Manufacturing of Advanced Metallic Materials

Head of Group

Dr Ma Qian

Researchers

Research activities

Research activities in Manufacturing of Advanced Metallic Materials have been largely focusing on solidification processing of light metals, new alloy development, ultrasonic processing of light metals, and thermodynamics of materials. These include:

  1. the fundamentals of heterogeneous nucleation and grain formation on substrates of different potencies and geometries;
  2. grain refinement of magnesium and its alloys;
  3. development of new magnesium alloys for automotive and aerospace applications;
  4. development of functional new metallic materials for applications in the semiconductor industry;
  5. the Gibbs-Thomson effect and capillary shape evolution.

From June 2000 to June 2004 research was supported by the Australian CAST-CRC, Australian Magnesium Corporation, Australian Research Council, Australian Academy of Science and the University of Queensland. Since July 2004, research has received support from EPSRC, the Royal Society, Magnesium Elektron Ltd and the University of Portsmouth. Dr Ma has collaborated closely with international partners from the University of Queensland, Monash University, and the University of Waikato.

Research has led to 72 refereed journal publications, 13 refereed international conference papers, and 13 non-refereed international conference papers. In addition, one international patent covering most PCT (Patent Cooperation Treaty) countries and one European patent have been granted.

Awards and honours

  • 'ASM 2006 Henry Marion Howe Medal', awarded on 17 October 2006, Cincinnati, USA  (ASM: American Society for Metals, USA)
  • "Platform Science and Technology for Advanced Magnesium Alloys 2003 Best Paper Award", awarded on 30 January, Osaka, Japan.
  • 'TMS Light Metals 2003 - Magnesium Technology Award', awarded on 14 March 2004, Charlotte, USA (TMS: The Minerals, Metals & Materials Society - USA)
  • "The Australian CAST-CRC Commercialisation Award on AM-CAST" (inaugural), awarded on 4 December 2003, Geelong, Australia.
  • "The Australian CAST-CRC Commercialisation Award on AM-SC1", awarded on 4 December 2003, Geelong, Australia.
  • "The Australian CAST-CRC Industry Partner's Award" (inaugural), awarded on 2 December 2002, Brisbane, Australia.
  • Research work presented at the 7th International Conference on Magnesium Alloys and Their Applications on 'Creation of Fine and Spherical Magnesium Crystals via Control of Nucleation and Growth Instabilities' was reviewed as one of the six highlights in magnesium research presented at the conference by the website of the Chinese Material Research Society.