International awards for Swinburne High Temperature Processing group
In Summary
Researchers from Swinburne University of Technology’s High Temperature Processing Group have been recognised for their work with two awards from international materials engineering associations.
Research teams led by Associate Professor Akbar Rhamdhani have been awarded the 2015 Marcus A Grossmann Young Author Award by ASM International, USA, and the 2015 Mann Redmayne Award by the Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining in the UK.
The 2015 Marcus A Grossmann Young Author Award has been awarded to Dr Abdul Khaliq, Associate Professor Rhamdhani, Professor Geoff Brooks and Dr John Grandfield for their paper on the removal of vanadium from molten aluminium.
Vanadium is an impurity found in aluminium that can significantly reduce its electrical conductivity. This is critical for electrical grade applications, such as overhead transmission cables, which require vanadium to be removed from the aluminium.
The paper details how vanadium reacts with boron in aluminium as an approach for its removal in an industrial process. It also describes industrial trials in an aluminium smelter and provides a detailed strategy for improving the process and reducing costs.
The 2015 Mann Redmayne Award was awarded to Mr Sazzad Ahmad, Associate Professor Akbar Rhamdhani, Dr Mark Pownceby and Mr Warren Bruckard for their paper Thermodynamic assessment and experimental study of sulphidation of ilmenite and chromite.
The paper evaluates conditions for the selective reaction of impurities that exist in weathered titanium ores. This work will aid the development of a new separation technique to remove target impurities from titanium.
“The development of this process means that we can unlock the potential of untapped low grade titanium ores in the Murray Basin and help maintain Australia as a major world producer of heavy minerals from mineral sands,” Associate Professor Rhamdhani said.
The projects are collaborations between Swinburne and CastCRC and Swinburne and CSIRO, respectively.
“These projects are good examples of collaborative fundamental research focused on providing solutions to industrial problems,” Associate Professor Rhamdhani said.
ASM International is the world's largest association of metals-centric materials engineers and scientists stimulating innovation and exploring solutions to problems around the world.
The Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining (IOM3) is a leading authority in the worldwide materials and mining community.
The awards will be presented later this year in the United States and The United Kingdom.
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