Project Title: Design of Improved Metallic Glasses

Acronym: METGLAS

Principal Investigator: dr Silvia Bonfanti

Contract number: FENG.02.02-IP.05-0177/23

Project Type: FIRST TEAM program by the Foundation for Polish Science, co-financed by the European Union under Priority 2 of the European Funds for Smart Economy Programme 2021–2027 (FENG)

Duration: 01.01.2025 - 31.12.2028

Funding Amount: 4 000 000,00 PLN

Total Project Cost: 4 000 000,00 PLN

Description:

Metallic glasses are considered some of the most innovative materials due to their unique properties. They are useful in many industries, but their complex composition and production processes pose significant challenges. This project proposes a modern approach utilizing materials informatics and aims to develop new computational methods for designing durable metallic glasses.

The process will be conducted in collaboration with an international scientific partner, Prof. Michael Falk from Johns Hopkins University (USA), who will provide expert knowledge in material modeling. Computational results will be experimentally verified. The synthesis of materials is planned using magnetic field-assisted sputtering of thin films, which will then be studied via nanoindentation at the National Centre for Nuclear Research (NCBJ).

A key strategy is the establishment of a team at NCBJ specializing in additive manufacturing (AM), which requires acquiring a state-of-the-art 3D printer essential for timely project execution and producing the material on a more realistic scale. Collaboration with a domestic industrial partner, AMAZEMET, is crucial due to their in-depth expertise in AM methods, particularly in the production of specialized metallic powders.

The direct outcomes of the project will be (i) the production of new metallic glasses with potential applications in sectors such as aerospace, automotive, consumer electronics, and healthcare, and (ii) advancements in the use of AM technology for manufacturing compositionally complex materials.