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EU-Funded Project Aims to Revolutionise Alloy Coating Designs

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A groundbreaking initiative funded by the EU Horizon Europe programme aims to reshape the landscape of alloy coatings.

By harnessing the power of advanced software and computational modelling, the initiative aims to pave the way for greener, safer, more cost-effective, and technologically advanced coatings.

Led by Professor Yi Qin from the Department of Design, Manufacturing and Engineering Management at the University of Strathclyde, the "Computational Multi-Models Enabled Design" project has received around £600,000 in funding to develop innovative design methodology, numerical models and digital tools.

Experimental methods

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 composition and processing conditions. As a result, current approaches heavily rely on time-consuming experimental methods.

The significance of alloy coatings spans across various industries, including construction, automotive, healthcare, and aerospace. Yet, despite their versatility, designing High-Entropy Alloy (HEA)-based coatings with the desired functionality, minimal environmental impact, and high circularity presents a considerable challenge.

Cutting-edge

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 (AI), and knowledge-engineering tools, along with a robust data-management framework, the project is looking to improve unprecedented effectiveness and efficiency in alloy coating development.

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 for Europe.

High performance

Professor Qin said: “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”.

“By mitigating the risks associated with toxicity and production costs, the project seeks to enhance the competitiveness and sustainability of European industries.”

Horizon Europe is the EU’s key funding programme for research and innovation.