About the project
Hard facing alloys, such as those used in nuclear power plant, are composite materials comprising carbides (and other hard phases), in galling resistant metallic matrices. Examples include the cobalt-based alloys, however due to cobalt activation by a neutron flux, iron-based hard facings are now in development and deployment.
Whilst the role of the matrix has been more extensively studied, the role of the hard phase is less well understood, but evidence suggests that increasing the hard phase content increases the galling resistance of the alloy – albeit at the expense of ductility etc.
This project aims to identify the role and mechanism by which hard phase support galling resistance to support the production of a microstructural model which allows the role of the hard phase to be investigated under a range of operating loads informed by experiments.
This project will be sponsored by Rolls-Royce Submarines, Derby and the student will receive invitations to their annual sponsored student conference. The student would have support to attend two international conferences and would gain skills in surface engineering, advanced experimental techniques, modelling and research-industry interactions.
