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Ph.D. Projects in Materials Science

Doctoral Training Centre for Nanoscience and Technology

M.Phil in Micro- and Nanotechnology Enterprise

Project studentships are fully funded and usually available immediately.

• Ph.D. Research Studentship (Corus/EPSRC): Understanding the toughness and ductility of novel steels with mixed-microstructures
• Ph.D. Research Studentship (Rolls-Royce/EPSRC): Thermal stability of superbainitic steel
• PhD Studentship ('home fees' rate): Fatigue of high-performance steels for bearing applications
• PhD Studentship ('home fees' rate): Electrochemical Thermammetry of Metal Interfaces
• PhD Studentship with Rolls-Royce plc: Understanding variation in the fatigue crack initiation behaviour of a nickel disc alloy showing a coarse grain microstructure
• PhD studentship with Corus: understanding the toughness and ductility of novel steels with mixed-microstructures
• PhD studentship with Rolls-Royce plc: Microstructure Evolution of the Low Alloy Steel A508
• Developing advanced materials for high temperature aeroengine components

Ph.D. Research Studentship (Corus/EPSRC): Understanding the toughness and ductility of novel steels with mixed-microstructures

Ultra-high strength steels which can be mass produced have enormous potential in the context of products which are beneficial to the environment. This project is about two kinds of mixed-microstructures, bainitic ferrite and austenite, and martensite in combination with austenite.

`Superbainite' is a recent discovery in which the world's first bulk nanostructured metal is made by phase transformation at temperatures where diffusion is inconceivable. The result is an microstructure in which slender plates of bainitic ferrite, just 20-40 nm in thickness, are uniformly dispersed within a matrix of carbon-enriched austenite. The properties are impressive, with the strength routinely in the range 2000-2500 MPa. This gives the structure the ability to work-harden, a feature missing in nanostructures produced by other methods. Work hardening is important in order to avoid plastic instabilities.

The austenite undergoes stress and strain-induced martensitic transformation during deformation. One theory to explain the ductility is that once sufficient brittle-martensite forms to exceed a percolation threshold, fracture occurs. One part of this project will involve the definition of a percolation threshold for three-dimensional, anisotropic structures and validate the concept experimentally.

These concepts will be further developed to deal with biaxial deformation and bendability, because these are important parameters from the point of view of technological applications where formability and hole-expansion are important. The ultimate goal will be to design, using the validated theory, good steels based on the superbainite concept, covering the strength range 1500-2500 GPa. Ductility in all its forms will be the priority for the lower strength range, and toughness for the stronger variants.

Similar work will be carried out on mixtures of martensite and austenite, with particular focus on controlling the composition of the austenite in order to ensure the correct stability so that transformation-induced plasticity can be properly exploited.

Applicants should as a minimum have (or expect to be awarded) an upper second class UK Master's level degree (MSci, MPhys, MChem, MEng etc., or overseas equivalents) in a relevant subject. Students should meet the EPSRC residency criteria to be eligible for this studentship. The stipend will be approximately £15,000 per annum, together with a bonus of £1,500 on submission of the Ph.D. thesis.

For further technical information contact Professor Harry Bhadeshia (hkdb@cam.ac.uk). Dr Rosie Ward (remw2@cam.ac.uk) can provide guidance on the University's admission procedures. It is best to make a formal application through the University system (rather than just to e-mail curriculum vitae) so that the academic background, research potential and suitability can be properly assessed.

Ph.D. Research Studentship (Rolls-Royce/EPSRC): Thermal stability of superbainitic steel

`Superbainite' is a recent discovery in which the world's first bulk nanostructured metal is made by phase transformation at temperatures where diffusion is inconceivable. The result is an microstructure in which slender plates of bainitic ferrite, just 20-40 nm in thickness, are uniformly dispersed within a matrix of carbon-enriched austenite. The properties are impressive, with the strength routinely in the range 2000-2500 MPa. This gives the structure the ability to work-harden, a feature missing in nanostructures produced by other methods. Work hardening is important in order to avoid plastic instabilities.

The purpose of this project is to redesign these alloys for use at temperatures in exces of 400°C. For this to be achieved, it will be necessary to prevent the retained austenite from decomposing into an equilibrium mixture of cementite and ferrite. This might be done by altering certain thermodynamic parameters.

The T0 curve represents the locus of all carbon concentrations on a phase diagram where austenite and ferrite of the same chemical composition have identical free energies. It determines the carbon concentration of the austenite at the point where bainite ceases to form. If this carbon concentration can be kept less than the solubility of cementite in austenite then the latter becomes stable to thermal decomposition.

These concepts will be investigated with the aim of creating a novel alloy system which will then be assessed experimentally from the point of view of performance and stability for prolonged periods at elevated temperatures.

Applicants should as a minimum have (or expect to be awarded) an upper second class UK Master's level degree (MSci, MPhys, MChem, MEng etc., or overseas equivalents) in a relevant subject. Students should meet the EPSRC residency criteria to be eligible for this studentship. The stipend will be approximately £13,290 per annum and an additional £5000 per annum from our industrial partner.

For further technical information contact Professor Harry Bhadeshia (hkdb@cam.ac.uk). Dr Rosie Ward (remw2@cam.ac.uk) can provide guidance on the University's admission procedures. It is best to make a formal application through the University system (rather than just to e-mail curriculum vitae) so that the academic background, research potential and suitability can be properly assessed.

PhD Studentship ('home fees' rate): Fatigue of high-performance steels for bearing applications

Applications are invited for a 3 year research studentship leading to the award of a Ph.D., under the supervision of Dr Pedro Rivera-Diaz-Del-Castillo. Industrially funded at the ‘home rate’ fees level, the research will focus on the fatigue of high-performance steels for bearing applications, and the work will be performed within the framework of the newly formed SKF Steel Technology Centre at the University of Cambridge.  Emphasis will be on the fine structural features responsible for the development of rolling contact fatigue and the associated mechanisms, as well as the means to  mitigate the problem via heat treatment and/or microstructural control. The ideal candidate should have a strong background in metallurgy with a preference for steels.  It will be necessary to undertake detailed experimental characterisation of damage phenomena. The work will also involve interpretations using a variety of mathematical modelling techniques.

The minimum academic requirement for admission is an upper second class UK honours degree at the level of MSci, MEng, MPhys, MChem etc, or a lower second with a good Master's, (or overseas equivalents) in a relevant subject.

The project is fully funded for students who meet the residency criteria for 'home rate' fees.  Students classified as 'overseas' will need to provide an additional fee from their own resources.

Application packs are available via http://www.admin.cam.ac.uk/univ/gsprospectus/applying/ or from Dr Rosie Ward (remw2@cam.ac.uk) who is happy to answer questions about the admissions process and funding opportunities available.

PhD Studentship ('home fees' rate): Electrochemical Thermammetry of Metal Interfaces

A PhD studentship is available for three years to investigate the role of temperature in electrochemical and corrosion processes using cyclic
thermammetry and associated methods.  The basic technique is new.  In addition to investigating the fundamental aspects, new methods are to be
developed based on these procedures.  The research will focus on the passive state of metals against corrosion, and breakdown of passivity leading to localised corrosion.  The technique will also be used to develop quantitative electrochemical sensors, particularly in relation to foodstuffs.  Applicants should have a degree in metallurgy, materials science, chemistry or chemical engineering, and have a keen interest in electrochemistry, corrosion and passivation, or interfacial processes generally.  This is an opportunity to develop something entirely new in the field which is scientifically fascinating and potentially of direct technological application.

The project is fully funded for students who meet the residency criteria for 'home rate' fees.  Students classied as 'overseas' will need to
provide an additional fee from their own resources.

Applicants should have (or expect to be awarded) a good Master's (MSc, MPhil, MSci, MEng, MPhys etc, or overseas equivalents) degree in a
relevant subject.

Expressions of interest should be addressed to Professor Tim Burstein, Department of Materials Science and Metallurgy, University of Cambridge,
Pembroke Street, Cambridge CB2 3QZ, United Kingdom, tel: -44-(0)-1223-334361, email: gtb1000@cam.ac.uk.

Application forms and the Graduate Studies Prospectus are available from the Board of Graduate Studies web site and copies of these documents are available via www.admin.cam.ac.uk/univ. Further information on the application process is available from Dr Rosie Ward (remw2@cam.ac.uk).

PhD Studentship with Rolls-Royce plc: Understanding variation in the fatigue crack initiation behaviour of a nickel disc alloy showing a coarse grain microstructure

Applications are invited for a PhD position to be held in collaboration with Roll-Royce plc.  This CASE studentship is fully funded by Rolls-Royce for a student who meets the EPSRC residency criteria, will run for 3.5 years and can start from October 2009 (or later). It will be based in the Rolls-Royce UTC in the Department of Materials Science and Metallurgy under the supervision of Dr. Catherine Rae and Dr. Mark Hardy of Rolls-Royce plc.  A payment of £5000 pa is available in addition to the normal PhD support.

Background.
The alloy RR1000 developed in Cambridge is a nickel-based superalloy formed from powder and being used for aero-engine discs in the Trent 1000 engine of the Boeing 787 Dreamliner. During testing to failure fatigue cracks in fine grain RR1000 have been found to initiate predominantly from features that arise from powder processing and component manufacture. Where these features are not present, fatigue cracks can nucleate from the microstructure.   However in coarse grain RR1000, the origin for the majority of fatigue crack nucleation can be traced, on the fracture surfaces, to features in the microstructure by large crystallographic facets.  These are produced by stage I crack growth, which occurs from heterogeneous deformation on planar slip bands.  New tools and advances in electron microscopy are now available to further understand the mechanisms for fatigue crack growth in coarse grain nickel disc alloys.  Such understanding will be used to understand the observed variations in endurance data at the temperatures and stresses that arise in disc rotors in service.

Major Aims.
To characterise the microstructure at the origins of fatigue cracks in coarse grain RR1000 using field emission gun scanning electron microscopy (FEG-SEM), focused ion beam (FIB) microscopy, electron backscattered diffraction (EBSD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM).  The aims being to identify trends in fractographic features at nucleation sites, to identify strain concentration and damage mechanisms, and ultimately, to develop a failure criterion for fatigue loading at different test temperatures and cyclic stress conditions.  Differences in local microstructure, the observed damage and the ease in which the failure criterion is achieved may then be used to rationalise variations in endurance data and be developed to establish a microstructure-based model for fatigue life. 

Applicants should have (or expect to be awarded) at least an upper second class UK honours degree (at the MEng, MPhys, MSci or MChem levels), or a lower second with a Master's, (or overseas equivalents) in a relevant subject.
Application forms and the Graduate Studies Prospectus are available from the Board of Graduate Studies web site and copies of these documents are available via www.admin.cam.ac.uk/univ.

Please contact Dr. C Rae  cr18@cam.ac.uk  for full details.

PhD studentship with Corus: understanding the toughness and ductility of novel steels with mixed-microstructures

Applications are invited for a fully funded studentship in collaboration with Corus. Work will be carried out on mixtures of martensite and austenite, with particular focus on controlling the composition of the austenite in order to ensure the correct stability so that transformation-induced plasticity can be fully exploited. Further details on the project are detailed on Prof Bhadeshia's website.

Applicants should as a minimum have (or expect to be awarded) an upper second class UK Master's level degree (MSci, MPhys, MChem, MEng etc, or overseas equivalents) in a relevant subject.  Students should meet the EPSRC residency criteria to be eligible for this studentship. The stipend will be approximately £15,000 per annum, together with a bonus of £1,500 on submission of the Ph.D. thesis.

For further technical information contact Professor Harry Bhadeshia (hkdb@cam.ac.uk). Dr Rosie Ward (remw2@cam.ac.uk) can provide guidance on the University's admission procedures. It is best to make a formal application through the University system (rather than just to e-mail a curriculum vitae) so that we can consider each applicant's academic background and research potential and assess his/her suitability as a candidate for this studentship.

PhD Studentship with Rolls-Royce plc: Microstructure Evolution of the Low Alloy Steel A508

Developing advanced materials for high temperature aeroengine components

The drive to reduce environmentally harmful emissions from aircraft has resulted in considerable efforts being made to improve their efficiency. One approach by which this can be achieved is by increasing the temperature of the gas stream in the turbine sections. At present, the principal factor limiting this temperature is the thermal stability and strength of the materials currently used for turbine disc and blade components. It is the aim of this project to identify and develop novel alloys strengthened with intermetallic phases that may serve as successors to the materials currently used and allow higher operating temperatures to be tolerated. This project will be conducted in collaboration with Rolls-Royce Plc. For further information, please contact Dr. Howard Stone (hjs1002@cam.ac.uk).