Research

Research in the department of Metallurgy is divided into Extractive Metallurgy and Materials Technology. The department has two research centres: Mineral Processing and Technology Research Centre and  Centre for Nanomechanics and Tribocorrosion.

CENTRE FOR NANOENGINEERING AND ADVANCED MATERIALS (CENAM)

The research activities of the Centre for Nanoengineering and Advanced Materials (CeNAM) are geared towards designing, developing and rapidly producing innovative materials with improved properties for a wide range of industrial sectors ranging from automotive, healthcare, energy, environment to water and food security. Our research strategy involves exploring new lightweight materials systems with enhanced engineering properties and insight into improving the properties of existing materials through computational materials design and modelling, fabrication and structural manipulations.

Our Research Centre is:

• Providing enabling infrastructure for fundamental and applied interdisciplinary research in the field of processing and nano-micro scale testing of nanoengineered and advanced materials.
• Enhancing skill training, capacity building and research opportunities for students, scientists and engineers, in the exciting areas of nanoengineered and advanced materials s.

The Centre has well-resourced laboratories that are fully equipped with state-of-the-art research facilities including high-resolution scanning electron microscope with EDS/EBSD and multistage materials testing systems, confocal Raman profilometry and atomic force microscopy system, , ultra-nanoindentation system, tribological and tribocorrosion testing systems, electrochemical corrosion measurement systems, micro and macro hardness testers, micro-tensile testing systems and computational materials modelling workstations.

The Centre has a shared-facilities partnership with the Institute for Nanoengineering research at TUT where the innovative Hybrid Spark Plasma Sintering system and other powder metallurgy facilities are housed.

MINERAL PROCESSING AND TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH CENTRE (MPTRC)

The MPTRC is a multidisciplinary mineral technology research centre with a focus on mineral beneficiation, value addition, circular economy, waste-to-energy and industry symbiosis for a sustained low carbon economy Transition. Our values are anchored in sustained, impactful and fit for purpose interventions in the mineral and process industry for a re-imagined future through 4 IR applications. Our researchers have collaborations in industries, universities and research institutes locally and internationally, and consistently contribute through diligent investigations in finding solutions to industrial and societal problems; generate research outputs such as patents, books, book chapters and journal articles with accredited publishers. To reinforce and consolidate research capacity, we are committed toward the training of postgraduate students and postdoctoral fellows who are from various sphere of our society and diverse background. Our research activities are driven by the following objectives:

• Establish an International Research Centre for knowledge and skill interchange in the field of processing micro-nano scale testing of advanced and nanoengineered materials.
• Provide enabling infrastructure for fundamental and applied interdisciplinary nanomaterials research in the sciences and engineering.
• Enhance skill training and research opportunities for students, scientists and engineers, in the emerging areas of advanced materials, nanomechanics and tribocorrosion techniques.
• Facilitate knowledge transfer between academia and industry/business through dissemination, promotion and commercialisation of innovations and inventions.
• Offer consultancy services and advice in technology development and solving complex industrial problems.

The MPTRC welcome visiting scholars who share our vision and are willing to exchange knowledge in order to achieve common goals.