Available PhD Topics at High Temperature Group, Swinburne University

Available PhD Topics at High Temperature Group, Swinburne University. Invitation to submit an application for PhD scholarship at this mid-year intake at Faculty of Engineering, Swinburne University of Technology. Due date 30 May 2008. All the information is available through the following link:

http://www.swinburne.edu.au/research/schols.htm

Electrically enhanced reactions in high temperature metal processing
Supervisors: Dr Akbar Rhamdhani, Prof. Geoffrey BrooksMetal- slag reactions during high temperature processes can be viewed as electro- chemical reactions. The current study will investigate the effect of electrical potential on the characteristics of the metal-slag interface (such as interfacial tension) and on the rate of metal- slag reactions in non-ferrous systems. The project will involve conducting high temperature experiments, microstructure characterisation and chemical analyses of the samples and development of a kinetic model that includes the effect of electrical potential. The understanding of this problem will open the possibility of a development of a new advanced high temperature metal processing. The project is suited to a student with a background in metallurgical engineering, chemical engineering, materials engineering or chemistry.

Novel multistage aluminium production

Supervisors: Dr Akbar Rhamdhani, Prof. Geoffrey BrooksThe current study will investigate and establish the feasibility of multistage aluminium production from alumina. The proposed route is through a reduction of alumina to intermediate aluminium compounds, which then subsequently be reduced to aluminium in the following processes. The project will involve a thermodynamic evaluation, as well as the overall feasibility evaluation of the process. It will also involve high temperature experiments, microstructure characterisation and chemical analyses of the samples. The project is suited to a student with a background in metallurgical engineering, chemical engineering, materials engineering or chemistry.

New sidewalls materials for aluminium smelter

Supervisors: Dr Akbar Rhamdhani, Prof. Geoffrey Brooks The current commercial production of aluminium through the Hall- Heroult process has high energy consumption. One reason is due to the requirement of high heat flux out of the sidewalls for the formation of frozen layer of electrolyte for protection of the sidewalls. In the current study, new materials for the sidewalls
will be developed with the aim to lower energy requirement and ecological footprint associated with the current process. The project will involve a fabrication of the new materials, high temperature experiments as well as microstructure characterisation and chemical analyses of the samples. The project is suited to a student with a background in metallurgical engineering, chemical engineering, materials engineering or chemistry.

Solar Production of Direct Reduced Iron
Supervisors: Prof. Geoffrey Brooks, Dr Akbar Rhamdhani and Dr Brenton Hall. This project would investigate the feasibility and process kinetics of using solar furnaces to produce iron from iron oxide/carbon omposite pellets. This project may (still to be determined) have involvement from a solar energy company who can provide expertise and equipment in solar furnaces. Our plan is to impersonate the intense energy of a solar furnace through high powered lamps and set
a small scale experimental rig to measure temperature gradients and the kinetics of the reactions in the system (essentially Fe2O3 + 3C = 2Fe + 3CO). We may also end up building a small scale solar furnace but this will depend on how the project develops. There is a strong potential for a patent in this area. This project is suited to a student who loves invention, experimentation and chemical kinetics.

Kinetics of Liquid Aluminium Oxidation
Supervisors: Prof. Geoffrey Brooks, Dr Akbar Rhamdhani and an academic from University of Queensland. This is an experimentally based project looking at understanding and quantifying the rate of liquid metal oxidation ("dross formation"), which is very important to the casting industry. We would do this project in collaboration with CAST (see https:// http://www.cast.org/. au/index. php) and the University of Queensland (http:// http://www.uq.edu.au/) . The project would involve significant industry involvement and spending some time travelling to Queensland (a couple of weeks a year). This project is suited to a student who can perform well controlled experiments and is good at interpreting experimental data.