MINIATURA 9 GRANT – Dr. Michał Stróżyk

Project title: New carbon nanomaterials-containing Mg-based metal matrix composites prepared via selective laser melting

Grant no. 2025/09/X/ST11/00921

Magnesium (Mg) and Mg-based alloys are considered promising materials for aerospace, automobile, defence or biomedical applications. As structural materials, Mg alloys allow considerable weight reductions due to relatively high strength-to-weight ratio. On the other hand, their biodegradability, biocompatibility and mechanical properties comparable to human bone make Mg alloys potential candidates for biomedical device applications such as temporary implants. Much emphasis is currently put on the development of additive manufacturing of Mg alloys (e.g. by selective laser melting (SLM) process), due to freedom of design of complex geometries, minimisation of material and energy usage. These could potentially lead to fully customable and biodegradable Mg-based implants, but reliable materials and processes are yet to be developed. Hence the properties of Mg alloys are improved through various approaches such as purification, alloying, protective coatings or development of Mg-based metal matrix composites (Mg MMC). Incorporation of carbon nanomaterials (CN) at certain levels slows down degradation, increases strength and wear resistance of Mg-CN MMCs, but a homogenous dispersion of nanoparticles in the matrix remains a challenge. In this context, additive manufacturing also offers significant improvement in uniformity, limiting particle segregation associated with more traditional processing routes.

The aim of the research activity proposed here is a preliminary study of new Mg-CN MMCs prepared via ball milling and SLM. This offers important advantages over conventional processing methods: (i) ability to design complex shapes, (ii) reduced chemical segregation and nanoparticle agglomeration, (iii) minimised oxidation and formation of detrimental secondary phases, (iv) lower time and cost of production. Furthermore, previous works on Mg MMCs identified ball milling as promising route of preparation of starting materials. The hypothesis is that the CN can be incorporated and evenly distributed in Mg-based MMC, by combining ball milling and SLM. In order to optimise the composition and processing conditions of Mg-CN MMCs, the preliminary studies of the microstructure, corrosion response and mechanical properties will be performed. Mg alloy WE43 is chosen for a matrix material in this preliminary study, as frequently studied and promising candidate for additive manufacturing. It is decided to utilise commercial carbon nanomaterials for incorporation in new composites. 



This project has received funding from the European Union Horizon 2020 research and innovation
programme under grant agreement No 857470 and from European Regional Development Fund
via Foundation for Polish Science International Research Agenda PLUS programme grant
No MAB PLUS/2018/8.
Poland
The project is co-financed from the state budget within the framework of the undertaking of the Minister of Science and Higher Education "Support for the activities of Centers of Excellence established under Horizon 2020".

Grant: 5 143 237,70 EUR
Total value: 29 971 365,00 EUR
Date of signing the funding agreement: December 2023

The purpose of the undertaking is to support entities of the higher education and science system that have received funding from the European Union budget in the competition H2020-WIDESPREAD-2018-2020/WIDESPREAD-01-2018-2019: Teaming Phase 2. in the preparation, implementation and updating of activities, maintenance of material resources necessary for carrying out activities, acquisition and modernization of scientific and research apparatus, maintenance and development of personnel potential necessary for the implementation of activities, and dissemination of the results of scientific activities.