Combinatorial Metallurgy for the Development of New Aluminum Alloys using and for Additive Manufacturing (M/F)

Job Description

Missions

This project is funded by the French National Research Agency (ANR) under the Priority Equipment Program for Research (PEPR) DIADEM (Integrated Devices for Accelerating the Deployment of Emerging Materials). Within the PEPR, the DIAMS project aims to leverage artificial intelligence and combinatorial metallurgy to develop new high-performance alloys. The focus is on utilizing additive manufacturing processes to guide and expedite the development of novel alloys, specifically targeting proof-of-concept studies with model systems for aluminum alloys.
Within the DIAMS project, IJL has set up a platform called DREAM (Développement Rapide et Émergence d'Alliages Métalliques - Rapid Development and Emergence of Metal Alloys) which is equipped with a DED machine with 4 independent powder tanks. This equipment can produce alloys of controlled composition at high throughput - it will be at the heart of this post-doctoral project.
Many existing alloys are not optimized for additive manufacturing (AM). Aluminum alloys provide a notable example, where cast or wrought alloys are relatively easy to implement in AM but exhibit limited mechanical properties. On the other hand, structurally hardened alloys possess high mechanical characteristics but are challenging to employ in AM due to susceptibility to hot cracking.
The project seeks to address these challenges by refining grain size, with the addition of Zr being an effective strategy, as demonstrated by modifications to alloy 6061 [1].

Activity

1. Exploration of Large Composition Domains in Ternary Systems (Al-Mn-V, Al-Fe-Zr):
Investigating extensive composition domains and swiftly identifying promising candidates based on fabricability (absence of hot cracking) and mechanical properties (hardness). Aging-induced hardening without solution treatment will also be a selection criterion.
2. Multi-Scale Characterization of the Most Promising Candidates:
Employing various characterization techniques such as SEM/EDS/EBSD and TEM/ACOM for microstructure investigations, and micro/nano-hardness and tensile tests for mechanical properties.
The candidate will benefit from the expertise of IJL researchers and rely on all the resources available in IJL environment.
Collaborations :
Close collaboration with Guilhem Martin at the SIMaP laboratory in Grenoble, is planned. A post- doctoral researcher working on a related subject will use a powder bed fusion process replicator originally developed for synchrotron 3D imaging, facilitating regular exchanges between the IJL (Nancy) and SIMaP (Grenoble)

Your Profil

Skills

- PhD thesis in the field of metallurgy linked to microstructures
- Knowledge of solid-state physics and material characterization. Experience with additive manufacturing would be valuable.
- Good level of English - IJL is a very international environment

Your Work Environment

The Institute Jean Lamour (IJL) is a joint research unit of CNRS and Université de Lorraine.
Focused on materials and processes science and engineering, it covers: materials, metallurgy, plasmas, surfaces, nanomaterials and electronics.
By 2026, IJL has 258 permanent staff (33 researchers, 133 teacher-researchers, 92 IT-BIATSS) and 389 non-permanent staff (146 doctoral students, 43 post-doctoral students / contractual researchers and more than 200 trainees), from some seventy different nationalities.
Partnerships exist with 150 companies and our research groups collaborate with more than 30 countries throughout the world.
Its exceptional instrumental platforms are spread over 4 sites ; the main one is located on Artem campus in Nancy.

Constraints and risks

Exposure to electromagnetic radiation, lasers, powders and other risks associated with the production of liquid metal (high temperatures, inert gases).

Compensation and benefits

Compensation

4258.87€ gross monthly

Annual leave and RTT

44 jours

Remote Working practice and compensation

Pratique et indemnisation du TT

Transport

Prise en charge à 75% du coût et forfait mobilité durable jusqu’à 300€

About the offer

About the CNRS

The CNRS is a major player in fundamental research on a global scale. The CNRS is the only French organization active in all scientific fields. Its unique position as a multi-specialist allows it to bring together different disciplines to address the most important challenges of the contemporary world, in connection with the actors of change.

CNRS

The research professions