High Performance Metals & Metallic Compound Research

The high-performance metals and metallic compound research covers a diverse span of applications, from mobile phones to cars, and batteries to paint. The area overlaps with other research fields including development of RF and EM shielding, energy research and electroforming and includes:

New materials for energy storage: Development of new materials with improved performance, durability, and cost-effectiveness for these applications. PI-KEM supplies a range of materials for battery research, including lithium discs, which are used to study the electrochemical behaviour of lithium-ion batteries
Materials for reducing weight or density: Producing lightweight materials for applications such as aerospace, automotive, and transportation. These offer a combination of high strength, stiffness, and low weight which can help to improve fuel efficiency and reduce emissions. PI-KEM supplies a range of high performance metals and metallic compounds, including nickel powders and flakes, which are used to produce lightweight metal alloys
Materials for extreme environments: Synthesising materials that can withstand extreme conditions, such as high temperatures, pressures, and corrosive environments. These materials are used in a variety of applications, including oil and gas exploration, nuclear power generation, and space exploration. PI-KEM supplies a range of materials for high temperature applications, such as tungsten and tantalum, which are used to produce heating elements and other components that must operate at high temperatures

HPMC research is a challenging but rewarding field and is expected to have a significant impact on global economies. By developing new materials with improved properties, researchers can help to create new products and technologies that can make a real difference in the world. The HPMC research landscape in the UK and Europe is highly collaborative, with researchers from academia and industry working together to develop new materials and processes. This collaboration is essential to ensure that the UK and Europe remain at the forefront of HPMC research and development. ‍

PI-KEM’s cross-disciplinary Materials Team have experience in partnering with projects that involve multiple stakeholders to ensure the procurement is co-ordinated, on-time and within budget expectations.

Research Focus
In the UK and Europe, there is a growing interest in HPMC research, driven by the need to develop new materials for emerging technologies, such as electric vehicles, renewable energy systems, and advanced medical implants. Current trends in HPMC research in the UK and Europe include:
- HPMC processing methods: Testing new processing methods to produce HPMCs with improved properties and performance. Researchers at the University of Manchester are developing new additive manufacturing (AM) methods to produce HPMC components with complex geometries.
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- HPMC coatings and surface treatments: Researchers are developing new coatings and surface treatments to improve the performance and durability of HPMCs in demanding environments. An example would be University of Sheffield’s work on investigating the development of new sputter-deposited metallic nanocomposite coatings for surface hardening of lightweight alloys.
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- HPMC Nanomaterials: Devising new high performance metal nanomaterials with improved properties, such as strength, stiffness, and ductility for a variety of applications, including energy storage and catalysis. Researchers at the University of Cranfield are developing new composites using graphene to reinforce glass to reduce the potential of delamination in aerospace, automotive and marine applications.
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- HPMC additive manufacturing (3D Printing): Creating complex metal components with high precision and accuracy allowing the development of new, increasingly complex shapes and structures that would not be possible with traditional manufacturing methods. University of Nottingham Centre for Additive Manufacturing are utilising innovative processes to develop complex pharmaceutical devices and prosthetic limbs.
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- HPMCs for sustainable energy applications: Researchers are developing new HPMC materials for use in renewable energy systems, such as photovoltaics, batteries, wind turbines, and fuel cells. CREST at Loughborough University is researching the development and optimisation of CdTe solar cells.
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- HPMCs for biomedical applications: Researchers are developing new HPMC materials for use in medical equipment and implants, such as orthopaedic devices and dental implants. Novel titanium alloys are being developed due to their high strength and biocompatibility. Portsmouth University Advanced Materials for Diagnosis and Therapy Research Group is currently investigating the use of biomaterials and advanced manufacturing techniques for prosthetics.
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- High-entropy alloys (HEAs): A new class of materials that are made up of five or more elements in equal or near-equal proportions. These alloys have unique properties, such as high strength, ductility, and corrosion resistance. These are still early in their development. The Centre for High Entropy Alloy Catalysis (CHEAC) at University of Copenhagen in Denmark is focused on using HEA Catalysis to allow renewable chemicals to be transformed as an alternative to using oil and gas production methods.
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These are just a snapshot of the exciting research that is currently underway in the field of high performance metals and metallic compounds. As this research continues, we can expect to see the development of new and even better materials with even better performance.