PhD Studentship: Innovative Metal Processing Doctoral Training Centre (IMPaCT)

Applications are invited from graduates with a first class, or upper second-class degree in an appropriate discipline such as, materials science and engineering, physics or mechanical engineering for a PhD project on the development of netshape powder hot isostatic pressing for complex titanium structures by powder hot isostatic pressing.
Powder Hot isostatic pressing (P-HIPping) is a manufacturing process that involves simultaneous application of high temperature and pressure to consolidate powders into netshape products. The studentship will investigate the effect of titanium powder quality, sacrificial canister design & its manufacturing, powder filling and novel degassing strategies, HIPing process parameters effect on the structural integrity and achieving the required shape complexity of titanium parts. A key part of the work will be to develop a finite element (FE) model which can predict the geometrical and microstructural changes that occur during the HIP consolidation process. Work will include a detail assessment (chemical composition, flowability, particle size distribution, apparent, tap & packing densities and morphology) of Ti6Al4V alloy powders and Ti-MMCs blends using a recently developed state-of-the-art TWI powder characterisation facilities. A detailed experimental plan to investigate HIPing process parameters (temperature, pressure and dwell time) will be developed, in addition to the validation of an FE model to predict the final dimensions of shaped part produced by HIPing powders. The project will involve the use of advanced metallurgical characterisation techniques, including electron microscopy, X-ray microtomography, and mechanical testing.
The student will be based between TWI (Great Abington, Cambridge) and in the advanced materials and processing laboratory, University of Birmingham.