Foundry Technology Programme

Dr Nawaz Mahomed mahomedn@cput.ac.za the double degree in 2014. The project team is complemented by three postgraduate students. collaborating institutions, as well as industry, and provided a high-end platform for researchers to showcase their projects.

The team members of this research group are Dr Nawaz Mahomed, Mr Llewellyn Cupido (MSc Eng), Mr Jecois Fourie (MSc Eng) and Mr Max du Plessis (MSc Eng).

This programme is funded through the DST’s Technology Localisation Plan, and involves the development of human capital for the foundry industry in advanced foundry-related processes, linked to localisation opportunities in the energy and transport capital projects of state-owned companies.

The current research areas include: Numerical and experimental investigations of directional solidification in vacuum investment casting of superalloys; numerical analysis and optimisation of EB-PVD thermal barrier coatings; experimental and numerical investigations of heat treatment of non-ferrous alloys; and other foundry-related areas. The research group uses specialised software for design and metal casting, which include Magmasoft and Procast, to analyse and optimise a range of casting processes. The programme is part of a national network of expert centres, which include Mintek, the Metal Casting Technology Station at UJ, and the Rapid Product Development Laboratory at SU.

Current research projects include a microsegregation analysis of a large rotor shaft casting used in nuclear power plants, in collaboration with Shanghai Dian Ji University; a study of the integrity of dry storage systems for spent nuclear fuel, in collaboration with Koeberg Nuclear Power Station; as well as a number of other shorter term projects. Three papers were submitted for publication during 2014.

Highlights for 2014

The programme includes a double degree master’s with AGH University of Science & Technology (Faculty of Foundry Engineering) in Krakow. Three master’s students successfully completed

Some of the attendees at the South African Symposium on Metal Casting Technology hosted by CPuT in November