the mechanical properties of the alloys; tensile strength, toughness and others. Fabrication of novel specimens that can be used to evaluate the properties of the alloys for prototype development. Document the results of the experimental investigations into a coherent thesis that meets the requirements of Brunel University for the award of a PhD degree.