Media

HKU Faculty of Engineering Distinguished Lecture : Applying Nano Technology to Strengthen Metals

09 Apr 2008

Metals can be conventionally strengthened via alloying or grain refinement or plastic straining. These strengthening methodologies always lead to an obvious drop in plasticity and electrical conductivity of metals. Professor Ke LU, Director of Institute of Metal Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, will share with Hong Kong scientists and scholars his team's recent discovery of a new strengthening method for metals and alloys by applying advanced nano technology.

In his Distinguished Lecture entitled "Strengthening Metals by Means of Nano-Scale Twins" to be delivered this Friday (April 11), Professor LU will share his thoughts on the strengthening mechanism of introducing a high density of nano-scale twins in a polycrystalline pure copper to metal or alloy. The method has been proven to be able to elevate the strength of metal or alloy without compromising the high electrical conductivity; while a considerable tensile plasticity and work-hardening rate are also maintained. He will also compare the new and conventional mechanisms via experimental observations and atomistic simulation.

Media representatives are cordially invited to cover the Lecture, the details are:

Date:              April 11, 2008 (Friday)
Time:             5:00pm - 6:15pm
Venue:          Lecture Theatre A, Chow Yei Ching Building, HKU
Language:     English

For further information, please visit:- http://engg.hku.hk/pdf/WM_Lecture/nano_scale_twins.pdf

Brief Biography of Professor Ke LU

Professor Ke LU is the Director of Institute of Metal Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, and the Founding Director of Shenyang National Laboratory for Materials Science. His personal research interests are on nano-structured materials including their synthesis and processing, structure, phase transformation, mechanical and physical properties. He is a member of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the Third World Academy of Sciences, and the German Academy of Natural Scientists (Leopoldina). A globally renowned material scientist, Professor Lu also serves as reviewing editor of Science and editor of Scripta Materialia.

For enquiries please contact:-

• Ms Cherry Cheung, Senior Manager (Media), External Relations Office, HKU (Tel: 2859 2606 / 8208 1686 / E-mail: cherry.cheung@hku.hk ); or
• Ms Veronica Leung, Development & Communications Manager, Faculty of Engineering, HKU (Tel: 2219 4707 / E-mail: veronica.leung@hku.hk)