Development of high-performance advanced bainitic steels via additive manufacturing

Bainitic steels can be hardened through simple heat treatment process such as air-cooling from high temperatures. This has advantages in reducing heat treatment cracking and distortion, which are one of the long-term challenges in steel parts productions. As a result, bainitic steels ensure high production rate, lower cost and energy saving. 

But bainitic steels also suffer from inhomogeneous cooling on the cross sections for thick parts, which leads to heterogenous microstructure and properties. 

With additive manufacturing (AM), this issue can be overcome because AM is featured with sequential microscale fast melting and rapid solidification within melt pools with size around 100 µm in diameter and 50 µm in depth for the most widely used powder bed fusion AM technology. 

Commonly accepted cooling rate in the melt pools is 104 to 107 K/s. Such cooling rate could be sufficient to enable directly forming bainite within individual melt pools during printing process. 

Because AM parts are built up with such melt pools, as long as the bainite forms within the pools, bainite can be obtained in the entire parts without size limitation. 

Consequently, the microstructural and property homogeneity can also be maintained throughout the parts. Based on this, there is high potential to develop new bainitic steels using AM.

The School of Mechanical and Mining Engineering at UQ has historical strengths in materials research and has been internationally recognised as one of the world’s leading research institutions on metallic materials and manufacturing.

The AMPAM Centre has provides a unique platform for both materials and manufacturing research. 

There are ongoing ARC Discovery and/or linkage projects supporting this research. UQ materials engineering received the ARC ERA rating of 5 in all years. 

The SoMME hosts the largest laboratory foundry in Australia, which can ensure the success of the proposed project.  

There are also a well-equipped mechanical testing laboratory and a metallographic laboratory. 

In addition, UQ also has a world class Centre for Electron Microscopy and Microanalysis that you can access.

This project is supported by the Research project scholarship.

Learn more about the Research project scholarship.

Your application will be assessed on a competitive basis.

We take into account your:

• previous academic record
• publication record
• honours and awards
• employment history.

A working knowledge of metallic materials would be of benefit to someone working on this project.

You will demonstrate academic achievement in the fields of materials/mechanical and/or chemical engineering and the potential for scholastic success.

A background or knowledge of additive manufacturing and metals is highly desirable.

You must submit an expression of interest (EOI) by 12 August, 2026 12 August, 2026.

Before you apply

1. Check your eligibility for the Doctor of Philosophy (PhD).
2. Prepare your documentation.
3. If you have any questions about whether the project is suitable for your research interests, contact Professor Mingxing Zhang (mingxing.zhang@uq.edu.au).

When you apply

To apply, submit an expression of interest (EOI) for the program. You don't need to apply separately for the project or scholarship. How to submit an EOI

In your EOI, complete the ‘Scholarship/Sponsorship’ section with the following details:

1. Are you applying for an advertised project: 'Yes'
2. Project: 'Research project scholarship'
3. Scholarship Code Listed in the Advertisement: BAINITIC-ZHANG
4. Link to Scholarship Advertisement: https://study.uq.edu.au/study-options/phd-mphil-professional-doctorate/projects/development-high-performance-advanced-bainitic-steels-additive-manufacturing

Submit an EOI