Projects / Programmes
Lightweight alloys based on aluminium as materials with increasing potential in transport industry
| Code |
Science |
Field |
Subfield |
| 1.04.00 |
Natural sciences and mathematics |
Chemistry |
|
| Code |
Science |
Field |
| T155 |
Technological sciences |
Coatings and surface treatment |
| Code |
Science |
Field |
| 1.04 |
Natural Sciences |
Chemical sciences |
Aluminium alloys, transport industry, corrosion, protection, sol-gel coatings, conversion coatings, microbial corrosion
Researchers (16)
Organisations (2)
Abstract
In the last decade the European automobile industry has more than doubled the average amount of aluminium used in passenger cars and the trend in increasing. European Union legislation sets mandatory emission reduction targets for new cars. Europe is to become a highly energy-efficient, low carbon economy. Road transport alone contributes about one-fifth of the EU's total emissions of carbon dioxide, the main greenhouse gas. The reduction of emissions from a range of modes of transport could be achieved partially by increased use of light alloys and consequent reduction in weight and fuel consumption. Among light materials, aluminium and its alloys have the highest potential and will be the subject of this project. These materials exhibit good strength-to-weight ratio, good ductility and strength and are relatively easy to fabricate by forming, machining, or welding. Their versatile applications are met in almost every industrial and commercial segment. With increasing mobility in modern era the transport industry has a growing capacity. The increase use of light materials will demand the increased use of their protection as well. This is especially important due to restriction of use of toxic chromate coatings which have been applied with great success for decades for protection of Al alloys. The main goal of the project it to develop the coatings to withstand severe conditions for various Al alloys in transport industry applications, including high salt and sulphur content, low and elevated temperatures and bacterial attack.
Corrosion protection of aluminium alloys is related to the protection of intermetallics in the alloys, as these represent initiation process for corrosion process. Most relevant for transport industry are Al alloys from series 2xxx, 5xxx, 6xxx and 7xxx which contain intermetallics rich in Cu, Mg, Si and Zn. Two main research routes will be opened: protection by sol-gel coatings and by conversion coatings. In both routes green chemical approach will be applied with the use of nontoxic chemicals. The synthesis of coatings will be the main innovative area within the project. The effectiveness of corrosion protection will be studied using electrochemical methods in solutions simulating ambient environment. Coatings selected for their high effectiveness will be further investigated under the conditions of microbially induced corrosion. Most common types of bacteria associated with metals in terrestrial and aquatic habitats are sulphate-reducing bacteria, sulphur-oxidising bacteria, iron oxidising/reducing bacteria, manganese oxidising bacteria, and bacteria secreting organic acids and slime. Further, standard laboratory and field testing will be carried out under the condition relevant for applications. Field testing will be carried out in collaboration with Slovenian company Pipistrel, world recognized manufacturer of light aircrafts. Both types of testing will importantly upgrade the electrochemical studies of the developed coatings and give the project additional perspective for further applications. Although this is basic research project these activities position it high at the technology readiness level as it will demonstrate performance relevant in end-to-end environment.
The project offers the integral approach and solution of the identified problems - development and synthesis of coatings for aluminium alloys to withstand severe conditions in transport industry. Proposed research will enrich the scientific community with new important results. Interdisciplinarity of the project will broaden the scientific methodology which could not be developed within individual scientific field – chemistry, materials science and microbiology. Consequently, each of these scientific fields will gain and deepen the knowledge of its basic and applied research for which all required instrumentation is available. We can therefore expect that the results of the proposed project will substantially contribute to solving
Significance for science
Proposed research enriched the scientific community with new important results. Interdisciplinarity of the project broadened the scientific methodology which could not be developed within individual scientific field – chemistry, materials science and microbiology. Consequently, each of these scientific fields gained and deepened the knowledge of its basic and applied research. Proposed interdisciplinary approach thus enabled more qualitative treatment of corrosion protection of light alloys in transport industry and realization of aimed goals. In this project we have gained a substantial knowledge on the corrosion protection of different materials and use of various innovative methodologies – from conversion coatings to different sol-gel coatings. Effective organization and good feasibility enabled us to carry out the goals of the proposed project. Co-workers at the JSI are experienced in organic synthesis and electrochemical measurements. In collaboration with Nanotesla Institute we broadened the methods of physicochemical characterization and gained specific knowledge in the field of coatings and preparative technologies. The collaboration with UP FVZ contribute the bacteria cultivation and realization of experiments in the microbially induced corrosion. In order to be able to realize the aim of the project, i.e. to develop coatings to withstand severe conditions in transport industry, we have proposed an integral approach - development and synthesis of coatings for aluminium alloys, their cahracterization and standard laboratory testing and field testing. The results of the study were relevant for the publication in excellent scientific journals, and at the same time represent a good basis for the collaboration with industrial partners in future.
Significance for the country
With the scientific methodology and organizational approach we follow the trends in the scientific research, as evidenced by published scientific papers in leading scientific journals and participations at the international conferences. This process strengthens the position of Slovenia as an important country at the world scientific map. Scientific work leads to the close collaboration with international partners and access to their knowledge, resulting in cooperation in common projects and publishing of common scientific papers. It is also important that our work includes the education and introduction of young researchers. European Union legislation sets mandatory emission reduction targets for new cars. This legislation is the cornerstone of the EU's strategy to improve the fuel economy of cars sold on the European market. The targets were set by EU leaders in March 2007, when they committed Europe to become a highly energy-efficient, low carbon economy, and were enacted through the climate and energy package in 2009. The EU is also offering to increase its emissions reduction to 30% by 2020 if other major economies in the developed and developing worlds commit to undertake their fair share of a global emissions reduction effort. Transport is responsible for around a quarter of EU greenhouse gas emissions making it the second biggest greenhouse gas emitting sector after energy. Road transport alone contributes about one-fifth of the EU's total emissions of carbon dioxide, the main greenhouse gas. While emissions from other sectors are generally falling, those from transport have increased 36% since 1990. The EU has policies in place to reduce emissions from a range of modes of transport; this could be achieved partially by increased use of light alloys and consequent reduction in weight and fuel consumption. Sources: - http://europa.eu/pol/pdf/flipbook/sl/climate_action_sl.pdf - http://ec.europa.eu/dgs/clima/mission/index_en.htm - http://www.eea.europa.eu/themes/climate
Most important scientific results
Annual report
2015,
final report
Most important socioeconomically and culturally relevant results
Annual report
2015,
final report
