Materials Engineering Group
The group has a diverse range of interests covering many topics within the field of Materials, including ferrous and non-ferrous metallurgy, fracture and failure mechanisms, ceramics, polymers and composites. It has a history of providing a service both in research, failure analysis and routine testing to the materials industry in New Zealand and is continuing to develop this role.
The Group
Solid state phase transformations, rapid solidification processing, microstructural characterisation using analytical electron microscopy and diffraction methods. |
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Magnesium alloys, metallic foams, low carbon steel, strain aging, thermomechanical processing, laser processing of materials, natural fibre composites, liquid moulding composites, metallic biomaterials. |
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| Catherine M Bishop | Computational materials science, interfaces in ceramics, material thermodynamics, phase-field modelling. |
Associated Staff |
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| Les Erasmus | Emeritus Professor. |
Technical Assistance |
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Technical Services Manager. Electron microscopy, X-ray microanalysis. |
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Technical Officer. Materials testing, chemical analysis, metallography. |
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Current and Recent Research
Three Dimensional Analysis of Creep Voids in Hydrogen Reformer Tubes - Porous Biomaterials Research for Tissue Engineering
- Wear Testing of Biomaterials
- Wear Testing of Seal Components in a Novel IC Engine Design
- Magnesium Alloy Development for Fatigue Resistance
- Recrystallisation of Mg Alloys
- Influence of Alloying on Cold Rolling and Extrusion of Mg Alloys
- EBSD of Intermetallic Phases in Structural Materials
- Squeeze Casting of Al-Si Alloys
- Pb-free Solder Materials
- Cellulose-reinforced Composites
- Extraction of Cellulose from NZ Flax and Hemp
- Elastic Properties of Wood
Consulting Services
Laboratory Facilities
Research Opportunities
Postgraduate Research Projects Available.
If the research direction of the Materials Group is of interest to you, and you are in possession (or about to be) of a good Honours degree in Mechanical Engineering, please contact A/Prof Milo Kral, milo.kral@canterbury.ac.nz to discuss the research opportunities that the Group has to offer.