Strategic Partnership in Structural Metallic Systems for Gas Turbines
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Cambridge
Department Name: Materials Science & Metallurgy
Abstract
The UK aerospace industry is the largest in Europe and, worldwide, second only to the US. The aerospace sector directly
supports more than 3,000 companies and provides 230,000 jobs in the UK. Importantly, most of this employment falls
outside the south-east and the average wage is above the national average. In the UK, the manufacture of gas turbine
engines represents 32% of the aerospace business and is dominated by Rolls-Royce, with 114,000 jobs supported by
Rolls-Royce and its supply chain.
This research programme brings together the universities of Birmingham, Cambridge, Imperial College, Manchester,
Oxford, Sheffield and Swansea, to perform the fundamental research required to realise new materials technologies that
will provide step-changes in the efficiency of gas turbines. This will help secure the commercial competitiveness of much of
the UK aerospace industry whilst simultaneously serving to reduce UK CO2 emissions, thereby satisfying international
legislation and decreasing the likelihood of irreversible climate change.
The research will focus on the development of the new, high performance steels, nickel, cobalt, titanium and niobium-based
alloys required for the most demanding applications with gas turbine engines. It will also seek to obtain the
fundamental understanding of the performance and degradation of these materials needed to ensure that they may be
used safely, without compromising engine performance. It will also include additional activities investigating key enabling
technologies, such as advanced joining methods and materials for turbine blade seals.
These materials technologies will be developed in close collaboration with the industrial partners to ensure that they are
matched to industrial need and that a route for commercial exploitation is available.
supports more than 3,000 companies and provides 230,000 jobs in the UK. Importantly, most of this employment falls
outside the south-east and the average wage is above the national average. In the UK, the manufacture of gas turbine
engines represents 32% of the aerospace business and is dominated by Rolls-Royce, with 114,000 jobs supported by
Rolls-Royce and its supply chain.
This research programme brings together the universities of Birmingham, Cambridge, Imperial College, Manchester,
Oxford, Sheffield and Swansea, to perform the fundamental research required to realise new materials technologies that
will provide step-changes in the efficiency of gas turbines. This will help secure the commercial competitiveness of much of
the UK aerospace industry whilst simultaneously serving to reduce UK CO2 emissions, thereby satisfying international
legislation and decreasing the likelihood of irreversible climate change.
The research will focus on the development of the new, high performance steels, nickel, cobalt, titanium and niobium-based
alloys required for the most demanding applications with gas turbine engines. It will also seek to obtain the
fundamental understanding of the performance and degradation of these materials needed to ensure that they may be
used safely, without compromising engine performance. It will also include additional activities investigating key enabling
technologies, such as advanced joining methods and materials for turbine blade seals.
These materials technologies will be developed in close collaboration with the industrial partners to ensure that they are
matched to industrial need and that a route for commercial exploitation is available.
Planned Impact
This programme seeks to develop the innovative materials technologies and supply the trained staff required to maintain
commercial competitiveness of the UK's gas turbine industry. The beneficiaries will be:
UK industry
* This programme involves the universities of Birmingham, Cambridge, Imperial College, Manchester, Oxford, Sheffield
and Swansea, bringing together their expertise to develop the new materials required for the future health of the UK gas
turbine industry.
* The research staff and related postgraduate students will provide the next generation of trained metallurgical scientists
and engineers required to meet the recruitment needs of UK industry.
UK society
* The Strategic Partnership will develop the materials technologies required to maintain the commercial competitiveness of
the UK's largest aerospace company and thereby secure the UK jobs in this vibrant manufacturing sector. Rolls-Royce and
its supply chain support 114,000 UK jobs and the whole UK gas turbine industry supports some half a million UK jobs.
* The development of gas turbines with increased efficiency will help the UK cope with dwindling natural resources, meet
its commitments to EU emissions targets and limit potential damage through dangerous climate change. The potential
impact is considerable as around 7% of the UK's CO2 emissions are associated with gas turbines in international aviation,
while approximately 16% of the UK's CO2 emissions are associated with power generation using gas turbines of various
descriptions.
UK public
* A broad multimedia portfolio of professionally delivered public engagement activities will ensure effective dissemination
to million-scale audiences across the UK. This will include podcasts, local, regional and national radio contributions, live
interactive events for the general public, web articles and outreach activities for schools. By virtue of our multimedia
approach, these initiatives will also access audiences traditionally judged hard-to-reach and younger demographics
representing the researchers of tomorrow.
* Increased awareness of the excitement and importance of physical metallurgy as a scientific discipline will inspire the
next generation of metallurgists and engineers.
UK policy makers
* The benefits of carefully managed academic research in underpinning the future prosperity of UK manufacturing will be
communicated to UK policy makers.
* The partners will support RCUK efforts to fund industry/academia collaborations through press releases, articles and
case studies highlighting the impact achieved through this programme.
commercial competitiveness of the UK's gas turbine industry. The beneficiaries will be:
UK industry
* This programme involves the universities of Birmingham, Cambridge, Imperial College, Manchester, Oxford, Sheffield
and Swansea, bringing together their expertise to develop the new materials required for the future health of the UK gas
turbine industry.
* The research staff and related postgraduate students will provide the next generation of trained metallurgical scientists
and engineers required to meet the recruitment needs of UK industry.
UK society
* The Strategic Partnership will develop the materials technologies required to maintain the commercial competitiveness of
the UK's largest aerospace company and thereby secure the UK jobs in this vibrant manufacturing sector. Rolls-Royce and
its supply chain support 114,000 UK jobs and the whole UK gas turbine industry supports some half a million UK jobs.
* The development of gas turbines with increased efficiency will help the UK cope with dwindling natural resources, meet
its commitments to EU emissions targets and limit potential damage through dangerous climate change. The potential
impact is considerable as around 7% of the UK's CO2 emissions are associated with gas turbines in international aviation,
while approximately 16% of the UK's CO2 emissions are associated with power generation using gas turbines of various
descriptions.
UK public
* A broad multimedia portfolio of professionally delivered public engagement activities will ensure effective dissemination
to million-scale audiences across the UK. This will include podcasts, local, regional and national radio contributions, live
interactive events for the general public, web articles and outreach activities for schools. By virtue of our multimedia
approach, these initiatives will also access audiences traditionally judged hard-to-reach and younger demographics
representing the researchers of tomorrow.
* Increased awareness of the excitement and importance of physical metallurgy as a scientific discipline will inspire the
next generation of metallurgists and engineers.
UK policy makers
* The benefits of carefully managed academic research in underpinning the future prosperity of UK manufacturing will be
communicated to UK policy makers.
* The partners will support RCUK efforts to fund industry/academia collaborations through press releases, articles and
case studies highlighting the impact achieved through this programme.
Publications
Whittaker M
(2017)
Creep Deformation by Dislocation Movement in Waspaloy.
in Materials (Basel, Switzerland)
Wilson A
(2021)
Addition of Ge to Cr-Ta-Si laves phase-based alloys
in Intermetallics
Wilson A
(2019)
Comparison of Methods for Quantification of Topologically Close-Packed Phases in Ni-Based Superalloys
in Metallurgical and Materials Transactions A
Wilson A
(2019)
Comparison of experimental and predicted TCP solvus temperatures in Ni-base superalloys
in Journal of Alloys and Compounds
Wilson A
(2016)
Formation and effect of topologically close-packed phases in nickel-base superalloys
in Materials Science and Technology
Zenk C
(2016)
Microstructure, Lattice Misfit, and High-Temperature Strength of ?'-Strengthened Co-Al-W-Ge Model Superalloys
in Metallurgical and Materials Transactions A
| Description | New alloys have been developed that potentially allow the creation of new, more efficient gas turbine engines for civil aviation. |
| Exploitation Route | The alloys are now being commercially produced and assessed for use. |
| Sectors | Aerospace, Defence and Marine,Energy,Transport |
| Description | The objectives of the Strategic Partnership in Structural Metallic Systems for Gas Turbines were to: 1. To undertake the fundamental materials research necessary to improve the efficiency and environmental sustainability of gas turbine engines. 2. To train the next generation of world-class materials scientists and metallurgical engineers in structural metallic systems that will be critical to the future health of the discipline in UK academia and industry. These objectives were met through collaborative research and training activities run between academia and industry. This fully utilised the capabilities of a wide section of the academic community to develop new materials technologies that will give improvements in the performance of gas turbines, as well as performing the fundamental science required to ensure that they are safely used to the limits of their capabilities. This research was performed under the guidance and support of the industrial partners who will ultimately use these materials technologies, thereby providing intrinsic pathways to commercial exploitation. Key successes from the Strategic Partnership include: • A new niobium silicide alloy has been designed, which could provide a step change in turbine blade operating temperature. A company has been engaged to fabricate this alloy using commercial routes for detailed testing. • New polycrystalline nickel-based superalloys for turbine disc applications, capable of operating at higher temperatures and stresses than existing alloys, have been developed and are now in the process of industrial scale-up and assessment. These will provide a key cornerstone for future gas turbine aero engines. • The relationships between the dwell crack growth behaviour, which limits the service life of turbine disc components, and alloy microstructure have been established for both current state-of-the-art and next generation disc alloys. This will allow the latest alloys to be processed for optimal dwell fatigue resistance. • Developed and applied specialist capabilities for observation of microstructural changes in alloys during mechanical testing using in situ scanning electron microscopy. These have been used to gain a fundamental understanding of strain localisation around microstructural features during deformation. • Established a new method for studying TCP phase formation in superalloys in situ using synchrotron X-ray diffraction. • Developed an understanding of the fatigue crack growth threshold behaviour of polycrystalline nickel-based superalloys associated with the friction welds that are used to create the turbine assemblies. This offers the prospect of more appropriate component lifing, with commensurate savings through reduced service costs. • Established an understanding of the interactions between processing parameters, microstructure and the resultant properties on aerospace alloys produced using additive manufacturing methods. • Validated a new surface hardening treatment for aircraft engine bearing steels involving nitriding plus carburising that increases surface hardness well beyond that achieved with carburising alone. • Developed and demonstrated a new creep-resistant, tough and strong shaft material based upon a precipitation strengthened maraging steel containing NiAl and Laves phase intermetallics. This new steel provides a single-material solution for the aircraft engine shaft that removes the need to inertia weld different materials for a balance in front and rear mechanical properties. This is now being assessed in commercial quantities. • New insights have been obtained in the deformation mechanisms of titanium aluminides that will facilitate future alloy processing and component lifing. The realisation of such technologies will help maintain the commercial competitiveness of the UK gas turbine industry, helping secure a very significant number of jobs within UK manufacturing, as well as the possibility of further job creation. The Strategic Partnership has received national recognition, winning the 'Collaborate to Innovate' award in the Transport category in 2016 and the IOM3 Gold Medal in 2018. |
| First Year Of Impact | 2015 |
| Sector | Aerospace, Defence and Marine,Energy,Environment,Manufacturing, including Industrial Biotechology,Transport |
| Impact Types | Economic |
| Description | Chair of the STFC Physical Sciences and Engineering Advisory Panel |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Participation in a guidance/advisory committee |
| Description | Deputy Chair of the STFC Advisory Panel: Physical Sciences and Engineering |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Participation in a guidance/advisory committee |
| Description | ESRF Review Panel |
| Geographic Reach | Europe |
| Policy Influence Type | Participation in a guidance/advisory committee |
| Description | Member of the Oak Ridge National Laboratory Science Review Committee |
| Geographic Reach | North America |
| Policy Influence Type | Participation in a guidance/advisory committee |
| Description | Reviewer for Diamond Peer Review Panel |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Participation in a guidance/advisory committee |
| Title | Data for "The effect of phase chemistry on the extent of strengthening mechanisms in model Ni-Cr-Al-Ti-Mo based superalloys" |
| Description | * Composition data of the gamma and gamma prime phases obtained using STEM-EDX. * Proximity histogram composition data across a gamma-gamma prime interface obtained using 3DAPT. * Bulk alloy compositions obtained using SEM-EDX. * Load vs extension data obtained during compression testing of the alloys. * Neutron diffraction patterns in the form of intensity vs 2theta data for each of the alloys. * Particle sizes for the gamma prime precipitates obtained from image analysis of the micrographs obtained by electron microscopy. These data are unsorted. |
| Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
| Year Produced | 2018 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Title | Observation of a new B2 structured phase in Ti-15Mo (wt%) |
| Description | © 2018 The Authors The formation of non-equilibrium and transient phases in metastable beta titanium alloys during low temperature thermal treatments is currently of great interest, as they provide a potential method of controlling the size and distribution of the equilibrium alpha phase and, hence, the resulting mechanical properties. Here, for the first time, we report on the formation of a new, B2 structured phase in the Ti-Mo system. The phase was observed in electron transparent material during in situ, and following ex situ, heat treatment at 300 °C. The B2 phase was enriched in Mo compared to the surrounding matrix material and formed in regular arrays of approximately square cross-section particles interspersed by thin beta channels. Electron diffraction indicated that the lattice parameter of this new phase was smaller than that of the parent phase, leading to significant strain in the beta channels. Critically, the B2 phase was only observed in material that had been electro-polished prior to heat treatment, and, therefore, it is hypothesised that this phase forms as a result of the preparation method and thin foil effects. |
| Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Title | On the prediction and the formation of the sigma phase in CrMnCoFeNix high entropy alloys |
| Description | Notes on OpenData for "On the prediction and the formation of the sigma phase in CrMnCoFeNix high entropy alloys" This is dataset is a single zip file within which there are three folders that contain the data presented in the associated publication. The DSC folder contains Differential Scanning Calorimetry data. These can be plotted in any standardised graphic tool. The results were analysed following the NIST guidelines. The SEM folder data includes the results from scanning electron microscopy and energy-dispersive x-ray spectroscopy (EDX) maps and spot analysis for compositions. The XRD folder contains the raw XRD data as well as the fitted data using the Pawley procedure in the TOPAS academic software. |
| Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Title | Research data for "Effect of Co on the phase stability of CrMnFeCoxNi high entropy alloys following long-duration exposures at intermediate temperatures" |
| Description | SEM images, DSC traces, XRD patterns, Excel spreadsheet of phase quantification from point EDX spectra |
| Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
| Year Produced | 2019 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Title | Research data for "The Effect of Systematic Variation of Ni:Co Ratio on the Oxidation Behaviour of ?-?' Ni-Co-Al-Ti-Cr Alloys" |
| Description | This record contains the original research data used in the linked publication "The Effect of Systematic Variation of Ni:Co Ratio on the Oxidation Behaviour of ?-?' Ni-Co-Al-Ti-Cr Alloys". Comprehensive details of the experimental methods used are provided in that publication. The research data is curated in an Excel spreadsheet. This contains: the microstructural images acquired using scanning electron microscopy; the analysed oxide thickness and internal damage depths; the composition data acquired using energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy; the raw data of the X-ray diffraction patterns; the mass gain data acquired using thermogravimetric analysis; the elemental concentration maps obtained by secondary ion mass spectrometry. |
| Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
| Year Produced | 2020 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | These data will assist in the development of Ni-Co-Al-Ti-Cr Alloys. |
| URL | https://www.repository.cam.ac.uk/handle/1810/312045 |
| Title | Research data for "The Effect of Systematic Variation of Ni:Co Ratio on the Oxidation Behaviour of ?-?' Ni-Co-Al-Ti-Cr Alloys" |
| Description | |
| Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
| Year Produced | 2020 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| URL | https://www.repository.cam.ac.uk/handle/1810/312045 |
| Title | Research data for "The Effect of Temperature and Mo Content on the Lattice Misfit of Model Ni-Based Superalloys" |
| Description | Research data for "The Effect of Temperature and Mo Content on the Lattice Misfit of Model Ni-Based Superalloys". Published in https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4701/9/6/700/htm |
| Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
| Year Produced | 2019 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | None known |
| URL | https://elements.admin.cam.ac.uk/repository.html?pub=1086123 |
| Title | Research data for Influence of Ni:Co ratio and temperature on the lattice misfit of ?-?' Ni-Co-Al-Ti-Cr alloys |
| Description | Original research data used in the publication "Influence of Ni:Co ratio and temperature on the lattice misfit of ?-?' ' Ni-Co-Al-Ti-Cr alloys". These include: 1. Microstructural images acquired by scanning electron microscopy 2. Neutron diffraction data 3. Lattice parameters fitted to the neutron diffraction data 4. Lattice misfit data obtained from the fitted lattice parameters 5. Elemental partition coefficients between the gamma and gamma prime phases. These data and their methods of acquisition are described in the related publication. |
| Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
| Year Produced | 2022 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| URL | https://www.repository.cam.ac.uk/handle/1810/344238 |
| Title | Research data for Phase equilibria in the Fe-Mo-Ti ternary system at 900°C and 750°C |
| Description | Research data for "Phase equilibria in the Fe-Mo-Ti ternary system at 900°C and 750°C" published in MMetallurgical and Materials Transactions A |
| Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
| Year Produced | 2017 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Title | Research data for The Effect of Ni:Co Ratio on the Elemental Phase Partitioning in ?-?' Ni-Co-Al-Ti-Cr Alloys |
| Description | Research data used in the publication "The Effect of Ni:Co Ratio on the Elemental Phase Partitioning in ?-?' Ni-Co-Al-Ti-Cr Alloys" published in Acta Materialia |
| Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
| Year Produced | 2017 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Title | Research data for: The Role of Composition on the Extent of Individual Strengthening Mechanisms in Polycrystalline Ni-Based Superalloys |
| Description | Research data for: The Role of Composition on the Extent of Individual Strengthening Mechanisms in Polycrystalline Ni-Based Superalloys. Published in 10.1016/j.matdes.2019.107760 |
| Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
| Year Produced | 2019 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | None known. |
| URL | https://elements.admin.cam.ac.uk/repository.html?pub=1076407 |
| Title | Research data supporting "A SANS and APT study of precipitate evolution and strengthening in a maraging steel" |
| Description | Small angle neutron scattering (SANS)j and imaging atom probe field ion microscope data on a marageing steel destined for aerospace applications. The steel is strengthened with NiAl and Laves phase precipitates and is designed to be strong at both ambient and elevated temperatures, while maintaining a panoply of other properties such as machinability, fatigue resistance, toughness, creep strength and coatability. |
| Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
| Year Produced | 2018 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Title | Research data supporting "Elucidating the microstructural development of Refractory Metal High Entropy Superalloys via the Ti-Ta-Zr constituent system" |
| Description | Research data supporting "Elucidating the microstructural development of Refractory Metal High Entropy Superalloys via the Ti-Ta-Zr constituent system". Published in 10.1016/j.jallcom.2019.152935 |
| Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
| Year Produced | 2019 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | None known |
| URL | https://elements.admin.cam.ac.uk/repository.html?pub=1140183 |
| Title | Research data supporting "Observation of a refractory metal matrix containing Zr-Ti- rich precipitates in a Mo0.5NbTa0.5TiZr high entropy alloy" |
| Description | Research data supporting "Observation of a refractory metal matrix containing Zr-Ti- rich precipitates in a Mo0.5NbTa0.5TiZr high entropy alloy". Published in 10.1016/j.scriptamat.2020.01.028 |
| Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
| Year Produced | 2020 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | None known |
| URL | https://elements.admin.cam.ac.uk/viewobject.html?cid=1&id=1169235 |
| Title | Research data supporting "The assessment of local lattice strains in alloys using total scattering" |
| Description | |
| Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
| Year Produced | 2020 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| URL | https://www.repository.cam.ac.uk/handle/1810/312849 |
| Title | Research data supporting Gamma Prime Precipitate Evolution During Aging of a Model Nickel Based Superalloy |
| Description | Excel spreadsheets containing the particle size distributions (PSDs), compositions of each phase, lattice parameters and proximity histograms of composition across the precipitate - matrix interfaces. |
| Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
| Year Produced | 2017 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Title | Research data supporting On the prediction and the formation of the sigma phase in CrMnCoFeNix high entropy alloys |
| Description | Notes on OpenData for "On the prediction and the formation of the sigma phase in CrMnCoFeNix high entropy alloys" This is dataset is a single zip file within which there are three folders that contain the data presented in the associated publication. The DSC folder contains Differential Scanning Calorimetry data. These can be plotted in any standardised graphic tool. The results were analysed following the NIST guidelines. The SEM folder data includes the results from scanning electron microscopy and energy-dispersive x-ray spectroscopy (EDX) maps and spot analysis for compositions. The XRD folder contains the raw XRD data as well as the fitted data using the Pawley procedure in the TOPAS academic software. |
| Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
| Year Produced | 2022 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | These data will assist in understanding high entropy alloys for future applications. |
| URL | https://www.repository.cam.ac.uk/handle/1810/333462 |
| Title | Research data supporting: "The Effect of Zirconium on the Omega Phase in Ti 24Nb-[0-8]Zr (at.%) Alloys" |
| Description | The files here correspond to the raw TEM, APT and XRD data that are presented in the figures of the manuscript. |
| Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
| Year Produced | 2018 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Title | Research data supporting: On the influence of Mn on the phase stability of the CrMnxFeCoNi High Entropy Alloys |
| Description | The underlying data connected with the research paper. The data for each figure is included in the .zip files and comprised the images from electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction. |
| Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
| Year Produced | 2017 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Description | 3D APT of model superalloys |
| Organisation | University of Michigan |
| Department | Department of Materials Science and Engineering |
| Country | United States |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | We have been performing fundamental studies of model superalloys to aid the design of next generation alloys. As part of this work we prepared and analysed a series of alloys. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The University of Michigan provided access to 3D atom probe tomography facilities for the study of our alloys. |
| Impact | A paper has been submitted to a peer-reviewed journal covering this work. |
| Start Year | 2016 |
| Description | Atom probe tomography of alloys |
| Organisation | University of Michigan |
| Country | United States |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Alloys have been developed by our research group for this collaboration. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Atom probe tomography of the alloys developed to determine the nature and composition of the precipitates present. |
| Impact | A scientific paper will be prepared on the results obtained. |
| Start Year | 2016 |
| Description | Neutron diffraction of superalloys |
| Organisation | NRC Canada |
| Country | Canada |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | We have been studying model nickel based superalloys to aid in the design of future alloys to enable new, more efficient gas turbine engines for civil aviation. As part of this work, we have prepared and investigated a series of alloys with varying composition. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Provision of neutron beam time for the study of the crystal structure of the model superalloys. |
| Impact | Journal paper: Christofidou, K.A., Jones, N.G., Pickering, E.J., Flacau, R., Hardy, M.C., Stone, H.J., The microstructure and hardness of Ni-Co-Al-Ti-Cr quinary alloys, Journal of Alloys and Compounds, 2016, 688, pp.542-552, 10.1016/j.jallcom.2016.07.159 |
| Start Year | 2015 |
| Description | Studying short range order with the ISIS neutron source |
| Organisation | Science and Technologies Facilities Council (STFC) |
| Department | ISIS Neutron and Muon Source |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | We have worked closely with staff at the ISIS neutron facility to develop new methods for the study of short range order in metals and alloys. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Scientific support, provision of beam time, access to experimental facilities, hosting a PhD student, funding to support the PhD student. |
| Impact | Scientific journal papers: 1. Owen, L.R., Playford, H.Y., Stone, H.J., Tucker, M.G., Analysis of short-range order in Cu3Au using X-ray pair distribution functions, Acta Materialia, 2017, 125, pp.15-26, 10.1016/j.actamat.2016.11.048 2. Owen, L.R., Pickering, E.J., Playford, H.Y., Stone, H.J., Tucker, M.G., Jones, N.G., An assessment of the lattice strain in the CrMnFeCoNi high-entropy alloy, Acta Materialia, 2017, 122, pp.11-18, 10.1016/j.actamat.2016.09.032 3. Owen, L.R., Playford, H.Y., Stone, H.J., Tucker, M.G., A new approach to the analysis of short-range order in alloys using total scattering, Acta Materialia, 2016, 115, pp.155-166, 10.1016/j.actamat.2016.05.031 |
| Start Year | 2013 |
| Title | A NICKEL ALLOY |
| Description | A nickel-base alloy having the following composition (in atomic percent unless otherwise stated): between 12 and 15 % of elements from the group consisting of Al, Ti, Ta and Nb, between 12.5% and 17.5% Cr, between 22 and 29 % Co, between 0 and 1.5 % W, between 0 and 3 % Mo, between 0.1 and 0.3 % C, between 0.05 and 0.2 % B, between 0.02 and 0.07 % Zr and, optionally, up to 2 % Fe, up to 1 % Mn, up to 1% Si, and up to 0.05 Mg; the balance being Ni and incidental impurities. The alloy has an improved combination of properties (principally improved resistance to high temperature deformation and surface environmental damage) compared with known alloys, and is intended to operate for prolonged periods of time above 700°C, and up to peak temperatures of 800°C. |
| IP Reference | EP3042973 |
| Protection | Patent application published |
| Year Protection Granted | 2016 |
| Licensed | Commercial In Confidence |
| Impact | Alloy now under commercial assessment and production scale up with Rolls-Royce. |
| Title | A cobalt-nickel alloy |
| Description | A new cobalt-nickel based superalloy for high temperature structural applications. |
| IP Reference | EP20150198180 |
| Protection | Patent application published |
| Year Protection Granted | 2015 |
| Licensed | Commercial In Confidence |
| Impact | Now being further developed and assessed with an industrial partner. |
| Title | ALLOY |
| Description | A cobalt-nickel alloy composition comprising by weight (wt %): about 31 to 42 percent cobalt (Co); about 26 to 31 percent nickel (Ni); about 10 to 16 percent chromium (Cr); about 4 to 6 percent aluminium (Al); about 6 to 15 percent tungsten (W); the Co and Ni being present in an atomic ratio of about 1.3:1 |
| IP Reference | US2016168662 |
| Protection | Patent granted |
| Year Protection Granted | 2016 |
| Licensed | Commercial In Confidence |
| Impact | Alloys being assessed commercially |
| Title | COBALT - NICKEL ALLOY |
| Description | A cobalt-nickel alloy composition comprising by weight (wt%): about 31 to 42 percent cobalt (Co); about 26 to 31 percent nickel (Ni); about 10 to 16 percent chromium (Cr); about 4 to 6 percent aluminium (Al); about 6 to 15 percent tungsten (W); the Co and Ni being present in an atomic ratio of about 1.3 : 1 |
| IP Reference | EP3031938 |
| Protection | Patent application published |
| Year Protection Granted | 2016 |
| Licensed | Commercial In Confidence |
| Impact | The alloy is being further developed before commercial assessment. |
| Title | NI-BASE ALLOY FOR STRUCTURAL APPLICATIONS |
| Description | A nickel-base alloy consisting of, in atomic percent unless otherwise stated, up to 8 percent Fe, up to 16 percent Co, between 15 and 25 percent Cr, up to 3 percent Mo, up to 2 percent W, between 3 and 5 percent Al, between 3 and 7.5 percent Nb, up to 3 percent Ta, up to 0.2 percent Ti, up to 0.5 percent C, up to 0.175 percent B, up to 0.07 percent Zr, up to 1 percent Mn, up to 1 percent Si, up to 0.2 percent Hf, the balance consisting of Ni and incidental impurities, wherein the atomic ratio of Al to Nb is between 0.4 and 1.7, the atomic ratio of the sum of Al and Ti to Nb is between 0.4 and 1.8, and, the composition comprising at least 10 percent of elements from the group consisting of Al, Nb, and Ti. The alloy has an improved combination of properties and higher temperature capability through improved weldability, resistance to surface environmental damage and high temperature proof strength compared with known alloys, and is intended to operate for prolonged periods of time up to peak temperatures of 750°C. Accordingly, the alloy is suitable, for the use in additive layer manufacture of components for gas turbine engines |
| IP Reference | EP3121298 |
| Protection | Patent application published |
| Year Protection Granted | 2017 |
| Licensed | Commercial In Confidence |
| Impact | Now being further developed and assessed with an industrial partner. |
| Title | NICKEL ALLOY |
| Description | A nickel-base alloy having the following composition (in atomic percent unless otherwise stated): between 12 and 15% of elements from the group consisting of Al, Ti, Ta and Nb, between 12.5% and 17.5% Cr, between 22 and 29% Co, between 0 and 1.5% W, between 0 and 3% Mo, between 0.1 and 0.3% C, between 0.05 and 0.2% B, between 0.02 and 0.07% Zr and, optionally, up to 2% Fe, up to 1% Mn, up to 1% Si, and up to 0.05 Mg; the balance being Ni and incidental impurities. The alloy has an improved combination of properties (principally improved resistance to high temperature deformation and surface environmental damage) compared with known alloys, and is intended to operate for prolonged periods of time above 700° C., and up to peak temperatures of 800° C. |
| IP Reference | US2016194736 |
| Protection | Patent application published |
| Year Protection Granted | 2016 |
| Licensed | Commercial In Confidence |
| Impact | Alloy now being assessed for commercial use. |
| Title | NICKEL-BASE SUPERALLOY |
| Description | A nickel-base superalloy is disclosed. The alloy consists essentially of, by weight:14.75 to 26.5 percent cobalt;4.1 to 4.65 percent aluminium;1.1 to 1.9 percent titanium;3.85 to 6.3 percent tantalum;1.2 to 2.55 percent niobium;up to 0.07 percent boron;up to 0.06 percent carbon;up to 14.0 percent chromium;up to 1.0 percent iron;up to 1.0 percent manganese;up to 4.2 percent molybdenum;up to 0.5 percent silicon;up to 4.9 percent tungsten;up to 0.1 percent zirconium;the balance being nickel and incidental impurities;wherein the overall concentration in the alloy of aluminium, titanium, tantalum, and niobium is from 13 to 14 atomic percent and the atomic ratio of aluminium to titanium is from 4.625:1 to 6.333:1. |
| IP Reference | EP3572541 |
| Protection | Patent application published |
| Year Protection Granted | 2019 |
| Licensed | Commercial In Confidence |
| Impact | The alloy is now being assessed for commercial application. |
| Description | "Design and Production of bcc Titanium-molybdenum-based Alloys Strengthened by Ordered Intermetallic Precipitates", presentation at the TMS2017 annual conference, San Diego |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Scientific conference presentation to communicate to other researchers / practitioners. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| Description | "Effect of Alloying on the Microstructure and Properties of Superalloys Containing Gamma Prime and Gamma Double Prime Precipitates", presentation at the TMS2017 annual conference, San Diego |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Scientific conference presentation to communicate to other researchers / practitioners. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| Description | "Elemental Partitioning Behaviour in Ni-Co-Al-Ti-Cr Alloys", presentation at the TMS2017 annual conference, San Diego |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Scientific conference presentation to communicate to other researchers / practitioners. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| Description | "Load Transfer between Phases during Deformation of Superalloys", presentation at the TMS2017 annual conference, San Diego |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Scientific conference presentation to communicate to other researchers / practitioners. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| Description | "Nickel-based Superalloys Reinforced by Gamma Prime and Gamma Double Prime Precipitates", presentation at the TMS2017 annual conference, San Diego |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Scientific conference presentation to communicate to other researchers / practitioners. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| Description | "Precipitation kinetics in high entropy alloy Al0.5CrFeCoNiCu", presentation at the TMS2016 annual conference, Nashville |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Scientific conference presentation to communicate to other researchers / practitioners. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
| Description | "The Effect of Molybdenum on the Microstructure and Properties of Model Quinary Nickel-based Superalloys", presentation at the TMS2017 annual conference, San Diego |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Scientific conference presentation to communicate to other researchers / practitioners. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| Description | "The Microstructure and Hardness of Ni-Co-Al-Ti-Cr Quinary Alloys", presentation at the TMS2017 annual conference, San Diego |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Scientific conference presentation to communicate to other researchers / practitioners. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| Description | "The effect of composition upon the precipitation of the sigma phase in a model nickel-base superalloy", presentation at the TMS2016 annual conference, Nashville |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Scientific conference presentation to communicate to other researchers / practitioners. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2008,2016 |
| Description | "Thermally Induced Phase Transformations in Beta-titanium Alloys and Corresponding Effects on Mechanical Properties", presentation at the TMS2017 annual conference, San Diego |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Scientific conference presentation to communicate to other researchers / practitioners. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| Description | Calphad and New-phacomp Assisted Design of Single Phase CrMnFeCoNi-type High Entropy Alloys |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Talk at TMS Annual meeting, Phoenix, USA, Mar 2018 |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | Characterisation of the strain distributions produced during welding using in situ synchrotron X-ray diffraction |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Talk at Thermec 2018, Intl' Conf. on Processing & Manufacturing of Advanced Materials, Paris, France, Jul 2018 |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | Exhibit at Cambridge Science festival |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Exhibit and talks at the Cambridge Science Festival - an annual event run by the University of Cambridge to promote public engagement in science within Cambridge and local region. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015,2016,2017,2018 |
| URL | https://www.sciencefestival.cam.ac.uk/ |
| Description | High Temperature Microstructural Evolution of Ni-Co-Al-Ti-Cr Alloys Studied by In-situ Neutron Diffraction, 2016 TMS Annual meeting and exhibition. , Nashville, USA, Feb 2016 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Scientific conference presentation to communicate to other researchers / practitioners. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
| Description | Inside the Jet Engine |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Online article for public engagement. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
| URL | http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/articles/article/inside-the-jet-engine/ |
| Description | Investigation of superalloy composition space using high throughput thin film synthesis and synchrotron X-ray diffraction, Superalloys 2016 conference, Seven Springs, USA, Sep 2016 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Scientific conference presentation to communicate to other researchers / practitioners. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
| Description | Phase Stability in High Cobalt Containing Nickel Based Superalloys, IMS Microstructural Characterization of Aerospace Materials and Coatings, Long Beach, USA, May 2015 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Scientific conference presentation to communicate to other researchers / practitioners. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
| Description | Phase Transformations in Titanium Alloys |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Talk at TMS Annual meeting, Phoenix, USA, Mar 2018 |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| URL | https://www.tms.org/tms2018 |
| Description | Royal Society Summer Exhibition 2015 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | A stand entitled "Engineering Atoms" was made and hosted by members of the research group funded under this scheme at the Royal Society Summer Exhibition in 2015. This event was attended by thousands of members of the public, media, policy makers and industrialists. See the following URLs http://www.eng-atoms.msm.cam.ac.uk http://sse.royalsociety.org/2015 |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
| URL | http://sse.royalsociety.org/2015 |
| Description | Separation of Static and Dynamic Displacements in CrMnFeCoNi |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Talk at TMS Annual meeting, Phoenix, USA, Mar 2018 |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| URL | https://www.tms.org/tms2018 |
| Description | Synchrotron Studies of Superalloys |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | Lecture at the Diamond Light Source Summer School for postgraduate students |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | The Role of Solid Solution Strengthening Additions and Thermal Exposure on the Behaviour of a Model Nickel-base Superalloy, IMS Microstructural Characterization of Aerospace Materials and Coatings, Long Beach, USA, May 2015 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Scientific conference presentation to communicate to other researchers / practitioners. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
| Description | The effect of compositional modifications on the formation of the sigma phase in CrMnFeCoNi type High Entropy Alloys |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Talk at Thermec 2018, Intl' Conf. on Processing & Manufacturing of Advanced Materials, Paris, France, Jul 2018 |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |