Dr Chengbo Zhu
Research Fellow

Summary

Dr Chengbo Zhu’s research interest and speciality lie in the additive manufacturing (AM) of metals and alloys. Before joining Brunel University, he worked on a joint industry project supported by Weir Minerals Australia at RMIT University, Australia. In the project, he successfully solved the cracking problem in the AM of white cast irons, which were conventionally considered unweldable. He also designed specific white cast iron alloys for the AM process, making the material a good candidate for repairing and/or hard-facing material. The research accelerated the adoption of this cost-effective manufacturing technique in the mining industry. 

Upon joining Brunel University/BCAST, Dr Zhu is currently working on a project that aims to design a new class of aluminium alloys specifically for the AM process with low cracking susceptibility, refined microstructure, and thermal stability at elevated temperatures. With in situ and oprando synchrotron X-ray imaging and diffraction technique, the design of the new aluminium alloy provides a fundamental understanding of the solidification behaviour of the alloys in AM. The new knowledge and methodology from this research can be used for future alloy development in AM.