About the project
Modern PWRs use hard facings which must have high wear resistance and low friction for safe operation of mechanical components. This project will look at the role of hard phases in a softer matrix to avoid high friction (galling) events and produce a predictive model.
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. 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. Although the issue is local to valves/operating mechanisms the transfer of debris throughout the system including the core results in activation and plating out of these debris in different parts of the nuclear plant.
This project will be sponsored by Rolls-Royce Submarines, Derby, and You'll receive invitations to their annual sponsored student conference. You'll have support to attend two international conferences and you'll gain skills in surface engineering, advanced experimental techniques, modelling and research-industry interactions. Also there will be opportunities for short placements and possible future employment with Rolls-Royce. The project will involve interaction with researchers at Imperial, Nottingham, Sheffield and access to rigs at the Henry Royce Institute.
As well as supervisors from the University of Southampton, this project also includes support from the following external supervisor:
Dr David Stewart (Rolls-Royce)
