Near-net-shape forming of copper/diamond composites
Subject(s)Engineering.
DegreeDoctor of Philosophy
SupervisorProfessor Fei Yang
About this opportunity
Applicants for this opportunity must be eligible for Omani Ministry of Higher Education, Research and Innovation funding.
Copper/diamond composites have significant potential as next-generation heat-sink materials, offering thermal conductivities exceeding 600 W/(m·K) and coefficients of thermal expansion that can be tailored to match those of commercial integrated-circuit (IC) chip materials (4–6 × 10⁻⁶ K⁻¹). These composites are promising for a wide range of applications, including large-scale AI computing, wireless communications, semiconductor laser submounts, power transistor substrates, high-power LED chips, and medical radio-frequency imaging systems.
However, the exceptional hardness of diamond makes machining diamond-reinforced materials challenging and costly. Building on insights gained from our previous research, this project will develop a near-net-shape forming technology for the fabrication of copper/diamond composites. PhD candidate needs systematically investigate the effects of key processing parameters on the microstructure and performance of the fabricated composites, as well as the underlying mechanisms governing these relationships, using a combination of experimental and simulation approaches.
Location
The University of Waikato, Hamilton campus, New Zealand.
Scholarship Value
This opportunity is intended only for applicants eligible or intending to apply through the Omani Ministry of Higher Education, Research and Innovation scholarship pathway. No University, supervisor-held or project-specific funding is currently available to support this PhD outside that scholarship pathway.
Non-Omani students are welcome to apply for the opportunity but the funded opportunity is available only to Omani applicants through the Omani Ministry scholarship pathway.
Eligibility
The successful applicant should be eligible to enrol at the University of Waikato (please check PhD enrolment requirements at: (https://calendar.waikato.ac.nz/regulations/higher/phd).
Candidates should hold a Master's degree in Materials Science, Materials and Process Engineering, Mechanical, or a closely related discipline. Applicants are expected to have experience in finite element analysis (FEA) modelling using software such as ANSYS, Abaqus, or equivalent platforms, and possess strong analytical and problem-solving skills.