The Metal Materials Laboratory was founded in 1978. In 2007, it was separated from the thermal processing laboratory of the former College of Engineering Machinery and incorporated into the School of Materials Science and Engineering. At present, there are six teachers in the laboratory, including three full-time and three part-time teachers. There are one professor, two associate professors, two senior engineers and four doctorates in the teaching staff. The laboratory consists of metallographic laboratory, mechanical performance laboratory, heat treatment laboratory, foundry laboratory, micro-arc oxidation laboratory, welding laboratory and thermal spraying laboratory.
At present, the laboratory has a complete range of tribological performance testing equipment, metallographic experimental equipment, metal material heat treatment and surface treatment equipment. The main research directions of the laboratory are surface modification of materials, theory of wear-resistant composite materials and friction and wear, synthesis and preparation of new materials, advanced joining technology, etc. Especially in the fields of micro-arc oxidation of light alloys, thermal spraying technology and application, design and moulding of light alloys, development and application of high-performance wear-resistant materials, etc. Among them, a new coating system and theory were put forward for metal surface modification and equipment development and application, and thermal spraying technology of zinc-aluminium composite metal coating was developed, which was successfully applied to long-term anti-corrosion engineering of steel structure bridges in China; micro-arc oxidation technology and complete equipment of light alloy surface developed had been applied to aerospace industry. Good social and economic benefits have been achieved in the fields of warships, weapons andmedical devices.
In addition to undertaking more than 8 experimental teaching courses such as Comprehensive Materials Experiment and Welding Method and Equipment for undergraduates of Material College, the laboratory also undertakes 3 public experimental teaching courses such as Engineering Materials, Material Molding Technology Basis and Engineering Materials and Machinery Manufacturing for relevant majors of automobile and engineering machinery colleges, for a year. There are more than 1500 students in nearly 50 classes. The laboratory is open to undergraduates and postgraduates, aiming at cultivating and improving the comprehensive quality of students, actively guiding and encouraging students to use the basic theoretical knowledge of metal materials and carry out innovative experiments.
