Research Thrusts & Publications
Publications from the research advance sustainable physical metallurgy through the design of impurity-tolerant dilute and complex concentrated alloys for structural and multifunctional applications. The work is anchored in a materials–methods–mechanisms nexus, integrating advanced characterisation, computational modelling and machine learning.
Sustainable Physical Metallurgy & Materials Science
Research Philosophy: The Materials–Manufacturing–Mechanisms (M³) Nexus
Materials define what we make. Manufacturing determines how we make it. Mechanisms explain why it performs.
Sustainable Physical Metallurgy and Materials Science is organised around the Materials–Manufacturing–Mechanisms (M³) Nexus, which is designing the right metallic materials, manufacturing them more sustainably, and understanding the mechanisms that govern their performance. The philosophy is expressed through the vision: Make Better Materials. Better Make Materials. Make Materials better.
1. Circular Materials Design & Impurity-Tolerant Metallurgy Make Better Materials
Make Better Materials by designing metallic materials around resources, performance and circularity. This thrust develops compositionally adaptive and impurity-tolerant alloys—including CCAs/HEAs, steels, aluminium, and titanium alloys that accommodate or exploit residual elements from secondary feedstocks. Alloy chemistry, phase constitution and microstructure are engineered for demanding structural, energy, health and multifunctional applications.
2. Scrap-to-Materials Transformation & Low-Carbon Processing Better Make Materials
Better Make Materials by transforming how metallic materials are manufactured. Scrap, residues and secondary resources are converted into high-value materials through melting, thermomechanical processing, powder metallurgy and additive manufacturing. Processing–microstructure relationships are engineered to reduce material, energy and environmental burdens while delivering reliable metals for structural, energy, health and multifunctional applications.
3. Data-Driven Materials Performance & Mechanisms Make Materials Better
Make Material Better by revealing and controlling the mechanisms governing metallic-material performance. Advanced characterisation, CALPHAD, DFT, molecular dynamics, finite-element modelling and machine learning connect composition, processing and microstructure to deformation, fracture, fatigue, creep, corrosion, wear and oxidation, enabling predictive optimisation of materials for structural, energy, health and multifunctional applications.
The Intellectual Philosophy
Make Better Materials (Structural and Functional Materials): Alloy design • Circular alloys • Impurity tolerance • CCAs/HEAs • Steels • Titanium alloys
Better Make Materials (Manufacturing): Scrap-to-materials • Casting • Powder metallurgy • Thermomechanical processing • Additive manufacturing • Low-carbon processing
Make Materials Better (Mechanisms): Microstructure • Phase transformations • Deformation • Fracture • Fatigue • Wear • Corrosion • Oxidation • Durability
Journal Publications
Peer-reviewed original research papers in high-impact physical metallurgy, materials science, and engineering journals.
2026
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2015–2020
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2015–2020
Book Chapters & Reference Volumes
Invited peer-reviewed chapters and treatises spanning corrosion science, advanced powder metallurgy, and engineering failure analysis.
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Funded Research Grants & Active Projects
Chronological dossier of sponsored research grants, bilateral international programs, and industry initiatives from the European Union, NRF, Mintek, CSIR, SUNY Poly, and MIT.
BUCABUMA: Building Capacity in Circular Natural Building Materials
Intra-Africa Academic Mobility Scheme, European Education and Culture Executive Agency. Focuses on circular natural building materials using frugal digital and traditional engineering innovation, training researchers across multinational African mobility hubs.
NRF Thuthuka Rating Track Grant (TTK250318304827)
Investigating deformation micromechanics, dislocation pileups, and strain gradient plasticity of high-entropy lightweight steels under dynamic loading conditions.
National Research Foundation 'Y' Rated University Support Funding
Institutional incentive funding in direct recognition of national peer-evaluated Y-Rating as a promising young researcher in physical metallurgy.
National Research Funding Y-Rating Grant (RA231031159798)
Competitive national incentive grant for emerging scholars establishing independent laboratory infrastructure and doctoral training pipelines.
Physical Metallurgy & Alloy Solidification Industry Grant
Optimizing inoculation fade kinetics and cooling curve thermal analysis for high-volume grey and ductile iron castings in automotive applications.
Revamping Indigenous South African Foundries
Alloy reformulation and scrap tolerance optimization to assist local SMME foundries transitioning to circular charge materials and lower emissions.
Crucible Funding: Spark Plasma Sintered Cardiovascular Implants
Bilateral grant designing biocompatible spark plasma sintered titanium-molybdenum composites for next-generation vascular stents and biomedical implants.
Establishment of the Global Centre for Advanced Materials & Manufacturing (GCAMM)
Multi-institution initiative establishing cold spray additive manufacturing and materials informatics capabilities between North America and African institutions.
Titanium Alloys & Nanostructures for Next-Generation Biomedical Devices
Electrochemical tribocorrosion and in-vitro cellular biocompatibility of novel low-modulus titanium alloys in simulated human physiological environments.
Irradiation Stability of Indigenous Carbonitriding Agents
Evaluating radiation-induced phase transformations and passive film durability in surface-hardened nuclear-grade stainless steels.
Top Slice Early Career Grant: Complex Concentrated Alloy Tribology
High-temperature dry sliding wear testing and oxide glaze formation mechanisms in refractory high-entropy alloys.
Worcester Polytechnic Global Fellowship Award: Macroscale Superlubricity
Investigating graphene-assisted macroscale superlubricity and environmental barrier mechanisms on structural engineering substrates.
Top Slice Early Career Grant: Low-Density Austenitic Steels
Spark plasma sintering kinetics and Mott-Schottky semiconductor properties of passive films on lightweight Fe-Al-Mn-C steels.
Worcester Polytechnic Global Fellowship Award: Low-Cost CCA Design
Thermodynamic screening and experimental synthesis of low-cost complex concentrated alloys for energy transition applications.
BUCABUMA: Building Capacity in Circular Natural Building Materials
Intra-Africa Academic Mobility Scheme, European Education and Culture Executive Agency. Focuses on circular natural building materials using frugal digital and traditional engineering innovation, training researchers across multinational African mobility hubs.
NRF Thuthuka Rating Track Grant (TTK250318304827)
Investigating deformation micromechanics, dislocation pileups, and strain gradient plasticity of high-entropy lightweight steels under dynamic loading conditions.
National Research Foundation 'Y' Rated University Support Funding
Institutional incentive funding in direct recognition of national peer-evaluated Y-Rating as a promising young researcher in physical metallurgy.
National Research Funding Y-Rating Grant (RA231031159798)
Competitive national incentive grant for emerging scholars establishing independent laboratory infrastructure and doctoral training pipelines.
Physical Metallurgy & Alloy Solidification Industry Grant
Optimizing inoculation fade kinetics and cooling curve thermal analysis for high-volume grey and ductile iron castings in automotive applications.
Revamping Indigenous South African Foundries
Alloy reformulation and scrap tolerance optimization to assist local SMME foundries transitioning to circular charge materials and lower emissions.
Crucible Funding: Spark Plasma Sintered Cardiovascular Implants
Bilateral grant designing biocompatible spark plasma sintered titanium-molybdenum composites for next-generation vascular stents and biomedical implants.
Establishment of the Global Centre for Advanced Materials & Manufacturing (GCAMM)
Multi-institution initiative establishing cold spray additive manufacturing and materials informatics capabilities between North America and African institutions.
Titanium Alloys & Nanostructures for Next-Generation Biomedical Devices
Electrochemical tribocorrosion and in-vitro cellular biocompatibility of novel low-modulus titanium alloys in simulated human physiological environments.
Irradiation Stability of Indigenous Carbonitriding Agents
Evaluating radiation-induced phase transformations and passive film durability in surface-hardened nuclear-grade stainless steels.
Top Slice Early Career Grant: Complex Concentrated Alloy Tribology
High-temperature dry sliding wear testing and oxide glaze formation mechanisms in refractory high-entropy alloys.
Worcester Polytechnic Global Fellowship Award: Macroscale Superlubricity
Investigating graphene-assisted macroscale superlubricity and environmental barrier mechanisms on structural engineering substrates.
Top Slice Early Career Grant: Low-Density Austenitic Steels
Spark plasma sintering kinetics and Mott-Schottky semiconductor properties of passive films on lightweight Fe-Al-Mn-C steels.
Worcester Polytechnic Global Fellowship Award: Low-Cost CCA Design
Thermodynamic screening and experimental synthesis of low-cost complex concentrated alloys for energy transition applications.