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Bulk nanostructured Al based alloys
A. Kelly, C. Banjongprasert, Dr. J. Mi, N. Rounthwaite, Dr. M. Galano, Professor F. Audebert*, Professor G.D.W. Smith, Professor P.S. Grant
Development and processing of Al based nanocomposites alloys for high strength applications in bulk shape by several processing techniques, in particular spray forming. Alloys including Al-Fe-Cr-Ti are being produced in billet form and their microstructures and properties compared with those produced by rapid solidification and mechanical alloying. Characterisation includes electron microscopy and X-ray diffractometry using synchrotron radiation at Diamond. Downstream processing includes forging and extrusion, with mechanical properties studied as a function of temperature. Scaled-up billet sizes are being used for specific component trials. (Funded by EPSRC and industrial consortium, *University of Buenos Aires, Argentina)
Last updated: 2009-03-30
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Welcome to this information on the Department of Materials at Oxford University. Our objectives are to produce world class graduate materials scientists and engineers, and to conduct world class research into the manufacture, structure, properties and applications of materials for the benefit of the UK and world community.

The Department of Materials at Oxford is regularly graded top against all other materials departments in the UK (The Times league table 2005, The Guardian league tables 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009 and the Good University Guide 2007). In the 2008 and 2009 Times league tables we are ranked 2nd. We were awarded one of the highest gradings for research and 23 out of 24 for teaching in the government's most recent assessment exercises, and we continue to make outstanding progress in the pursuit of our objectives.

The Department was founded by Professor Hume-Rothery in 1956. At present, it consists of 22 academics, 29 senior researchers, 41 postdoctoral researchers, 38 technicians and administrative staff, 64 academic visitors, and about 80 research students and 100 undergraduates. The Department is part of an integrated Division of Mathematical, Physical and Life Sciences at Oxford, which includes physics, chemistry, computing and engineering departments, providing an ideal environment for interdisciplinary teaching and research. Fundamental developments in the physics and chemistry of materials can take place directly alongside applications in manufacturing processes and engineering design.

Major achievements in recent years include:

  1. Five elections to Fellowships of the Royal Society (David Cockayne, John Pethica, Brian Eyre, John Hunt and Adrian Sutton) and three to the Royal Academy of Engineering (Richard Brook, Brian Cantor and Amanda Petford-Long);
  2. Awards and honours to members of the Department include; the Royal Society Armourers and Brasiers Award (David Pettifor, John Hunt), the Royal Society Hughes Medal and the IofP/SFP Holweck Medal and Prize (John Pethica), the Institute of Materials Platinum Medal (John Martin, Brian Cantor, George Smith), the Acta Materialia Gold Medal (George Smith), the Beilby Medal and Prize (Alfred Cerezo), the Pfeil Award (Richard Todd), the IOM3 2005 Alan Glanville Award (Hazel Assender). Metrology for World Class Manufacturing Awards (Andrew Briggs, Oleg Kolosov, John Hunt), the National Award for Innovative Measurement (Alfred Cerezo, Terence Godfrey and George Smith). In addition, Sir Peter Hirsch FRS was elected to the US National Academy of Engineering and to the American Association of Arts and Sciences as a foreign Honorary Member, and awarded the Heyn-Denkmunze prize of the German Materials Society and the Russian Academy of Sciences Lomonosov Large Gold Medal in 2005. Brian Cantor was appointed Vice-Chancellor of the University of York, Richard Brook received a knighthood, and was appointed Director of the Leverhulme Trust, David Pettifor was appointed a CBE for Services to Science, Andrew Briggs was appointed as the Director of a new Quantum Information Processing IRC, John Hutchison was elected President of the Royal Microscopical Society and David Cockayne was elected President of the International Federation of Societies of Microscopy (2003-6);
  3. Appointment of Andrew Briggs to the Professorship of Nanomaterials and Patrick Grant to the Cookson Professorship of Materials;
  4. Three promotions to personal professorships (Chris Grovenor, Steve Roberts, Angus Kirkland) and four promotions to readerships (John Hutchison, Mike Jenkins, Peter Wilshaw and John Sykes);
  5. Over £8m from the Joint Infrastructure Fund, to purchase cutting edge equipment for atomically engineered, nanoscale materials processing and analysis;
  6. The launch of the new £35m Begbroke site, which greatly expands the Department's space, and sets up a unique combination of industry-linked materials research and spin-out science park;
  7. The establishment of the Faraday Advance partnership in aerospace and automotive materials;
  8. The establishment in the Department of the main hub of the new £9.2m IRC in Quantum Information Processing. This follows the award of a £3.4m DTI Foresight Link grant for research on nanoelectronics and quantum computation.

The Department of Materials at Oxford provides a vibrant and stimulating environment, and acts as an academic meeting point for materials scientists and engineers from all over the world. The Researches in Progress booklet and on-line database gives details of the full range of our current research programmes within the Department. We are always pleased to discuss our research projects in more detail and to explore further opportunities for collaboration and scientific exchanges. We actively seek applications from new undergraduates, research students and research fellows from all over the world. Please do not hesitate to contact us by letter, phone, fax or e-mail.

The Department of Materials at Oxford provides a vibrant and stimulating environment, and acts as an academic meeting point for materials scientists and engineers from all over the world. The Researches in Progress booklet and on-line database gives details of the full range of our current research programmes. We are always pleased to discuss our research projects in more detail and to explore further opportunities for collaboration and scientific exchanges. We actively seek applications from new undergraduates, research students and research fellows from all over the world. Please do not hesitate to contact us by letter, phone, fax or e-mail.

Professor C.R.M. Grovenor
October 2006


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