Current additive manufacturing of metals is carried out mainly on high energy beam melting of metal powder/wire. To 3D print highly active metals like Magnesium, titanium and their alloys, the current laser-based technology required high quality (shape and size) of raw materials, a vigorous printing environment (inert gas) and high energy consumption (laser or electron beam).
All these strict requirements induced a high manufacturing cost and prohibit the future development of additive manufacturing of metals for wider applications. Developing low-cost, high-speed metal 3D printing enables the game-changing in the area of additive manufacturing of metals which is dominated by high-cost laser melting-based AM techniques.
Mg alloys can be used as absorbable implants with no revision surgery required to remove them. Using a low-cost additive manufacturing technique, it is aimed at developing an Mg metal slurry suitable for digital light processing. Benefiting from the design freedom of AM, complex lattice structures can be introduced during 3D printing enabling the fabrication of Mg absorbable implants with tailorable mechanical properties and corrosion rate for biomedical applications.
The current challenge is to develop a slurry with solid content to prevent deformation and minimise shrinkage after sintering, but with low viscosity to enable excellent fluidity during the printing process. Therefore, extensive characterisation work will be performed to understand the rheological behaviour, thermal properties and mechanical properties of the slurry and cured part.
Supervisors
Primary supervisor: Yau Yau Tse
Secondary supervisor: Xujin Bao
Entry requirements for United Kingdom
Students should have or expect to achieve the below requirements in a relevant subject area:
- BEng 2:1 or above
- MEng 2:2 or above
- MSc Pass or above
English language requirements
Applicants must meet the minimum English language requirements. Further details are available on the International website.
Find out more about research degree funding
How to apply
All applications should be made online and must include a research proposal. Under the programme name, select 'Materials Engineering'. Please quote the advertised reference number AACME-23-008 in your application.
To avoid delays in processing your application, please ensure that you submit the minimum supporting documents.
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