Centre of Excellence for Design in Light Metals
funding extended

Deakin University’s Associate Professor Matthew Barnett has welcomed the decision by the Australian Research Council to extend funding to the Centre of Excellence for Design in Light Metals.

Deakin University is a partner in the Centre of Excellence with Monash University, the University of Sydney, the University of Queensland, the University of Sydney and the University of New South Wales.

“This is a fantastic result for everyone involved,” Associate Professor Barnett said.

“It will allow us to keep working on some very exciting research in creating lighter, stronger, more ductile and environmentally sustainable metals.”

At Deakin, and at the other universities, researchers are looking for new approaches to the design and processing of conventional light alloys.

“That includes producing these new light metals in a more economical way,” Associate Professor Barnett said.

“There is also a concentration on creating new metals that are more environmentally sustainable.

“For example, we are trying to better understand the way metals work so we can design new lightweight metals that are as strong as existing metals that will make it possible to design cars that use less petrol. The lighter the car, the less petrol it requires.

”While strength is obviously important, the light metals of the future will display complex combinations of properties specifically tailored for their application. The Centre is achieving this by designing new alloys with creative internal architectures.

“There are so many other important aspects to the work the Centre has been doing and to get this vote of confidence from the ARC is really pleasing.”

The chief executive of the ARC, Professor Margaret Sheil, said the Centre would receive a total of $8.05 million over a three and a half year period.

For further information on the ARC Centre of Excellence for Design in Light Metals:
http://www.arclightmetals.org.au/

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