Project description
Engineering sustainable magnesium for a decarbonised future
While magnesium alloys offer unmatched weight savings, their industrial potential remains untapped due to the dual challenges of low structural strength and high corrosion susceptibility. Supported by the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Programme, the CycMag project will design a specialised microstructure that simultaneously boosts strength and corrosion resistance. By applying multi-directional cyclic compression to dilute Mg-Al-Ca and Mg-Zn-Ca alloys, the researchers will replace problematic grain boundaries and precipitates with ultrafine twin boundaries and nanoscale G.P. zones. This approach aims to unlock the full potential of lightweight magnesium alloys for the transport and industrial sectors, directly supporting the EU’s Green Deal objectives. The goal is to make magnesium a sustainable, lightweight engineering solution for a decarbonised future.
Objective
Magnesium (Mg) alloys, known for their lightweight and high specific strength, are critical to the EU’s Green Deal and Critical Raw Materials Act—yet their broader use in transport and industry is limited by low strength and poor corrosion resistance. The microstructure of conventional Mg alloys typically fails to balance these critical properties, creating a long-standing trade-off. The CycMag project aims to solve this by engineering a novel microstructure: ultrafine twin boundaries (replacing most non-equilibrium grain boundaries) and nanoscale Guinier-Preston (G.P.) zones (replacing most intermetallic precipitates). This innovative approach promises simultaneous improvements in strength and corrosion resistance, addressing the barriers to wider Mg alloy adoption.
To achieve this, the project focuses on developing dilute Mg-Al-Ca and Mg-Zn-Ca alloys, leveraging their potential under specific processing conditions. The core method is multi-directional cyclic compression, a cutting-edge technique designed to induce the targeted microstructure. It integrates materials science, mechanical engineering, and electrochemistry: experiments cover alloy design, casting, and thermo-mechanical processing (with a secondment at CENIM to optimize extrusion/rolling), while advanced characterization tools—including 3D microscopy, in-situ SEM mechanical tests (EBSD/HR-DIC), and advanced electrochemical tests—will map microstructure evolution, validate twin/G.P. zone formation, and establish the processing-structure-properties links.
Beyond advancing Mg alloy technology, findings could inform the design of other high-strength, corrosion-resistant alloys. Combining the researcher’s expertise with the support of a leading Mg alloy research group (in IMDEA), the project is well-positioned to achieve its ambitious objectives, thereby strengthening the researcher’s expertise in advanced processing and characterization, laying a solid foundation for an independent research career.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
- natural sciences chemical sciences electrochemistry
- agricultural sciences agriculture, forestry, and fisheries agriculture grains and oilseeds
- natural sciences chemical sciences inorganic chemistry alkaline earth metals
- engineering and technology environmental engineering mining and mineral processing
- engineering and technology mechanical engineering
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Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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HORIZON.1.2 - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA)
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Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
HORIZON-TMA-MSCA-PF-EF - HORIZON TMA MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
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Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) HORIZON-MSCA-2025-PF
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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.
28906 Getafe
Spain
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.