2024 Young Persons' Lecture Competition UK final

Winner | North East

Emilia Russell

Emilia Russell is a 2^nd year PhD student in the Department of Engineering at Durham University, currently investigating the impacts of mechanical strain on the electrical properties of 2-dimensional semiconductors. In her free time, she enjoys sailing and organising seminars from industry speakers with the Women’s Engineering Society at Durham.

Why strained semiconductors are like crinkle-cut crisps

When applying strain to 2-dimensional transition metal dichalcogenides, it has been observed that the bandgap changes. The bandgap is the potential difference between the highest energy bounded (immobile) electrons and the delocalised (mobile) electrons.

Crinkle cut crisps taste better because they hold more salt, crinkle cut semiconductors insulate better because they hold more electrons.

This effect could be exploited in the next generation of synthetic skin. It could also be used to design flexible acetylene detectors to monitor food expiration, reducing food waste. To date, the relationship between mechanical strain and electronic properties has predominantly been shown through computational modelling. This research focuses on overcoming the issues that have hindered the realisation of these devices, such that the effects of strain on other semiconductor properties can be investigated. In turn, this will lead to a better understanding of the electrostatics and charge transport of these novel 2-D materials.

 

2nd place | South East

Philipp Schulz

Philipp is a second-year PhD student at University College London (UCL) investigating the environmental degradation that nickel-base superalloys may face in hydrogen combustion jet engine environments. At UCL, he is also a postgraduate research student representative, as well as committee member of the Mechanical Engineering Researchers’ Society.

In his free time, he enjoys road cycling and reading.

Hydrogen-related degradation of nickel-base superalloys exposed to hydrogen combustion environments

Hydrogen-powered combustion systems are seen as a highly feasible option to decarbonise aviation, by and beyond 2050. It is therefore critical to understand if H-induced degradation, such as hydrogen embrittlement, could happen in high-temperature alloys used inside the combustion chamber. While H embrittlement is well documented in literature for near room-temperature applications, it is not clear how H interacts with high-temperature materials during H combustion.
This presentation aims to give a comprehensive overview of the challenges imposed on nickel-base superalloys by hydrogen environments. Additionally, the differences between past literature data regarding hydrogen-related degradation of Ni-base superalloys and their future application in hydrogen combustion environments will be highlighted. Lastly, insights will be given into current and future experimental studies to tackle these challenges and facilitate the introduction of carbon-free aviation.

3rd place | Midlands

Hannah Hilton-Tapp

Hannah is a third-year PhD student at the University of Leicester, working in the Centre for Sustainable Materials Processing and Space Park Leicester, under the supervision of Dr Ramy Mesalam. Her research interests include surface finishing of materials, electrodeposition of nanocomposites and the production of thermoelectric devices for use in Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generators (RTGs). She also sits on the Advisory Council for IOM3 as a postgraduate student representative.

Production of copper nanocomposite coatings via a novel pulse-reverse plating technique

The development of the process to produce Metal Matrix Nanocomposite (MMNC) coatings provides opportunity for the enhancement of material properties. As the demand of materials increase, the properties of these materials must progress with them. Equally, if the properties of materials improve, technology can progress quicker. Copper is of particular importance in industry due to its high thermal and electrical conductivity at room temperature, however it is a relatively soft, malleable, and prone to oxidation metal.

Incorporating nanoparticles into the copper matrix can improve the properties of the coatings, without significantly diminishing others. The utilisation of Pulse Reverse Plating (PRP) in the production of MMNCs has been explored over the years but this work looks to utilise the anodic pulse and anionic surfactant to increase particle content. Resulting composition and properties were determined and characterised.

Scotland

Nick Mappin

Nick is a fifth-year Integrated Master’s student at the University of St Andrews, with a particular focus on igneous petrology and ore geology. His research investigates a nepheline syenite deposit in the north of Norway, which is mined for nepheline and feldspar, for use in glass and ceramics. He is establishing what the controlling factors are on the ore quality and how and why the ore spatially varies throughout the deposit.

Fluid interaction in nepheline syenite, Stjernøya, Norway, and the implication for ore quality

The Nabarren nepheline syenite deposit is an intrusive body in the south of the Lillebukt Alkaline Complex, Norway. It comprises two predominant, syenite types, subdivided based on the accessory mafic mineralogy: biotite- and pyroxene-nepheline syenite. Sibelco operates an open pit and underground mine, exploiting nepheline and feldspar, for use in glass, ceramics, and paint fillers. Past studies conclude that biotite-bearing nepheline syenite has a reduced ore quality, however, the cause of the degradation is unknown. Contaminated carbonatite dykes are heterogeneously distributed throughout the deposit. Field evidence, cathodoluminescence, and petrography reveal a strong mineralogical alteration and ore quality reduction surrounding the dykes. Metasomatism or magmatic interaction between carbonatite and syenite is interpreted to cause this change. This presentation explores the processes liable for the ore quality variation and how ore beneficiation and mine operations can be enhanced.

North West & North Wales

Rajinth Shanthar

Rajinth is a second-year PhD student from the Department of Materials, The University of Manchester, under the supervision of Dr Chamil Abeykoon, Dr Robert Prosser and Prof Prasad Potluri. His research is focused on simulating the flow of a liquid through a multiscale porous media, specifically the flow of polymeric resins across carbon and glass fibre fabrics.

He is trying to introduce the complex relationships observed in the physical world between the resin flow and parameters such as resin pressure, flow rate, temperature, and fabric properties into the numerical domain. Rajinth’s research spans a broad range of topics such as Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD), polymer rheology, composite manufacturing, and process optimisation.

Optimised composite manufacturing using Resin Transfer Moulding

Composite materials have become a staple in modern engineering. For example, Fibre Reinforced Plastics (FRP) are widely used in industries such as aerospace and automotive thanks to their high strength-to-weight ratio. The reinforcement can be synthetic fibres such as carbon and glass, whereas the matrix is typically a thermosetting plastic. Resin Transfer Moulding (RTM) is a method of fabricating FRP parts, capable of achieving an excellent surface finish and high rates of production.

Here, the reinforcement fabric is placed within a rigid mould, injected with the liquid matrix material and finally heat cured. To optimise the RTM process and to ensure that the parts produced have high quality and minimum defects, Computational Fluid Dynamic (CFD) flow simulations can be used as a cost-effective approach. However, these CFD models need to sufficiently capture all the flow complexities associated with the RTM process to yield accurate and useful results.

South West & South Wales

Tom Jessel

Tom graduated from Cardiff University in 2021 with a First Class Honours degree in Mechanical Engineering. Currently he is a third-year PhD student at Cardiff University, working in conjunction with Renishaw plc. 

His research focuses on tool condition monitoring and evaluation of diamond-coated tools, with the aim of replacing tools when necessary and not at periodic intervals. The research project has a focus on the utilisation of acoustic emission (AE) and applications of advanced signal processing techniques to determine remaining tool life, thereby reducing waste and the costs associated with discarding tools prematurely. 

Outside of research, Tom enjoys climbing on the sea-cliffs or quarries of South Wales.

The potential of unsupervised Machine Learning techniques for Tool Condition Monitoring of Diamond-Coated Burrs

Within manufacturing there is a growing need for autonomous Tool Condition Monitoring (TCM) systems, with the ability to predict tool wear and failure. This need is increased, when using specialised tools such as Diamond-Coated Burrs (DCBs) for grinding high strength ceramics or glass, in which the random nature of the tool, inconsistent manufacturing methods and high wear rates create large variance in tool life. This unpredictable nature leads to a significant fraction of a DCB tool's life being underutilised due to premature replacement.

Acoustic Emission (AE) in conjunction with Machine Learning (ML) models present a possible, on-machine monitoring technique, which could be used as a prediction method for DCB wear. The unsupervised training of autoencoders, shows promise in predicting DCB wear based solely on components of detected AE, potentially allowing for the continuous monitoring of individual tools.

Vice-Chair, SECC

Dr Michael Kenyon MIMMM

Innoval Technology Limited

Michael works for Innoval Technology as a Materials Engineer. Innoval provide consultancy to the global aluminium industry, with expertise in materials characterisation and process improvement across all sectors. Day to day, Michael has two roles, as a physical metallurgist and as a sustainability analyst.

As a metallurgist, Michael examines microstructures of numerous aluminium series within the automotive, aerospace and packaging sectors. Michael particularly enjoys characterising aluminium structures by utilising optical, scanning and transmission electron microscopes. In addition to client work, Michael is heavily involved with publicly funded projects, providing metallurgical development and characterisation support. Michael finds collaborative projects incredibly rewarding, working alongside universities and commercial partners, contributing to projects that will increase the awareness and usage of sustainable aluminium for future materials.

With his sustainability hat on, Michael conducts studies for clients including Life Cycle Assessments to better understand and improve the footprint of their products and processes.

Michael previously studied for a PhD in Advanced Metallic Systems at the University of Manchester, investigating the evolution of dispersoids in Al-Mg-Si based automotive alloys with varying impurity levels; a project sponsored by Novelis.

Outside of work, you’ll find Michael with a camera in his hand, focusing on landscape, animal and astrophotography. Michael has been a keen Table Tennis player for many years, playing across the country.