DSI-NRF Centre of Excellence in Strong Materials

Established in June 2004, the DSI-NRF Centre of Excellence in Strong Materials (CoE-SM) is a research network which enabled researchers to collaborate across disciplines and institutions, both locally and abroad. The CoE-SM was funded by the Department of Science and Innovation (DSI) and the National Research Foundation (NRF). The CoE-SM had undertook research at eight South African universities and two Science Councils, and was hosted by the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits). These include the University of the Witwatersrand, Nelson Mandela University and Rhodes Universities, and the Universities of Johannesburg, KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo, Cape Town and Stellenbosch as well as the Science Councils: Mintek and the South African Nuclear Energy Corporation (NECSA).

The CoE-SM focused research on a wide range of strong materials, where the various institutions had specific expertise.

Strong Materials are materials which retain their distinctive properties under extreme conditions and have established or potential commercial applications. They are necessary in many components and make a strong contribution to the economy of South Africa.

This research network allowed both researchers and students to access the necessary expertise and equipment at these participating institutions. For example, the researchers at Wits collaborated with specialised experts at the Nelson Mandela University’s Centre of High Resolution Microscopy, to solve both industrially and commercially relevant problems.

The CoE-SM worked with over 50 researchers who supervised postgraduate students and postdoctoral fellows. These researchers were affiliated to the partner universities or Science Councils. Their work ranged from fundamental to applied research. The CoE-SM worked closely with over 20 companies, including close collaborations with Element Six, Pilot Tools and iThembaLABS.

The CoE-SM’s research fields were positioned within six Focus Areas. These were: Carbides and Cermets, Carbon Nanotubes and Strong Composites, Ceramic Materials, Diamond, Thin Hard Films and Related Materials, New Ultrahard Materials and Strong Metallic Alloys. In certain situations, there were collaborations between Focus Areas.

The Schools involved with the CoE-SM included Chemistry, Chemical and Metallurgical Engineering, Mathematics, Physics and Mechanical Engineering. The research methods included modelling with many different codes, and experimentation using numerous facilities ranging from electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, Mössbauer spectroscopy, laser spectroscopy, and thermal analysis. Additionally, there were facilities to manufacture specimens from castings, powder metallurgy, ion beam modification of materials, and selective deposition of thin films. Other topics of research falling under the Focus Areas included corrosion of steels, development of high temperature alloys, the development of cheaper processing methods for ceramics, as well as ceramics for high density energy storage. Research in the use of fly ash (a waste product from coal) for its potential application as an energy-conserving material in efficient buildings, opto-electric applications and energy aspects of hard materials was also done.

As well as the research itself, the CoE-SM is focused on human capital development. Since its inception, over 433 students graduated, and over 655 papers were published. Eight patents have also been fully registered. There were approximately 80 postgraduate students undertaking their research in the CoE-SM each year and several postdoctoral fellows. Working with various companies, the CoE-SM provided a training ground for postgraduate students to either conduct their studies at the universities, or undertake their research with external companies. Students worked with Element Six, Pilot Tools, Sasol, AcelorMittal, Anglo-Platinum, Eskom and SAB Miller, amongst others. Mintek, NECSA, CSIR, SA Welding Institute and NMISA have also been involved with the student’s research.

The CoE-SM established the African Materials Science and Engineering Network (AMSEN), funded by Carnegie through the RISE at SIG, Princeton. This network included the Universities of the Witwatersrand, Botswana, Ghana, Namibia and Nairobi, and the Federal University of Akure, Nigeria (FUTA). AMSEN was set up to facilitate the development of African researchers, as well as facilitating the procurement of essential equipment. Through AMSEN, students and supervisors received broad exposure to knowledge sharing. Where equipment was not available locally, AMSEN students were able to utilise the equipment within the Network.

Researchers within the CoE-SM collaborated to form the Materials for Energy Research Group (MERG), which was a research grouping of materials scientists at the University of the Witwatersrand, who focused on the study and the application of novel materials for energy production and energy storage. MERG comprised researchers from Chemistry, Engineering and Physics. The novel structure leveraged the facilities and the diverse talents across different faculties involved in renewable energy research, which focussed on materials aspects, and allowed for the development of novel technologies from the modelling stage to the final industrial product. MERG had collaborations with Brazil, Italy and Germany.

Since its inception until its closure, for over 19 years, the CoE-SM achieved many successes. Official funding from the DSI and NRF ended in 2022. Several of the CoE-SM Members won major awards: Order of Mapungubwe in Silver, 2005 (Prof. F.R.N. Nabarro), Several were Fellows of the Royal Society of South Africa (Prof. J.D. Comins, Prof. T.E. Lowther, Prof. S.B. Luyckx, Prof. L.A. Cornish), De Beers Gold Medal, South African Institute of Physics, 2006 and Academy of Science of South Africa Science for Society Gold Medal, 2007 (Prof. J.D. Comins), NSTF award for capacity development, 2005, NSTF-BHP Billiton finalist for outstanding contribution to SET and Innovation, 2014 (Prof. N.J. Coville), National Science and Technology Forum “Eskom Research Capacity Developer over the last 5 to 10 years” award, 2013 (Prof. L.A. Cornish), NSTF-South32 Awards Communication and Outreach for Creating Awareness Award, 2017 (Profs. L.A. Cornish, A. Quandt and D. Naidoo, and Ms C.K. Sparkes), NSTF-South 32 Materials for Inclusive Economic Development Award (Special Theme), 2019 (Prof. A. Quandt), Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society FRAeS, 2018, Order of the Star of Italy - Cavaliere OSI (Italian order of chivalry, second civilian honour of the State), 2023 (Prof. C. Polese).

Director: Professor Lesley Cornish

Partners

University of the Witwatersrand (Host)
University of Johannesburg
Nelson Mandela University
University of Limpopo
Rhodes University                                                                       
Stellenbosch University
University of KwaZulu-Natal
Mintek (Advanced Materials Division)
National Energy Corporation of South Africa (NECSA)
University of Cape Town

Support from: iThemba LABS (Gauteng)