EVENT DETAILS

Chaos or beauty: Microstructure case histories in designing the face of matter

by University Distinguished Professor Chris Berndt (SEAM Director, Swinburne) 

Moderator: Dr Thomas Pattison (SEAM Postdoctoral Fellow, Swinburne) 

Thermal spray, especially, exhibit chaotic microstructures can be managed and structured on the basis of advances in statistical process control and diagnostic devices. One may claim that thermal spray coatings are the original ‘nanomaterial’, ‘composite material’, ‘functionally graded material’, the first modern day ‘additive manufacturing technology’, and many other materials engineering firsts. Thermal spray rarely needs to be explained to newly graduated engineers. It is predestined to become a ‘household’ word. However, thermal spray, among the portfolio of surface coating technologies, is most often focussed on mimicking the microstructure of bulk materials. Thermal spray opportunities regarding the microstructure include (i) layered microstructures, (ii) composites that establish tailored material properties, and (iii) rapid cooling rates to create unusual alloys with extended solubility. Why are modern technologists missing these opportunities with a closed mindset?

In this presentation Chris Berndt focused on three examples where the unique microstructures created by thermal spray processing confer specific attributes: 1/ High entropy alloys (HEAs): Manufacturing the next generation of alloys for harsh and extreme environments; 2/ Thermal protection systems (TPSs): Heat resistance and high conduction coatings that exhibit functional criteria distinct from TBCs; 3/ Antimicrobial coatings: Surfaces that kill microbes and virus’s are of immense societal importance and economic value. Thermal spray has a positive record for beneficial outcomes.

The traditional, conservative mindset must be, respectfully, set aside. The next generation of coatings and equipment will only be propelled by key learnings that are based on understanding the deep science and technology of these beautiful microstructures.

Professor Christopher C Berndt at the Inaugural SEAM Workshop (2019).

Chris Berndt was the founding Professor of Surface Science and Interface Engineering at Swinburne then elevated to University Distinguished Professor in 2014. Berndt’s professional interests gravitate around manufacturing; especially in the area of protective coatings. He was inducted into the Thermal Spray Hall of Fame in 2007. He was the President of Thermal Spray Society (an affiliate of ASM International) in 2002 through to 2004. Berndt is a Member of 10 professional societies in the materials, mechanical, manufacturing and bioengineering fields. Berndt is an Honorary Life Member of The Australian Ceramic Society. Berndt’s major discipline areas are “Materials Engineering” and “Manufacturing Engineering” with a sub-disciplinary expertise in the topics of ceramics, biomaterials, thick coatings, and thermal spray technology. He is considered a world authority in thermal spray technology where he has provided 1 to 3 day Workshops for the past 30 years. Chris Berndt is the Foundation Editor and now Emeritus Editor of the Journal of Thermal Spray Technology. He has more than 550 publications. He is the Editor/Co-editor of 10 conference proceedings on thermal spray. Berndt has an ‘h-index’ of 59 and more than 12,000 citations to his work. Berndt is especially proud of his students and post docs who have achieved professional prominence and earned good lives over the past 35 years.

Full profile found here.