A groundbreaking University of Strathclyde initiative to reshape the landscape of alloy coatings has been awarded around £600,000 in funding by the EU Horizon Europe programme.
The initiative aims to harness the power of advanced software and computational modelling to pave the way for greener, safer, more cost-effective and technologically advanced coatings.
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Led by Professor Yi Qin from the Department of Design, Manufacturing and Engineering Management, the project will develop an innovative design methodology, numerical models and digital tools.
Alloy coatings, particularly those based on high-entropy-alloy-based multicomponent coatings (MCHECs), have gained prominence for their exceptional toughness and durability. However, their widespread adoption has been hindered by a lack of efficient computer-based models capable of accurately predicting their properties based on their composition and processing conditions. As a result, current approaches heavily rely on time-consuming experimental methods.
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The significance of alloy coatings spans across various industries, including construction, automotive, healthcare and aerospace. Yet despite their versatility, designing high-entropy-alloy-based coatings with the desired functionality, minimal environmental impact and high circularity presents a considerable challenge.
The four-year project aims to address these challenges by developing cutting-edge modelling-assisted software tailored for the design of new metal alloys for coating materials. By leveraging advanced multi-scale modelling, artificial intelligence and knowledge-engineering tools, along with a robust data-management framework, the project is looking to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of alloy coating development.
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According to Professor Qin, the project holds the promise of significantly reducing design and manufacturing timescales, production costs and reliance on imported alloys for critical components. The development of next-generation green and sustainable MCHEC coating materials is expected to yield substantial social, economic and environmental benefits.
‘One of the primary objectives is to create alloy coatings with superior wear resistance, addressing industry needs for high-performance anti-wearing and more reliable coatings,’ Professor Qin said. ‘By mitigating the risks associated with toxicity and production costs, the project seeks to enhance the competitiveness and sustainability of European industries.’