Mechanical behaviour, fatigue and fracture of materials

• Advanced mechanical characterisation
  • Parameters relevant for cold and hot sheet forming
  • Mechanical properties of metallic, polymeric and composite materials (from low to high temperature and from micro to macro scale)
  • Mechanical, adhesive and hybrid joints
• Formability studies
• Implementation of online inspection techniques and non-destructive testing
• Fatigue and fracture behaviour of metallic alloys, ceramic materials and polymers
• Developing specific tests to predict in-service performance using fracture mechanics
• Laboratory and in-service characterisation (instrumentation) of components subjected to mechanical loads
• Assessing fracture toughness of sheet metals
  • To address cracking phenomena using proprietary methodology based on essential work of fracture
• Determining fatigue behaviour in a few hours using advanced tests

Light alloys

• Selection of the most suitable alloys and optimisation of heat treatment for light-alloy processing. Valorisation of industrial metallic and ceramic residues.
  • Casting, stamping, forging, extrusion, etc.
• Designing and developing bespoke aluminium alloys with high recycled aluminium content
  • Analysis of the effect of impurities, micro-addition of elements to minimise the effect of impurities, casting of parts by High-Pressure Die Casting (HPDC)
  • Permanent Mould Casting (PMC) and sand casting, microstructural and mechanical characterisation
• Assessment of part-extrusion processes, extrusion properties and final material properties.
• Ultrasonic metal treatment applications
  • Degassing and cleaning of molten metal in HPDC. Dispersion of ceramic particles and nanoparticles in metal
• Sensorisation of die casting equipment and moulds, extrusion presses and development of mechanisms which adapt to process variations
• Analysis of damage mechanisms and search for solutions to extend the service life of forming tools
  • Moulds for HPDC, stamping tools, extrusion dies, etc.
• Innovation in die casting processes, including vacuum-assisted injection

New processes for advanced materials

• Studies of metallic material forming processes
  • Under laboratory conditions (plasto-dilatometry); conceptual and process window analysis
• Processing studies using thermomechanical processing routes at the pilot plant level
• Thermomechanical forming of sheet metal
  • Hot stamping of boron steels, aluminium alloys and stainless steels
• Heat treatment study
  • Determination of CCT and TTT diagrams; solubilisation and artificial ageing studies; stress-relaxation studies
• Analysis of severe plastic deformation processes by experimentation and finite element simulation
• Customised metallic powder characterisation and production by centrifugal atomisation
• 3D printing of metals with laser beam powder bed fusion (PBF-LB) technology

Corrosion and degradation

• Assessment of the effect of the aggressive environment on the aesthetic and functional properties of the materials
• Assessment of the resistance to degradation of ceramic and polymeric materials under different aggressive conditions
• Hydrogen embrittlement, stress corrosion cracking and corrosion fatigue in structural components and tribocorrosion
• In situ identification of corrosion and surface degradation mechanisms. Assessment of corrosion progression and failure prediction
• Quantification of the critical hydrogen content that affects mechanical properties through TDA
• Study of corrosion mechanisms using potentiometric techniques
• Assessment of paint protection according to ISO 12944
• Corrosion testing
  • Cyclic according to ASTM, ISO, VDA, DBL, Renault, VW, in neutral salt spray, acetic acid salt spray and copper-accelerated acetic acid salt spray according to ISO 9227, ASTM B117, DIN 50021
  • In constant humidity according to ISO 6270
  • Bespoke according to the exposure environment from -20ºC to 60ºC and mechanical stress. Environment simulations: tropical, dry, desert, etc.
• Atmospheric corrosion resistance tests according to ISO 9223, ISO 9225 for the determination of the corrosivity of the environment. Exposure in real environments.
• Assessment of corrosion failure mechanisms in industrial components and products in service: cutting tools for the food industry, pipes, carbonated beverage cans, etc
• Selection of protective materials and systems

Tribology

• Wear and friction of metallic and ceramic materials and lubricants
• On-site inspection of surface damage in industrial components
• Wear mechanisms in forming tools: characterisation of the main failure mechanisms and assessment of alternatives with improved performance
• Designing lab tests to assess wear resistance
• Advanced surface characterisation by scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS/EDX) and high-angular-resolution electron backscatter diffraction (HR-EBSD), confocal and focus variation microscopy.
• Micro-mechanical characterisation: instrumented indentation, contact fatigue, micro-tensile testing, scratch resistance tests
• Numerical control machining tests and analysis of the properties of machined surfaces. Assessment of alternatives for zero-defect manufacturing.
• Lubricant tests: Stribeck curves, effect on the tools and the end product

Surface technology

• Development of PVD  functional coatings on metals, plastics and ceramics
• Development of functional surface treatments through ion implantation
• Development of coatings for multiple applications
  • Hard and low-friction coatings for tribomechanical applications
  • For protection against corrosion and antifouling
  • For biomedical applications: implants, prostheses, surgical instruments
  • For renewable energy applications: fuel cells, electrolysers, concentrated solar power, etc.
  • Coatings as an alternative to electrolytic chromium plating
  • Decorative coatings
  • Transparent and functional coatings for optical and electronic applications.
• Advanced characterisation of coatings and surfaces