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The ExoMet Project: EU/ESA Research on High-Performance Light-Metal Alloys and Nanocomposites

  • Symposium: Processing-Microstructure-Property Relationships & Deformation Mechanisms of Magnesium Alloys
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Abstract

The performance of structural materials is commonly associated with such design parameters as strength and stiffness relative to their density; a recognized means to further enhance the weight-saving potential of low-density materials is thus to improve on their mechanical attributes. The European Community research project ExoMet that started in mid-2012 targets such high-performance aluminum- and magnesium-based materials by exploring novel grain refining and nanoparticle additions in conjunction with melt treatment by means of external fields (electromagnetic, ultrasonic, and mechanical). These external fields are to provide for an effective and efficient dispersion of the additions in the melt and their uniform distribution in the as-cast material. The consortium of 27 companies, universities, and research organizations from eleven countries integrates various scientific and technological disciplines as well as application areas—including automotive, aircraft, and space. This paper gives an overview of the project, including its scope for development and organization. In addition, exemplary results are presented on nanoparticle production and characterization, mixing patterns in metal melts, interface reactions between metal and particles, particle distribution in the as-cast composite materials, and mechanical properties of the as-cast composite materials. The application perspective is considered as well.

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Acknowledgments

The authors wish to acknowledge financial support from the ExoMet project, which is co-funded by the European Commission in the 7th Framework Program (contract FP7-NMP3-LA-2012-280421), by the European Space Agency, and by the individual partner organizations. In his coordinating capacity, W.H. Sillekens thanks all ExoMet project participants who are not explicitly included in the manuscript with their results, yet implicitly are equally valuable with their contributions. S. Terzi and L. Salvo acknowledge P. Lhuissier (Université Grenoble Alpes) for facilitating the micro-tomography experiments.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. European Space Agency – ESTEC, Keplerlaan 1, 2201 AZ, Noordwijk, The Netherlands

    W. H. Sillekens (Project Manager) & D. J. Jarvis (Unit Head)

  2. Institute for Problems of Chemical & Energetic Technologies SB RAS, Tomsk State University, Lenina Str. 36, 634634, Tomsk, Russia

    A. Vorozhtsov (Professor)

  3. Old Royal Naval College, The University of Greenwich, Park Row, Greenwich, London, SE10 9LS, U.K.

    V. Bojarevics (Reader)

  4. Applied Science and Technology Department, Politecnico di Torino, 24 Corso Duca degli Abruzzi, 10129, Turin, Italy

    C. F. Badini (Professor) & M. Pavese (Professor)

  5. European Space Agency – ESTEC, ILL4, 71 Avenue des Martyrs, 38000, Grenoble Cédex, France

    S. Terzi (Research Fellow)

  6. Laboratoire SIMAP, Université Grenoble Alpes, 101 Rue de la Physique, 38402, Saint Martin d’Hères Cédex, France

    L. Salvo (Professor)

  7. Magnesium Innovation Centre, Helmholtz-Zentrum Geesthacht, Max-Planck-Straße 1, 21502, Geesthacht, Germany

    L. Katsarou (Contract Researcher) & H. Dieringa (Deputy Department Head)

Authors
  1. W. H. Sillekens
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  2. D. J. Jarvis
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  3. A. Vorozhtsov
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  4. V. Bojarevics
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  5. C. F. Badini
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  6. M. Pavese
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  7. S. Terzi
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  8. L. Salvo
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  9. L. Katsarou
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  10. H. Dieringa
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to W. H. Sillekens.

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Manuscript submitted August 30, 2013.

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Sillekens, W.H., Jarvis, D.J., Vorozhtsov, A. et al. The ExoMet Project: EU/ESA Research on High-Performance Light-Metal Alloys and Nanocomposites. Metall Mater Trans A 45, 3349–3361 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11661-014-2321-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11661-014-2321-2

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