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Rolls-Royce UTC

Department of Materials Science and Metallurgy
 

Biography

2011-present: University of Cambridge, PhD in Materials Science, "Novel Refractory Metal Based High Temperature Alloys"

2007-2011: University of Oxford, MEng in Materials Science

Research

Novel Alloys For High Temperature Service

Sandy's current work looks at the development of novel refractory metal based alloys for high temperature applications. Unusual alloy compositions are selected in order to generate microstructures capable of generating good elevated temperature mechanical properties whilst whilst also considering environmental protection. The alloys produced are targeted for high temperature applications, particularly for gas turbine engines, whilst also increasing the understanding of unusual systems with wider applications.

 

Particulate Reinforced Metal Matrix Composites

Previously, during his MEng final year research project, Sandy worked on powder processed aluminium metal matrix composites with ceramic nano-particle reinforcements.

Publications

Key publications: 

Microstructure and mechanical properties of 6061 Al alloy based composites with SiC nanoparticles, A. J. Knowles, X. Jiang, M. Galano, F. Audebert, Journal of Alloys and Compounds615 S1 (2014), S401–S405

PhD student
 Alexander (Sandy) John Knowles

Contact Details

Email address: 
+44 (0)1223 334434

Affiliations

Person keywords: 
TEM
alloy design
diffraction
STEM
thermodynamics
novel alloy development
DSC/TGA
intermetallics
titanium aluminides
turbine blades
metal matrix composites