Project description DEENESFRITPL Building phase diagrams for Cu-As-(Ni, Sb) alloys Sulfosalt minerals, from which copper (Cu) is mined, are characterised by high concentrations of arsenic (As), nickel (Ni) and antimony (Sb). However, the properties of Cu-As-(Ni, Sb)-based alloys are poorly understood. As no phase diagrams of such ternary alloys exist, their material characteristics remain widely unknown. Funded by the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions programme, the ASCUNISB project will focus on the physico-chemical properties of Cu mined from sulfosalt minerals. The project will build phase diagrams for Cu-As-(Ni, Sb) alloys by investigating each alloy phase and identifying unknown phases. ASCUNISB will also create a base for new applications, reduce economic and environmental costs, and deliver a database to address urgent research questions by assessing the earliest metal technologies c. 2300 BCE. Show the project objective Hide the project objective Objective ASCUNISB will focus on the physico-chemical properties of copper (Cu) mined from sulfosalt minerals, which are characterised by high concentrations of arsenic (As), nickel (Ni), and antimony (Sb). Despite being the earliest produced alloy, the characteristics of Cu-As-(Ni, Sb) based alloys are poorly understood, and no phase diagrams of such ternary alloys exist; consequently, material characteristics of such alloys are widely unknown. ASCUNISB aims to achieve the following research objectives:1) Build phase diagrams for Cu-As-(Ni, Sb) alloys with 1-5 wt.% of As, Sb, Ni: investigate the phases of each alloy and identify unknown phases with desirable properties; understand initial phase formation, stability, and changes in alloys over the passage of time at different temperatures; explain and predict specific material behaviour during thermomechanical treatment; understand the effects of Ni and Sb addition on parent Cu-As alloys.2) Create a base for new applications: Cu-As based alloys have superior ductility and corrosion resistance than pure copper and other copper alloys. ASCUNISB will provide the data for Cu-As-(Ni, Sb) alloys to enable new applications in material engineering and find modern-day uses for them, and, consequently3) Reduce economic and environmental costs of refining and pollution: through new applications of the Cu-As alloys studied, As, Sb, and/or Ni would not need to be removed from mined sulfosalt minerals;4) Provide a database for urgent research questions in prehistory: ASCUNISB will provide the data needed to assess the earliest metal technologies in prehistory and explain the adaption, recycling, and disregarded Cu-As alloys c. 2300 BCE.ASCUNISB applies an interdisciplinary approach by combining X-ray diffraction (XRD), differential thermal analysis (DTA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), metallographic and chemical analysis (SEM-EDXS, optical microscopy) of Cu-As-(Ni, Sb) alloys. Fields of science natural scienceschemical sciencesinorganic chemistrytransition metalsnatural sciencesphysical sciencesopticsmicroscopynatural scienceschemical sciencesanalytical chemistrycalorimetrynatural sciencesearth and related environmental sciencesenvironmental sciencespollution Programme(s) H2020-EU.1.3. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Main Programme H2020-EU.1.3.2. - Nurturing excellence by means of cross-border and cross-sector mobility Topic(s) MSCA-IF-2020 - Individual Fellowships Call for proposal H2020-MSCA-IF-2020 See other projects for this call Funding Scheme MSCA-IF-EF-CAR - CAR – Career Restart panel Coordinator UNIVERSITA DEGLI STUDI DI GENOVA Net EU contribution € 275 209,92 Address Via balbi 5 16126 Genova Italy See on map Region Nord-Ovest Liguria Genova Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Participation in EU R&I programmes Opens in new window HORIZON collaboration network Opens in new window Other funding € 0,00