POSTERS

Miles Cooke | University of Manchester

FLASH PRESENTATION Session Five: Wednesday 19 July, 0900-1100 

Board: 1

EXAMINING THE COMBINED EFFECT OF IRRADIATION AND MICROSEGREGATION ON THE

MICROSTRUCTURE AND MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF LOW ALLOY STEEL WELDS

Nuclear reactor pressure vessels contain the core of the reactor as well as coolant, the microstructural integrity of this critical component is therefore key to operational safety. Current research investigates the use of Grade 4N low carbon steel when manufacturing these vessels, fabricated by electron beam welding. As these welds are subject to cumulative damage when irradiated, an investigation into the microstructure and mechanical properties of this material, post welding and post irradiation, is of great concern. Such an investigation shall serve as a reference when determining the service lifetime and material suitability for the design of reactor pressure vessels.

Samuel Eka | University of Manchester

FLASH PRESENTATION Session Two: Tuesday 18 July, 1130-1300 

Board: 3

DATACENTRIC ENGINEERING OF MATERIALS AND STRUCTURES

Datacentric engineering refers to the cross-disciplinary relationship between data science and engineering, amalgamating mathematical modelling concepts with big data and artificial intelligence. This defines the new approach to material science and engineering as a progression from the more traditional approaches such as empirical science from experimentation, theoretical and computational science.

Data science concepts and techniques have been applied to many industries, including retail, finance and energy sectors. However, it is only in recent years that data science has gained increased recognition and application in materials engineering. This poster explores some of the technological advances and innovations of datacentric engineering for materials and structures.

Aiden Ha | University of Manchester

Co-authors: Professor Philip Prangnell, Professor João Quinta da Fonseca, Dr. Adam Plowman, Xiaohan Zeng (University of Manchester), Dr. Matt Lunt (DSTL)

FLASH PRESENTATION Session One: Tuesday 18 July, 0900-1100 

Board 4

A STUDY OF ABNORMAL GRAIN DEVELOPMENT DURING BETA HEAT TREATMENT OF Ti-64

Ti-6Al-4V alloys have long been held as a workhorse in the aerospace industry due to high specific strength and fatigue resistance. Its beta annealed microstructure, has notably better damage tolerance, and is typically achieved via thermomechanical processing in the alpha+beta

phase field, followed by heat treatment above the beta transus. However, unusually large grains (abnormally coarse gains) have been a reoccurring issue, potentially compromising the material properties. Work by N.Byres has linked the development of ACGs on the starting textures. The project aims to build on it, using phase field modelling and experiments to observe the development of ACG structures.

Saeid Heidarinassab | Dublin City University

Co-author: Dermot Brabazon (Dublin City University)

FLASH PRESENTATION Session Five: Wednesday 19 July, 0900-1100 

Board 5

ABRASIVE DISCS PRODUCT PERFORMANCE ENHANCEMENT, BENCHMARKING AND DEVELOPMENT OF ONLINE QUALITY CONTROL SYSTEM

Abrasive discs are used for grinding, levelling and surface finishing applications, which consist

of a backing material on the back side. Traditionally, the backing material has the job of holding the adhesive, the primer, and the abrasive layer, which can be modified by producing a new liner material in a cost-effective manner. The focus of this project is to enhance abrasive discs performance by producing linear silicon carbide (SiC) nanoparticles (NPs) as inks, and print them on the backing material to absorb the generated heat during the grinding process as well as holding the abrasive layer. It is planned to use Pulsed Laser Ablation in Liquid (PLAL) to produce a colloid containing SiC NPs, which then will be printed on the backing material by an ink-jet printer. The properties of the printed layer in terms of thermal conductivity, adhesion to the substrate, and mechanical strength will be investigated. There are also various factors which have to be considered for ink production and printing, including PLAL parameters and ink viscosity, which will be optimised during this project as well.

Philomenah Holladay | University of Sheffield

Co-author: Professor David Fletcher (University of Sheffield)

FLASH PRESENTATION Session Five: Wednesday 19 July, 0900-1100 

Board 6

INVESTIGATION INTO THE DRIVERS OF METALLURGICAL CHANGE IN RAIL STEELS

Two rails of hypoeutectoid composition were removed from service following extended and abnormal operating conditions, having developed varying levels of damage. The rails were sectioned to assess the effect of the loading on the microstructure and its properties. Vampire dynamic studies have been conducted to understand the rail/wheel contact forces. As part of the UK’s plan to decarbonise transport, extending the working life of rails is crucial to reduce maintenance costs, down time, and waste. To determine how surface-initiated damage mechanisms in rails affect performance, the following presents a comprehensive study into the

factors affecting rails in service.

Joe Hopkinson | University of Sheffield

FLASH PRESENTATION Session Three: Tuesday 18 July, 1400-1545 

Board 7

MICROSTRUCTURAL CHARACTERISATION OF NEAR-NET SHAPE COMPONENTS MADE THROUGH THE FAST-FORGE PROCESS FROM DISSIMILAR TITANIUM ALLOYS

The project explores FAST-forge as a hybrid processing route for components consisting of dissimilar titanium alloys. FAST-forge is a two-step process, which transforms titanium powder into a near-net shape (NNS) component. The powder is consolidated using FAST into a preformed billet, which is subsequently forged through a closed-die precision forging step. Billets sintered from Ti-64, Ti-6242, Ti-3-2.5 and mixed Ti-64/Ti-5553 powders were forged and their microstructure analysed. Deform simulated the forging process, permitting the strain, strain rate and temperature to be mapped onto optical micrographs of the sample, providing

insights into the microstructural evolution.

Ciaran Miles | University of Sheffield

FLASH PRESENTATION Session Six: Wednesday 19 July, 1130-1300 

Board 8

AN ASSESSMENT & EVALUATION OF Al-Si BASED COATINGS AND THEIR DEPOSITION METHODS FOR

THE PROTECTION OF 22MNB5 AUTOMOTIVE STEEL

Press hardened steel is a staple of the automotive industry, as such minimising their corrosion

is integral to extending their service life. This project looks to assess the currently used Al-Si

based alloys used as a protective coating. Various methods of applying coatings will be tested

to find the most appropriate method for the application Al-Si coatings. The coatings’ protective

capabilities are based on their performance in certain tests including; corrosion, wear testing

and ductility. By assessing the efficiency of Al-Si as a coating, further work will be able to

attempt to address any shortcomings discovered through experimental HEA coatings.

Sampreet Rangaswamy | Dublin City University

FLASH PRESENTATION Session Six: Wednesday 19 July, 1130-1300

Board 9

INVESTIGATION OF MELT POOL CHARACTERISTICS DURING SINGLE TRACK LASER POWDER BED

FUSION OF NITINOL

Nitinol is becoming one of the most popular materials in various industries owing to its extraordinary properties such as shape memory effect and super-elasticity. Additive-manufacturing is a process in which a component is built layer by layer. In this study, single track trials in additive-manufacturing of Nitinol through powder bed fusion using laser beam (PBF-LB) technology were conducted to investigate the effect of laser power and scanning speed on the melt pool width and depth. These results were then compared with the simulations of the same experiments using Ansys Additive and Ansys Workbench software packages.

Shahrzad Sajjadivand | University College Dublin

FLASH PRESENTATION Session Three: Tuesday 18 July, 1400-1545

Board 10

THE EFFECT OF HEAT TREATMENT ON THE MICROSTRUCTURE OF ADDITIVELY MANUFACTURED MARAGING STEEL

This project investigates the relationship between microstructure and mechanical properties of additively manufactured (AM) 18Ni(300) Maraging Steel undergoing post-processing heat treatment. The effect of post-processing heat treatment on the microstructure evolution of as-built and heat-treated samples along with conventionally manufactured 18Ni(300) Maraging Steel will be investigated. This project aims to understand the variation of microstructural features, grain size, and type of precipitates upon heat treatment and its effect on mechanical properties. Samples will be characterised using X-ray diffraction (XRD), optical microscopy (OM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), compression testing, and hardness testing.

Conventionally-produced 18Ni(300) steel will also be used as a control where the differences in microstructural data obtained from this short project will shed light into the future development of new heat treatment methodology targeting AM 18Ni(300) maraging steel.

Niels Schreiner | University of Sheffield

Co-authors: Lewis R. Owen (University of Sheffield), Philip Chater (Diamond Light Source)

Board 11

TOTAL STRUCTURE ANALYSIS OF Ni_4 MO THROUGH APPLICATION OF TOTAL SCATTERING ANALYSIS

Due to Molybdenum being a commonly used element in superalloys, it is of great importance

to understand why it partitions into the disordered phase and how it affects the local structure.

This research project aims to elucidate the local ordering present in Ni4Mo through application

of total scattering analysis methods and the subsequent large-box modelling. This research

project will link into the main PhD project as Ni4Mo is to be used as a control sample for the

high temperature total scattering analysis studies that are to be carried out at the Diamond

Light Source.

Durga Tilak | University of Sheffield

FLASH PRESENTATION Session Two: Tuesday 18 July, 1130-1300

Board 12

PERMANENT NdFeB MAGNETS: MODELLING OF MAGNETS IN COMSOL

My poster summarises my understanding of magnetic materials and their simulation techniques,

which I built during my mini project. The explanation of the modelling process of magnetic

materials forms the bulk of my presentation. Furthermore, I have experimented with the

structure and composition of magnets and simulated their behaviour under different working

conditions. The software package COMSOL Multiphysics has been used as the simulation

environment. The iterative and corrective technique of the modelling exercise will offer

key insights into magnetic materials for my doctoral project, which attempts to improve

microstructure and manufacturing techniques of permanent magnets used in electric

automotives.

Martin Tse | University of Sheffield

Co-authors: Dominique Flahaut, Nareen Manikanteswaran (Paralloy UK), Katerina A. Christofidou (University of Sheffield)

FLASH PRESENTATION Session Two: Tuesday 18 July, 1130-1300 

Board 13

CALPHAD-ASSISTED SUPERALLOY DESIGN FOR BLUE HYDROGEN REFORMER APPLICATIONS

With the increasing drive for efficiency increase with sustainability in mind, hydrogen reformers present new material challenges with increased susceptibility to degradation in alloy properties. With past development of alloys used revolving around changes in minor additions, these alloys have now reached their capability limits, calling for the development of newer generation alloys. This work illustrates the design of new alloy compositions with the aid of thermodynamic simulations using Thermo-Calc software. New alloy compositions have been proposed based on different perspectives, with particular emphasis on the stability of phases.

Samuel Yeates | University of Sheffield

FLASH PRESENTATION Session One: Tuesday 18 July, 0900-1100

Board 14

INVESTIGATION OF SUITABILITY OF TAVTI-BASED COMPOSITIONALLY COMPLEX ALLOYS FOR FUSION

PLASMA FACING APPLICATIONS

Fusion energy offers a promising solution to several societal and environmental issues, and the minimisation of long-lived radioactive waste is a key component of its sustainability. As research shows promising irradiation resistant properties in certain Compositionally Complex Alloys(CCA) a new range of alloys has been developed based on Ta, V & Ti, as these are predicted to return to UK Low Level Waste status after less than 100 years. In this work the microstructure, irradiation damage resistance and thermal conductivity of TaVTi-based CCAs are investigated and characterised through computational simulations and experimental techniques including SEM, Laser Flash analysis and GI-XRD.