1. Metallurgy (Non Ferrous) Research
Present and Future
what does industry need ?
how can academia help ?
what’s new (in aluminium !) ?
Dr R. A. Ricks
Director: Materials Research
Alcan International Limited
Banbury Laboratory
Slide 1

2. what does industry need ?
composition + processing = attributes
Product attributes include
cost
geometry
properties
aesthetics
All attributes must be within specification otherwise you have no product !
Slide 2

3. what does industry need ?
composition + processing = attributes
alloy
chemistry
furnace
charging
melting
furnace
treatment
grain
refinement
degassing
filtration
launder
practice
metal
transfer
casting
scalping
scheduling
homogen-
isation
breakdown
mill
run-out
table
tandem
mill
reroll
coiling
cold
rolling
cold roll
coiling
slitting &
post lube
packing
shipping
Slide 3

4. what does industry need ?
composition + processing = attributes
Through process modelling -
(remember the list of attributes)
the product is not just about properties (microstructure)
industry has through process models - cost and geometry
the models really do have to be through process
local sub-optimisation of part of the process stream is highly undesirable
tandem
mill
reroll
coiling
Slide 4

5. { how can academia help ? pre-competitive technology core technology
communication ?
pre-competitive
technology
communication ?
core technology
enabling
technology {
present EPSRC strategy is not conducive for academic partnership with mature industries
I.P.
Slide 5

6. how can academia help ? pre-competitive technology
this should be where academia delivers
should be natural partnerships with industry (but - I.P.)
not too much too soon (eg Al - Li alloys)
value is the knowledge base - not $
people
expertise and experience
Slide 6

7. how can academia help ? core technology
care needed for academia involvement
could be natural partnerships with industry (but - I.P.)
technology must remain within industry
value can be economic if time-scale allows
how does academe get the rewards ?
how does industry protect it’s core competency ?
Slide 7

8. how can academia help ? enabling technology
enabling technology for one sector is core for another
potential competition between academia and industry
academia must understand product liability
value will be economic if the development is sound
Slide 8

9. what’s new in aluminium ?
markets
Slide 9

10. what’s new in aluminium ?
metallurgy
300 nm
40 nm
ordered microstructures
ultra-fine grained alloys
surfaces !
warm forming - wrought tempers
thixoforming
Slide 10