The mission of the Max-Planck-Institute for Sustainable Materials (MPISusMat) is to understand and design materials down to atomic and scales. In this spirit, we conduct basic research on structural and functional materials, mostly metallic alloys, embracing synthesis and processing, characterization and properties, as well as their response in engineering components exposed to real environmental conditions. However, due to their unique hierarchical structure and excellent mechanical properties, biological materials are of great interest to better understand their properties and use this knowledge to design better engineering materials. We work interdisciplinary, with intense mutual stimulation among experimentalists and theoreticians as well as among different groups and departments.
The Department of Microstructure Physics and Alloy Design at the Max Planck Institute for Sustainable Materials in Düsseldorf, Germany invites applications for a
PhD position on designing novel high strength steel with increased hydrogen embrittlement resistance
This project is aiming at a novel high steel concept to reduce the weight of cars. In order to ensure or increase passenger safety, also ductility, toughness and hydrogen embrittlement resistance should be not too low. This might become a challenge, when the strength level is increasing. The project starts with alloy design based on thermodynamical calculations to create a specific steel composition with high flexibility in tailoring the microstructure. A “vessel phase approach” will be utilized to create compositional inhomogeneities. This will support the formation of a refined multi-phase microstructure during the thermomechanical treatment. The main part is basic research to identify and understand the mechanisms of hydrogen embrittlement of hydrogen charged samples. With the identification of weak microstructural features an approach should be developed to increase hydrogen embrittlement resistance. This can be based on well-directed thermomechanical treatments or addition of certain alloying elements or a combination of both.
Candidates should have a good background knowledge in physical metallurgy and at least a basic knowledge of steels. Of advantage is experience in microstructure characterization. The appointment will be for a period of 3 years with a salary according to the German salary scale for the public sector (TVÖD E13). Review of applications will begin immediately and will continue until the position is filled.