Biography
PhD (Materials Science and Metallurgy) (In Progress) - University of Cambridge, UK
MPhil (Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology) - University of Cambridge, UK
BSc (Chemical Engineering) - University of New Brunswick, Canada
Research
As the climate crisis looms, the aviation industry needs more fuel-efficient gas turbine engines with fewer CO2 emissions. One way of improving fuel efficiency in such engines is to increase the operating temperature. However, the intense temperatures and stresses inside a standard turbine engine would melt or significantly weaken most conventional materials. Therefore, the hottest parts of the engine must be made out of a special class of materials known as the “Ni-based superalloys”, which are distinguished by their retention of exceptional strength and oxidation resistance even under such hostile conditions.
My research focuses on the oxidation properties of Ni-based superalloys by using a variety of characterisation techniques. By employing an experimental methodology guided and informed by thermodynamic modelling calculations, the optimal superalloy compositions can be identified for enhanced oxidation resistance. Novel superalloys can subsequently be developed and benchmarked against superalloys currently in service with the ultimate goal of designing more fuel-efficient and greener next generation gas turbine engines.
Publications
Wo, J.W.X., Pang, H.T., Wilson, A.S. et al. The Isothermal Oxidation of a New Polycrystalline Turbine Disk Ni-Based Superalloy at 800 °C and Its Modification with Pre-oxidation. Metall Mater Trans A 54, 1946–1960 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11661-022-06896-8
Wo, J.W.X., Hardy, M.C. & Stone, H.J. Evaluating Wagner Oxidation Criteria for Protective Al2O3 Scale Formation in Ni-Based Superalloys. High Temperature Corrosion of mater. 100, 85–108 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11085-023-10163-5
Wo, J.W.X., Collins, D.M., Taylor, M.P.,Hardy, M.C. & Stone, H.J. Delayed Parabolic Oxidation via Transient Thermal Exposures on a Polycrystalline Nickel-Based Superalloy. Corrosion Science. 111675 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.corsci.2023.111675
Wo, J.W.X., Hardy, M.C. & Stone, H.J. The Effect of Nb, Ta, and Ti on the Oxidation of a New Polycrystalline Ni-Based Superalloy. High Temperature Corrosion of mater. (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11085-023-10218-7
