Projects / Programmes
Topologically designed magnesium alloys for biomedical applications
| Code |
Science |
Field |
Subfield |
| 2.04.02 |
Engineering sciences and technologies |
Materials science and technology |
Metallic materials |
| Code |
Science |
Field |
| T450 |
Technological sciences |
Metal technology, metallurgy, metal products |
| Code |
Science |
Field |
| 2.05 |
Engineering and Technology |
Materials engineering |
Magnesium alloys, structure control, deformation processing, magnesium surface, magnesium oxidation, magnesium corrosion, bio-corrosion
Researchers (9)
| no. |
Code |
Name and surname |
Research area |
Role |
Period |
No. of publicationsNo. of publications |
| 1. |
38862 |
Grega Belšak |
Materials science and technology |
Researcher |
2016 - 2018 |
23 |
| 2. |
38848 |
PhD Tadej Dobravec |
Process engineering |
Researcher |
2018 |
55 |
| 3. |
32783 |
PhD Sandra Gardonio |
Materials science and technology |
Researcher |
2016 - 2018 |
82 |
| 4. |
37412 |
PhD Vanja Hatić |
Process engineering |
Junior researcher |
2016 - 2018 |
43 |
| 5. |
36364 |
PhD Boštjan Mavrič |
Process engineering |
Researcher |
2016 - 2018 |
105 |
| 6. |
36805 |
PhD Dmytro Orlov |
Materials science and technology |
Head |
2016 - 2018 |
80 |
| 7. |
04101 |
PhD Božidar Šarler |
Process engineering |
Researcher |
2016 - 2018 |
1,102 |
| 8. |
11991 |
PhD Matjaž Valant |
Materials science and technology |
Researcher |
2016 - 2018 |
608 |
| 9. |
23018 |
PhD Robert Vertnik |
Manufacturing technologies and systems |
Researcher |
2016 - 2018 |
222 |
Organisations (2)
Abstract
The main objective of this proposal is to develop high-performance magnesium (Mg) alloys readily adoptable in biomedicine as well as in light-weight mobility sectors. Mg is selected because of exceptional yet unexploited potential for various applications due to unique combination of properties including high strength-to-density ratio, excellent environmental sustainability, and superb biocompatibility. The alloys are to consist from abundant affordable components readily available from within the EU, which should facilitate the improvement of security, sustainability and socioeconomic prosperity of people in Slovenia, Europe and beyond.
These objectives will be achieved through multi-level control of structural characteristics in Mg alloys based on topological principles. At nano-scale, this will be the control of orientation, size and density of intermetallic precipitate particles as well as solute atom arrangements within Mg matrix in solid solutions through alloying and low-temperature thermo-mechanical processing. At micro-scale, the control of the particle distributions, dislocation structure and grain boundaries will be targeted through severe plastic deformation processing under high pressures and advanced heat treatments. At macro-scale, the control of texture and spatial distribution of grains in poly-crystals (e.g. homogeneous, bimodal, gradient or ‘harmonic’ structures) will be achieved through deformation and powder metallurgy based techniques. The aforementioned control of bulk structure in Mg alloy products should allow achieving the ultimate control of surface structure, and thus (bio)degradation performance at virtually any time of material work/life span.
Such a multi-level control of material structure will become possible through unique in-house techniques for magnesium alloy fabrication and processing as well as advanced characterisation facilities. The latter will include large-infrastructure facilities (e.g. synchrotrons ELETTRA, DESY and MAX IV Lab), in-house instruments for high-resolution transmission and scanning electron microscopy, including electron-backscatter diffraction (EBSD) analysis, various mechanical testing, including fatigue and nano-indentation, and extensive collaborative network for bio-degradation testing. The extensive experimental investigations will be guided by ‘ab-initio’ as well as multi-scale solidification and phase transformation computer simulations.
The results of this project will have a major impact spanning from enhanced basic understanding of novel magnesium alloy design and degradation in various environments to the development of advanced low-footprint technologies of their manufacturing to opening new horizons in sustainable life management.
Significance for science
First of all, this project offers a completely new paradigm in magnesium alloy design. Such a paradigm of alloy design based on topological principles has never been used before,
and thus successful accomplishment of this project should open a new field in light-weight materials engineering.
Then, for the already existing, and very well established, field of surface science this project will develop new experimental techniques. It will also contribute significantly advanced knowledge on the dependence of surface reactivity in magnesium on its crystallographic orientation as well as presence and topological distribution of solute atoms and structure of their clusters.
Finally, into the field of (bio)corrosion this project will bring desperately desired fundamental understanding of elemental mechanisms of initial stages in Mg corrosive reactions with oxygen, water and other (bio)environments. This will allow following breakthroughs in the control of (bio)degradation in final products produced from Mg alloys.
Significance for the country
In agreement with the main objective of this proposal, successful accomplishment of this project will deliver to the economy, and thus society, high-performance magnesium alloys readily adoptable in both biomedicine and light-weight mobility sectors. The alloys are to consist from abundant affordable components readily available from within the EU, which should facilitate the improvement of security, sustainability and socioeconomic prosperity of people in Slovenia, Europe and beyond.
Obvious potential direct implications of this project execution are the implementations of technologies being developed into industrial practices, development of new products tailored for particular needs of end consumers, and accumulation of new knowledge about materials and processing techniques. The techniques to be developed would be easy to adopt for medium and small companies and can help to modernise Slovenian manufacturing sector.
The results of this project will have a major impact spanning from enhanced basic understanding of novel magnesium alloy design and (bio)degradation in various environments to the development of advanced low-footprint technologies of their manufacturing to opening new horizons in sustainable life management. It will also bring new expertise to Slovenian industrial manufacturing advancing the Slovenian economy and making it more competitive internationally, while also contributing towards regenerative medicine sector.
Most important scientific results
Interim report,
final report
Most important socioeconomically and culturally relevant results
Interim report,
final report
