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Cu-As-Sb system: Determination of phase diagram

Project description

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.

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) and antimony (Sb). Despite being the earliest produced alloy, the characteristics of Cu-As-Sb based alloys are poorly understood, and no phase diagram 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-Sb alloys with 1-40 at.% of As, Sb: 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 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-Sb alloys to enable new applications in material engineering and find modern-day uses for them, and, consequently
3) Reduce economic and environmental costs of refining and pollution: through new applications of the Cu-As alloys studied, As and Sb 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-Sb alloys.

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MSCA-IF - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellowships (IF)

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Call for proposal

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(opens in new window) H2020-MSCA-IF-2020

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Coordinator

UNIVERSITA DEGLI STUDI DI GENOVA
Net EU contribution

Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.

€ 275 209,92
Address
VIA BALBI 5
16126 GENOVA
Italy

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Region
Nord-Ovest Liguria Genova
Activity type
Higher or Secondary Education Establishments
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Total cost

The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.

€ 275 209,92
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