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NANOMAT-Nanoteknologi og nye materialer

Exploitation of naturally formed nanostructured surface films on aluminium alloys

Awarded: NOK 5.7 mill.

Increased recycling of metals, in the present case aluminium alloys, is a necessity in view of increasing demand for the material and environmental concerns related to primary production. A consequence of recycling is an appreciable increase in the type and amount of impurity and trace elements which may significantly affect the properties. The proposal focuses on characterization of structure and composition of nano-films and particles of these elements segregated along the grain boundaries and at the s urface of aluminium alloys by thermomechanical and chemical processing. Advanced analytical techniques will be used in investigation of modification of properties, such as electrochemistry, corrosion and tribology. The information to be obtained will be used to mitigate undesirable surface properties as well as exploiting the surface nanos-tructures and morphologies generated for improved corrosion and friction resistance and specialized applications, such as improved electrograining of lithographic shee t and electrolytic etching of capacitor foil. Although the material focus is restricted to aluminium alloys in view of previous work conducted in this labora-tory, the expertise to be developed in characterization techniques and the personnel trained in the use of these techniques are deemed to be highly relevant in similar investigations of other metal surfaces with the general aim of engineering the nanostructure of metal surfaces to attain selected functional properties, which are of increasing import ance in modern surface science and technology.

Funding scheme:

NANOMAT-Nanoteknologi og nye materialer