Faculty of Engineering Science and Technology
Department of Design Engineering and Materials
Ph.D. Candidate in Novel coating and surface treatment for improved wear resistance (IVT-118/09)


Faculty of Engineering Science and Technology has responsibillity for the following disciplins: civil and environmental engineering, mechanical engineering, petroleum engineering, geology and mineral resources engineering and marine technology. The Faculty has 10 Departments (http://www.ntnu.no/ivt), about 750 employees, 3000 Master students, and about. 400 PhD candidates.
Nowadays, coatings are extensively used for protecting substrates (mainly metals and alloys) in many different industrial applications. For several of these applications, it is expected that they protect the substrate against corrosion attack, wear, fatigue, thermal degradation, etc. The mechanical properties of coatings/materials are extremely related to the wear resistance. The use of classical mechanical methods have been widely used to measure mechanical properties of coatings such as hardness, elastic modulus, residual stress, coating fracture toughness and interfacial fracture toughness (or adhesion energy). There is a need to develop a suitable method to measure the mechanical properties of thin coatings. The proposed method is based on measuring the properties locally, deforming the coating on a very small scale, thus avoiding the influence from the substrate. A convenient way to accomplish this is by indentation testing on a nanometer scale, commonly referred to as nano-indentation, combined with scratch testing.

The use of nanoindentation is growing due to the relative simplicity, but its real potential is still to develop. The novelty of the proposed project is to combine nanoindentation techniques with the Focused Ion Beam (FIB) milling technique. FIB is a unique technique suitable to produce 3D structures in a nano-scale into the surface of a coating or material by using high energy ion beams that can erode localized areas within the sample. By controlling the eroded area it is possible to reproduce any mechanical sample shape, which can be tested by using the nanoindenter.
This combination of both techniques opens a novel and unique wide range of opportunities to characterize the real mechanical properties of the coatings. A deeper knowledge of these properties would allow to a better use of coatings, especially in those applications where high loads must be applied.
This PhD is linked to the FME «Offshore Wind».

Contact persons:
Nuria Espallargas (nuria.espallargas@ntnu.no) and Roy Johnsen (roy.johnsen@ntnu.no).
Salaries, etc.
PhD candidates are remunerated in code 1017, grade 45 – 51 on the Norwegian State salary scale, gross NOK 355 400 to NOK 394 200 per year (before tax). PhD students are normally remunerated at wage level 45. There will be a 2 % deduction to the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund from gross salary.

Engagement as a PhD candidate is done in accordance with current appointment regulations with supplementary rules in force giving guidelines for scholarship appointments in universities and university colleges. The goal of each of the announced positions is to obtain a PhD degree. Applicants are obliged to engage in an organized PhD training program, and appointment requires approval of the applicant’s plan for a PhD study within three months from the date of commencement. A contract of employment will be set up for the engagement period regulating the rights and duties of the PhD student.

The engagement is to be made in accordance with the regulations in force concerning State Employees and Civil Servants.

The fellowship is awarded for 4 years with 25 % duties for the Department.

The position adheres to the Norwegian Government’s policy of balanced ethnicity, age and gender. Persons with immigrant background are encouraged to apply. NTNU’s objective is to increase the number of females in scientific positions. Female applicants are therefore encouraged to apply.

The application must contain information of educational background and work experience. Certified copies of transcripts and reference letters should be enclosed. A general proposal of possible research topics should be enclosed.

An application inclusive CV, grade transcripts and other enclosures should be sent electronically through this page. (apply for this job) Preferably, we want the attachments in one file. Application deadline: October 20th, 2009.