Projects
Working with Universities
VBC Group has been supporting Liam Hardwick, a PhD student at Sheffield University who is carrying out research into Novel Nickel Based Brazing Alloys. Liam is using predictive modeling software in conjunction with hands on-alloy fabrication to investigate a range of braze alloys based on High Entropy Alloys (HEA’s) a new class of multi-principal component materials. The HEA like alloys incorporate alternative melting point depressants with the aim of reducing or eliminating the brittle phases routinely observed in nickel-based alloys containing boron and silicon.
The fabricated alloys are being analysed micro-structurally as well as mechanically and the results will dictate the adjustments to be made to the composition for subsequent alloy runs. This iterative approach will hopefully lead to one or more exciting new alloys. The potential applications for these new alloys will depend on the properties of eventual alloys but could include components within high temperature aerospace or land-based turbines or indeed cutting tools.
Liam has presented his findings at the International Brazing and Soldering Conference in New Orleans in 2018 and in May 2019 will be reporting his most recent results at the Lot Brazing Conference in Aachen, Germany.
VBC Group is proud to be associated with Sheffield University and Manchester University where Dr Russell Goodall and Dr Ed Pickering respectively are supervising this challenging work.
