Institute of Lightweight Metal Materials and Technology

1.Introduction

Established in 2016, the Institute of Lightweight Metal Materials and Technology, relying on the planning and construction of Jiangxi Province's first-class disciplines—Material Science and Engineering of Jiangxi University of Science and Technology, has closely focused on the country’s major needs in highway transportation, rail transportation, marine engineering and other fields.

Combining local-based resources with industrial layout, the institute has prioritized the lightweight metal materials and processing technology for transportation equipment, carried out basic theoretical research, new material design, and new technology development, and served well-known enterprises in the field of nonferrous metals, steel and deep processing.

The institute has undertaken more than 20 vertical projects including the 13th Five-Year National

Key Research and Development Plan, National Key Technology Support Program, 863 Program, and Key Research and Development Plan supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China, China Postdoctoral Foundation, and the provincial and ministerial projects, as well as over 30 corporate horizontal projects. The institute published more than 200 papers, won more than 20 Chinese patents, and 2 provincial and ministerial awards.

The institute has enjoyed prestigious reputation in academic accumulation and regional influence in the field of new materials such as high-strength aluminum sheet and aluminum profiles, high-strength steel plate and oriented silicon steel, high-performance copper alloy profile, bimetallic composite materials, and in the field of new technology including aluminum-magnesium alloy special casting and semi-solid processing, high-strength plate hot stamping forming, dissimilar metal welding, composite materials spray forming.

Presently, the experimental rooms cover an area of nearly 1000 m2, with thermal simulation testing machine, spray deposition forming equipment, YAG laser welder, electrochemical workstation, multi-function internal friction tester, high temperature electronic creep and rupture testing machine, slow stress strain corrosion testing machine, sheet metal forming machine, salt spray cabinet, tensile testing machine, WEDM machine, box furnace, vacuum heat treatment furnace, tubular high temperature protective atmosphere furnace, hot-pressed sintering machine. The institute is also equipped with multiple sets of large commercial numerical value simulation analysis software and database, including JMATPRO, ABAQUS, ANSYS, DEFORM, FACTSAGE, MARC, THERMO-CALC, etc. The total value of the equipment is nearly 20 million yuan.

2.Teachers

The institute has a teaching staff of 14 (One belonging to flexible introduction). Among them, there are 3 professors and 5 associate professors, with 13 Doctors and over 30 students pursuing PhD degree

Guan Renguo (Professor )

Zhao Hongjin (Professor)

Zhang Yinghui (Professor）

Qi Liang (Associate Professor)

Wang Zhigang（Associate Profess）

Zhu Zhiyun（Associate Professor）

Qin Jing（Associate Professor）

Ou Ping （Lecturer）

Wang hebin (Lecturer)

Deng Tongsheng (Lecturer)

Li Shengci (Lecturer)

Deng Shenghua (Lecturer)

Liu Tonghua (Lecturer)

Ye Jieyun (Lecturer)

3.   Research Contents and Achievements in Science and Technology

4.   The Strengthening and Toughening Mechanism and Preparation Technology of Advanced High-strength Steel

The institute has done research on high-strength plastic product automotive steel, high-strength, high-toughness, low-carbon micro-alloy steel, high-grade silicon steel composition design, characteristic preparation and processing technology, strengthening and toughening mechanism, deep drawing texture optimization, and performance evaluation under complicated service conditions.

Key Attention: the application basis of heavy rare earth elements in advanced high-strength steels; the microalloying mechanism of a new-generation advanced high-strength steels; the twin strengthening mechanism and toughening mechanism of low-density steels; simulation and calculation of advanced thermomechanical heat treatment and low-temperature deformation processes The interaction process and mechanism of the second phase, texture and phase transition at multiple scales in the characteristic processing and preparation process; the characterization of the second phase characteristic parameters and the calculation of thermodynamics and kinetics; the influence of controlled rolling and controlled cooling technology on microstructure evolution.

Based on this direction, the institute published 30 related papers, applied for 3 patents, undertook 3 projects of National Natural Science Foundation of China, 4 projects of Jiangxi Provincial Department of Science and Technology, and 6 cooperative business projects.

（2）The Basic Theory and Preparation Technology of Al, Mg, Ti-based Light Alloy

Conforming to the needs of lightweight development of automobiles, rail transit, and aerospace vehicles, the institute has carried out systematic and in-depth basic theories and related technical research on the development and performance research of new aluminum, magnesium, and titanium-based lightweight alloys.

Key Attention: the development of a new-generation aluminum-lithium alloy and its key scientific issues; the common problems of aluminum and magnesium alloy welding materials and their connection; the development and additive manufacturing of high-strength aluminum alloy 3D printing materials; the strengthening and toughening mechanism of aluminum, magnesium, and titanium-based alloys and the control of their microstructure and properties; the effect of rare earth addition on the evolution of the microstructure and properties of aluminum, magnesium, and titanium-based alloys and its mechanism; the creep properties and high-temperature thermal stability of new titanium-based alloys.

Based on this direction, the institute published more than 30 related papers, applied for more than 10 patents, undertook 3 national level projects, 6 provincial level projects, and many cooperative business projects.

（3） The Forming, Joining and Service Evaluation of Lightweight Materials

With the current service conditions and development needs of automobile, rail transit, marine transportation and other equipment, the institute has carried out systematic and in-depth research on the forming, processing and joining of lightweight materials for transportation equipment, and its corrosion resistance under service conditions.

Key Attention: the experimental research and multi-scale numerical simulation of lightweight material forming applications; plastic deformation behavior under high strain rate conditions; aluminum and magnesium alloy welding materials and their connection common problems; dissimilar lightweight materials welding methods and its mechanism research; Fatigue crack initiation, propagation and failure mechanism of welded joints; environmental service behavior evaluation of low-density corrosion-resistant high-entropy alloys; development and application of protective coatings on metal surfaces for automobiles.

Based on this direction, the institute published more than 40 related papers, applied for 5 patents, undertook 2 projects of National Natural Science Foundation of China, 4 provincial and ministerial scientific research projects, and 5 enterprise cooperation projects.

（4） The Spray Forming Theory and Technology of High-performance Lightweight Composites

In response to the common and major needs for advanced light metal-based composite materials in the field of national aerospace, electronic communications and transportation and the trend of spray deposition technology at home and abroad, the team has carried out the corresponding technological basic theoretical research by overcoming the bottleneck problem of the preparation science of advanced aluminum, magnesium, titanium-based and other lightweight composite materials as our starting point

Key Attention: the influence of alloying element ratio and endogenous/additional reinforcement characteristics on the interface formation during atomization and deposition and its interaction mechanism; reinforcement size, distribution and orientation evolution and coordinated deformation during deformation processing mechanism; the coupling response mechanism of interface, organization and performance of composite materials under service conditions.

Based on this direction, the institute published 15 related papers, applied for 2 patents, and participated in 4 projects.

4.Scientific Research Projects

[1] National Key R&D Plan Special Project (2016YFB0301400), High-Performance Copper Alloy Non-traditional Machining Material Manufacturing Technology, 2016/07-2020/07, sub-project leader, 500,000 yuan;

[2] National Key R&D Program of the Ministry of Science and Technology of China during the 13th Five-Year Plan Period (2016YFB030140), The Research on Y-based Rare Earth Corrosion Resistance Cupronickel Grain Boundary Characteristics Optimization and Corrosion Resistance Mechanism, 2016/07-2020/07, 500,000 yuan;

[3] National Science and Technology Support Plan during the 11th Five-Year Plan Period (2007BAB22B03): The Research on Production Technology of 2,000 Tons of Outer Diameter ➢12.7mm Large Diameter Plastic-coated Internally Threaded Copper Coils, 200,000 yuan;

[4] National Science and Technology Support Plan during the 12th Five-Year Plan Period (2011BAE13B06): R&D of High Efficiency Heat Device and Utilize Low Temperature Burning Gas Technology, 450,000 yuan;

[5] National Natural Science Foundation of China (50964006): Interfacial Metallurgical Behavior of Cu/Al Laminates under the Influence of Rolling Stress/Strain Field, chaired, RMB 240,000 yuan;

[6] National Natural Science Foundation of China, Research on the Evolution Rule and Control Theory of Alloy Elements in Pyrorefining Reclaimed Copper (51264012), 201301-201612,540,000 yuan

[7] National Natural Science Foundation of China, 51961013, Precipitation and Strengthening Mechanism of Three-dimensional Preferred Orientation of Al-Cu-Li Alloy Strengthening Phase under External Stress, 2020/01-2023/12, 400,000 yuan;

[8] The Youth Fund Project of National Natural Science Foundation of China, 51804137, The Influence and Mechanism of Multi-scale Substructure Organization on Fatigue Crack Growth of Hot forming Steel, 2019/01-2021/12, 260,000 yuan;

[9] The Youth Fund Project of National Natural Science Foundation of China, 51704131, Toughening and Plasticizing Mechanism of 6.5% Si High Silicon Steel with Rare Earth Yttrium Micro-alloy  and Optimization Control Mechanism of Magnetic Properties, 2018/01-2020/12, 240,000 yuan;

[10] The Youth Fund Project of National Natural Science Foundation of China (51704132), The Formation Mechanism and Texture Control of Intragranular Shear Bands in Ferrite Temperature-deformed Micro-carbon Deep Drawing Dual-phase Steel, 2018/01-2020/12, 210,000 yuan;

[11] The Thirteenth Special Project Funded by China Postdoctoral Science Foundation, 2020T130556, Research on the Microstructure Control Unit of the Fatigue Crack Propagation of Lath Martensite and Preferred Propagation Mechanism, 2020/07-2021/12, 180,000 yuan;

[12] The Thirteenth Special Project Funded by China Postdoctoral Science Foundation, 2020T130093, The Regulation and Mechanism of Shear and Coupling Vibration on the Primary Phase of Controlled Diffusion Solidification of Aluminum Alloys, 2020/7-2022/06, 180,000 yuan;

[13] The 66th Batch of General Projects of China Postdoctoral Science Foundation (first-class funding), 2019M660159, The Three-dimensional Characterization and Formation Mechanism of the Preferential Orientation Precipitation of Nano-strengthened Phases in Aluminum Alloys, 2019/10-2021/09, 120,000 yuan;

[14] Science & Technology Transformation Program for Universities in Jiangxi Province (KJLD13047), The Basic Theory Study of Element Regulation of the Direct Utilization of Waste Copper, 201301-201512, 200,000 yuan;

[15] Key R&D Program of Jiangxi Province (Key Project) (20192ACB50010), R&D and Industrialization Demonstration of Rare Earth Modified High-performance H13 Hot Die Steel, 2019/01-2021/12, 500,000 yuan;  

[16] The Youth Key Project of Natural Science Foundation of Jiangxi Province, 20202ACBL214002, The Influence and Mechanism of the External Field/Dislocation and Its Coupling on the Precipitation of Strengthened Phase in Aluminum Alloy, 2020/01-2022.12, 200,000 yuan;

[17] Key Research and Development Program of Jiangxi Province (General Project) International Joint Funding (2019BBEL50016), Research on Stacking Fault Evolution and Strengthening &Toughening Technology of Yttrium-based Heavy Rare Earth Microalloyed TWIP steel, 2019/01-2021/12, 100,000;

[18] Science and Technology Support Program of Jiangxi Province (2007GB13000): Research on the Preparation Technology of Copper-aluminum Composite Contact Wire for Magnetic Floating Rail, chaired, 80,000 yuan;  

[19] The Youth Project of Natural Science Foundation of Jiangxi Province, 20181BAB216002,

The Material Performance Uniformity Regulation Mechanism under the Synergistic Effect of Texture Characteristics and External Stress Field Precipitation, 2018/01-2019/12, 60,000;

[20] The Youth Fund Project of Natural Science Foundation of Jiangxi Province, 20202BAB214004, Multi-scale Structure Regulation and Mechanism of Fatigue Crack Growth of 980MPa Quenched Partition Steel, 2020/07-2021/12, 60,000 yuan;

[21] The Youth Fund Project of Science and Technology Department of Jiangxi Province, 20202BABL214026, Directed Growth Behavior and Physical Mechanism of Heterogeneous Metal Solid-solid Interface Compounds Induced by Strong Current, 2020-2021, 60,000 yuan;

[22] The Youth Project of Natural Science Foundation of Science and Technology Department of Jiangxi Province, 20192BAB216005, Study on the Precipitation and Creep Resistance Mechanism of Rare Earth Scandium Micro-alloyed Titanium Alloy Silicide, 2019-01 to 2021-12, 60,000 yuan;

[23] The General Project of Natural Science Foundation of Jiangxi Province, "Study on the Influence of Nitrogen Solid Solution and Precipitation Control on Low Temperature Deformation of Nickel-saving High Nitrogen Austenitic Steel", 2020.01-2021.12, 60,000 yuan;

[24] The General Project of Jiangxi Provincial Department of Education "Ageing Precipitation Behavior and Precipitation Phase Characteristics of Al-Cr-Fe-Mn-Ni-based High-entropy Alloys", 2021.01-2022.12, 20,000 yuan;

[25] The Optimization Mechanism of Rare Earth Y on the Microstructure and Properties of High-grade Electrical Steel for New Energy Vehicles (Chaired, In research, First-class Funding from Jiangxi Provincial Postdoctoral Selection Funding Project, Project number: 2018KY04), 80,000 yuan  

[26] Jiangxi Provincial Postdoctoral Selection Funding Project, 2019KY25, The Accurate Characterization and Regulation Mechanism of Preferential Precipitation of Strengthening Phase during Creep Aging of Aluminum-lithium Alloy, 2020/01-2021/09, 50,000;

[27] Jiangxi Provincial Postdoctoral Selection Funding Project, 2019KY55, Research on the Fracture Failure Mechanism of Dissimilar Advanced High-strength Steel Laser Tailor-welded Joints under Fatigue Load, 2020/01-2021/12, 30,000 yuan;

[28] Daily Postdoctoral Funding Project of Jiangxi Province, 2017RC33, The Influence Mechanism of Heavy Rare Earth Y on the Microstructure and Properties of Thin-gauge Non-oriented Electrical Steel, 30,000 yuan;

[29] The Science and Technology Project of Jiangxi Provincial Department of Education, The Transformation Mechanism of Synergistic Deformation and Pre-phase Transformation Accelerating Nano-bainite and Its Dynamic Deformation Behavior, GJJ180439, 30,000 yuan;

[30] The Youth Project of the Science and Technology Program of Jiangxi Provincial Department of Education, GJJ170550, Research on High Temperature Creep Model and the Mechanism of Titanium Alloy Based on Short-term Stress Relaxation, from January 2018 to December 2020, 20,000 yuan;

[31] The Science and Technology Project of Jiangxi Provincial Department of Education, GJJ170551, Study on the Fatigue Fracture Failure Mechanism of Laser Welded Joints of Dissimilar Steel DP980/QP980, 2018/01-2019/12, 20,000 yuan;

[32] The Science and Technology Project of Jiangxi Provincial Department of Education, GJJ170552, Research on the Method and Mechanism of Performance Uniformity Regulation and Mechanism of 2000 Series Aluminum Alloy Creep Aging Formed Components for Aviation, 2018/01-2019/12, 20,000 yuan;

[33] The Science and Technology Project of Jiangxi Provincial Department of Education, GJJ190476, The Strengthening Mechanism of Electric Current on Powder Densification Kinetics during Spark Plasma Sintering, 2020-2021, 20,000 yuan;

[34] The Project Commissioned by Enterprise, 2019-3607-09-000191, CAE Analysis and Industrial Application Research of Aerospace High-performance Metal Material Forming Process, 2019-01 to 2021-12, 350,000 yuan;

[35] The Project Commissioned by Enterprise, Research and Development of High-precision and High-conductivity Internal Thread Aluminum Coil for Air Conditioning, 100,000 yuan;

[36] The Project Commissioned by Enterprise, Research on Production Technology of Large-Diameter Internally Threaded Copper Pipe, RMB 250,000 yuan;

[37] The Project Commissioned by Beijing Space Vehicle General Design Department, 2019-3607-09-000007, Typical Aerospace Metal Materials and Hinge Creep Test, 2019-01 to 2020-12, 50,000 yuan;

[38] The Project Commissioned by Enterprise, ML08Al and SCM435 Steel Spheroidizing Annealing Process Research, Dongguan Keli Co., Ltd., 50,000 yuan;

[39] The Project Commissioned by Enterprise, Research on Preparation Process and Key Technology of Rare Earth Yttrium Modified High-performance Pb-Ag-Ca-Sr, Northwest Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, 42,000 yuan;

[40] The Project Commissioned by Enterprise, Metal Texture Sample Preparation and Analysis, Shanghai Institute of Ceramics, 33,000 yuan;  

[41] The Project Commissioned by Enterprise, Preparation and Processing of Titanium Alloy Based on Rare Earth Addition, Shanghai Institute of Ceramics, 28,000 yuan;

5.Awards and Patents

Awards

(1) Aluminum and aluminum alloy welding wires for pressure vessel, the second prize of China Nonferrous Metals Industry Science and Technology Award, 2019;

(2) Drawn Round Wire of Aluminum and Aluminum Alloys, the third prize of China Nonferrous Metal Industry Science and Technology Award, 2018;

Patents

[1] A Cu-Ni-Si alloy with high strength and low anisotropy index and its preparation process, authorization number: ZL201510944624.3, 2015;

[2] A yttrium-cerium composite strengthened and toughened spring steel and its preparation method, authorization number: ZL100227776, 2019;

[3] A method for preparing macroscopic coarse crystals and single crystals of aluminum alloy, authorization number: ZL201810009800.8, 2019;

[4] A 7000 series aluminum alloy wire for additive manufacturing and its preparation method, ZL201910576729.6, 2020;

[5] An Al-Mg-Si series aluminum alloy wire for additive manufacturing and its preparation method, ZL201910575369.8, 2020;

[6] A TiB2 particle reinforced aluminum matrix composite material and its preparation method, ZL201910575443.6, 2020.

7.Laboratory Equipments

spray forming equipment

8.Team Construction

The Institute of Lightweight Metal Materials and Technology is a positive, enthusiastic and united group. In scientific research, we endeavor to work on it; In real life, we unite as a whole and help each other.Under the guidance of the teachers of the Institute, we have made progress and grow together, and have completed many important scientific research projects. In addition to studying and working, various activities were held including New Year's Day dinner, echelon autumn outing, and badminton competition. The feelings and the sense of teamwork were cultivated during the play and the entertainment

9.Postgraduates

There are nearly 30 master students and 3 doctoral students; Many postgraduate theses have been rated as "Excellent Master Thesis of China Association of Metallurgical Education ", "Excellent Master Thesis of Jiangxi Province" and "Excellent Master Thesis of Jiangxi University of Science and Technology". Many awards have been obtained in National Internet Plus Competition, National University Student Metallurgical Technology Competition and other aspects.

Most postgraduates choose to work in steel companies and institutions in the non-ferrous metal industry, including "China Aluminum", "Shandong Aluminum", "Xinyu Iron and Steel", "Baosteel Group" and "Ningbo Bowayalloy" while some postgraduates choose to continue Ph.D. studies at higher-level universities, like "Xi'an Jiaotong University", " Central Iron & Steel Research Institute " and so on.