Scientific Basis of the Technology of Synthesis and New Class of Addition Alloys Application for Light Weight Alloy Nanocomposite Production and their Further Use in Aerospace and Transport Industry

No material type can equal metals and alloys in their contribution to technological development of the mankind for the last 10,000 years. In fact, metallurgy is an ancient branch of natural science developing over many centuries that turned into one of the most complex areas related to basically all industry branches.

Apart from technical and economic arguments concerning the need to develop new technologies, there is another important factor, i. e. the need to decrease dangerous air emissions. It is difficult to overestimate the importance of using light weight material in transportation as an efficient way of cutting down greenhouse gas emissions.

The project aims at developing scientific basis for advanced composite materials using light weight alloys for aerospace and car industry. The main target is to develop ways of implementation and distribution of reinforcing particles as an innovative approach to producing special addition alloys.

The project also targets developing a reliable and reproducible technology to produce light weight composite materials based on an innovative use of special modern addition alloys. Both simulation and process modeling will be used in the course of technology development. Aluminum and magnesium-based composite materials produced with the new technology will show better performance in flow, tensile strength and ductility, increase in operation temperature to 300-350°С and strength in 3–4 times as compared to soft steel.

Implementation of the project results in the industry can lead to drastic changes in producing metal composite materials. Moreover, the approach can be extended to other basic materials like copper, steel, nickel, etc.

Scientific team of Tomsk State University is responsible for producing addition alloy samples with various types and number of particles. Brunel University accepts samples to test their properties and perform modeling. They will also select the best nanocomposites after testing and modeling and produce samples for further transfer to Tomsk, where their physical and functional properties will be tested.



The universities being part of an international consortium are currently participating in project implementation to create metal nanomaterials with set properties within the EU 7th Framework Program.

European Space Agency, AVIO Group (Italy), Fiat (Italy) and Volvo Car Corporation (Sweden), etc. take a particular interest in technology development.

The project is developed together with Brunel University (UK). Project managers: A. B. Vorozhtsov, Professor at the Faculty of Physics and Engineering, Head of the Laboratory (Tomsk State University), D. G. Eskin, Professor (Brunel University).