The increasing global demand for structural alloys, such as steel and aluminum, has fostered an increase in the use of recycled scrap to reduce cost and energy consumption. This shift towards more sustainable practice creates an inherent challenge of potential contamination in recycled metals. Impurities are known to promote the formation of deleterious secondary phases during processing that can adversely affect ductility, formability, and corrosion resistance. This research combines computational alloy design with the use of state-of-the-art materials characterization tools to evaluate the microstructures and the performance associated with higher impurity contents.  Material characterization includes SEM and TEM methods, lab and synchrotron X-ray diffraction, DSC, dilatometry, synchrotron X-ray and neutron residual stress measurements at multiple length scales, and synchrotron ultra-small-angle X-ray scattering.  Correlations will also be made between microstructure and materials property measurements (hardness, tensile, corrosion resistance, environmental cracking, etc.)

 

key words

Circular economy, Sustainable Alloys; Materials characterization; SEM; TEM; XRD; SAXS; DSC;

Citizenship:  Open to U.S. citizens

Level:  Open to Postdoctoral applicants