Multi-disciplinary Centre for In-situ Processing Studies (CIPS)
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Oxford
Department Name: Engineering Science
Abstract
This grant will create a multi-disciplinary Centre for In-situ Processing Studies (CIPS) at the Research Complex at Harwell, to be led by Professors Alexander Korsunsky and Dermot O'Hare from the University of Oxford. It will enable a diverse team of scientists to work together to study processes throughout the life-cycle of a wide range of materials, from their chemistry and manufacture to the ways in which components may degrade during usage. It will draw on the unrivalled facilities at Harwell, including Diamond Light Source, for experiments with extremely bright X-rays, and the ISIS pulsed neutron source, for high neutron flux. By enabling experiments at these facilities to be performed under real processing conditions, and followed in real time, the Centre will enable researchers to obtain detailed, three-dimensional understanding of the mechanical and chemical behaviour during different processing techniques. This will allow better methods for manufacture and processing to be developed; new materials to be produced efficiently; and improved understanding and control of changes in materials over repeated usage. The Centre will span the disciplines of engineering science, materials, chemistry, and physics to collectively enable this new science to be pursued. It will allow researchers from a broad, collaborative team to come to Harwell to take advantage of new opportunities for X-ray, neutron and laser beam experiments. Many will come for focussed visits of a few weeks, during which they will be able to develop their methods in conjunction with specialists based at the Centre. During these visits, they will work with the two resident researchers, who will be developing new systematic ways to study processes with X-rays or neutrons as they occur, including the design of new cells in which each process can take place. One will specialise in complex chemical processes and the other in materials and engineering processing and data analysis, and thus bring a wide spectrum of knowledge and experience for the benefit of all participating groups. All disciplines share common requirements in terms of experimental techniques and data interpretation provisions, and all can learn from each other about the most effective ways to understand complex processes. By addressing these requirements and sharing expertise, the Centre will enable research in a broad range of interdisciplinary problems of manufacture and processing.The research programme of the Centre reflects the research activities and interests of a number of University research groups, not only in Oxford but also at Cambridge, Glasgow, Nottingham, St Andrews and Warwick. Their work ranges from understanding the structure and chemistry during charging and use of lithium-ion batteries to the many changes taking place during engineering processes such as casting and welding. Evolving technology, such as the production of nanoparticles, will also form a particularly demanding strand. As new possibilities for experiments continue to evolve, the Centre will match these with corresponding developments for using them to follow realistic chemical and materials processing as it takes place. We expect a number of 'world first' experiments to take place as a result of this grant.
Planned Impact
Our vision is the creation of a multi-disciplinary Centre for In-situ Processing Studies (CIPS) at the Research Complex at Harwell that will have lasting benefits to a wide community of researchers both within the UK and internationally. Within 5 years the greatest impact for the broad academic community will be the creation of a Centre of Excellence in complex sample environments for research at large scale facilities. We want to offer it as the place where all academics who are interested in in-situ study of materials, chemical syntheses or manufacturing could come for expert opinion. If X-rays, neutrons or laser-based science were applicable for these studies, then the Centre would be the natural place to begin developing ideas for new experiments, and to build new collaborations. This impact will derive from the development of state-of-the-art processing cells that will be designed and adjusted for in-situ use, and also from advanced analysis of large volumes of data. The involvement of new users will be increased through the provision of training in sample environment and the use of central facilities. We will obtain results that will impact on some fundamental and longstanding scientific questions. X-ray (as well neutron and laser) vision will give us unprecedented insight into interesting chemical and engineering processes as they unfold. Complex experiments of this kind, based on synchrotron, neutron and laser beams, cannot be prepared and run in a few days, which is the typical duration of a group's visit to the facilities. Instead, long and systematic preparation is required. Research into in-situ processing will benefit hugely from the application of novel sample environments that we will create, that will be coupled with advanced experimental techniques. We will develop in parallel, both the insight into important and difficult scientific questions in processing, and the ability to do process characterisation experiments efficiently and effectively. Within 5 years we will achieve these twin goals by the judicious development of strategic generic tools for in situ processing studies. Ultimately on the timescale of years to decades the work carried out at CIPS will have major relevance to industry. Manufacturers in many industries need to develop controllable, reliable and cost-effective methods of producing new chemicals, catalysts, alloys, composites, nanoparticles and other technological materials. We will appoint an Industrial Applications Fellow (IAF) for the full duration of the project. This post will be created to ensure that we are able to convey and convert the academic impact into the industrial sector. We shall inform as many of the relevant companies as possible of the work carried by the research groups involved at CIPS, including the experimental techniques and scientific discoveries. We will make every effort to foster ongoing dialogues to ensure continuous and meaningful input from industry, including surgeries and joint workshops. This will provide clearer visions: for the researchers at CIPS, of the industrial problems; for industrial practitioners, of the techniques being worked on at the Centre. We will take advantage of the concentration of high-tech companies around Harwell and use various opportunities for meeting potential beneficiaries (e.g. business breakfasts at Harwell and Milton Park), as well as events elsewhere (industry fora, professional organisation events and publications, etc.). We will be proactive in developing opportunities for collaborative projects with industry, consultancy contracts, spin-outs and patents, seeking industrial impact of the work. The ultimate aim is to ensure that the investment in the Centre contributes to wealth creation and competitive economy in the UK.
Publications
Baimpas N
(2013)
A feasibility study of dynamic stress analysis inside a running internal combustion engine using synchrotron X-ray beams.
in Journal of synchrotron radiation
Ast J
(2019)
A review of experimental approaches to fracture toughness evaluation at the micro-scale
in Materials & Design
Korsunsky A.M.
(2012)
A review of recent in situ deformation studies using synchrotron X-ray (Micro) beams
in Micro and Nanosystems
Salvati E
(2016)
A study of overload effect on fatigue crack propagation using EBSD, FIB-DIC and FEM methods
in Engineering Fracture Mechanics
Roberts O.
(2014)
A study of phase transformation at the surface of a zirconia ceramic
in Lecture Notes in Engineering and Computer Science
Salvati E
(2017)
An analysis of macro- and micro-scale residual stresses of Type I, II and III using FIB-DIC micro-ring-core milling and crystal plasticity FE modelling
in International Journal of Plasticity
Korsunsky A
(2012)
Analysis of the internal structure and lattice (mis)orientation in individual grains of deformed CP nickel polycrystals by synchrotron X-ray micro-diffraction and microscopy
in International Journal of Fatigue
Sui T.
(2012)
Bio-materials characterization across multiple scales at oxford HEX-lab
in Lecture Notes in Engineering and Computer Science
Fleury R
(2017)
Characterisation of handling and service surface damage on Nickel alloys caused by low velocity impacts of blunt hard objects
in Mechanics of Materials
Lunt A
(2017)
Characterisation of nanovoiding in dental porcelain using small angle neutron scattering and transmission electron microscopy.
in Dental materials : official publication of the Academy of Dental Materials
Malik A
(2013)
Deep reactive ion etching of silicon moulds for the fabrication of diamond x-ray focusing lenses
in Journal of Micromechanics and Microengineering
Hofmann F
(2012)
Diffraction post-processing of 3D dislocation dynamics simulations for direct comparison with micro-beam Laue experiments
in Materials Letters
Salvati E
(2017)
Eigenstrain reconstruction of residual strains in an additively manufactured and shot peened nickel superalloy compressor blade
in Computer Methods in Applied Mechanics and Engineering
Kim T.
(2013)
Feasibility study of synchrotron x-ray diffraction and absorption spectroscopy for the characterisation of NMC oxides for Li-ion battery cathodes
in Lecture Notes in Engineering and Computer Science
Lunt A
(2016)
Full in-plane strain tensor analysis using the microscale ring-core FIB milling and DIC approach
in Journal of the Mechanics and Physics of Solids
Liu W
(2013)
Grain refinement and fatigue strengthening mechanisms in as-extruded Mg-6Zn-0.5Zr and Mg-10Gd-3Y-0.5Zr magnesium alloys by shot peening
in International Journal of Plasticity
Sui T
(2013)
Hierarchical modelling of elastic behaviour of human enamel based on synchrotron diffraction characterisation.
in Journal of structural biology
Song S
(2016)
High Li ion conductivity in a garnet-type solid electrolyte via unusual site occupation of the doping Ca ions
in Materials & Design
Kirkwood H
(2017)
High resolution imaging and analysis of residual elastic strain in an additively manufactured turbine blade
in International Journal of Nanotechnology
Clark J.N.
(2014)
Imaging Lattice dynamics in individual nanocrystals
in Optics InfoBase Conference Papers
Description | In situ processing studies span multiple disciplines: engineering, materials, chemistry, physics. The project so far demonstrated the remarkable power of the methods available at large scale facilities (DLS, ISIS, CLF) for providing unprecedented insights. We carried out in situ chemical synthesis, in situ electrospinning of nanofibres, in situ strain analysis in a working internal combustion engine, in situ mechanical loading and thermal treatment of human dental tissues, etc. The work is ongoing. |
Exploitation Route | The methods developed provide tools for improved understanding of both the fundamentals of processing science, and applications right across industry sectors. |
Sectors | Aerospace Defence and Marine Agriculture Food and Drink Electronics Energy Environment Manufacturing including Industrial Biotechology Pharmaceuticals and Medical Biotechnology |
URL | http://www.korsunsky.org |
Description | Our findings provided improved insight into such wide-ranging areas of human activity as internal combustion engines, chemical synthesis, and forensics. Our research results have been features in radio programmes and BBC TV series, in Diamond pod casts and Annual Review publications; and received best paper awards at international congresses. |
First Year Of Impact | 2012 |
Sector | Aerospace, Defence and Marine,Chemicals,Construction,Education,Energy,Environment,Healthcare,Manufacturing, including Industrial Biotechology,Pharmaceuticals and Medical Biotechnology,Transport |
Impact Types | Cultural Societal Economic |
Description | Birmingham Dental School |
Organisation | University of Birmingham |
Department | School of Dentistry |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | We advise colleagues at Birmingham School of Dentistry on modern nanoscale characterisation techniques, and implications of these novel approaches for clinical, diagnostic, therapeutic and prosthetic dentistry. |
Collaborator Contribution | We work closely with Birmingham School of Dentistry who provide access to expertise in clinical, diagnostic, therapeutic and prosthetic dentistry, and supply samples for our microscopy and X-ray studies. |
Impact | Multiple publications, joint designs of experiments |
Description | DLS |
Organisation | Diamond Light Source |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Private |
PI Contribution | We provide scientific leadership, ideas for tests, expertise and manpower for running complex experiments. |
Collaborator Contribution | Access to unique world class synchrotron beam lines. |
Impact | Multi-disciplinary - engineering, physics, chemistry; use of X-ray scattering, spectroscopy, imaging |