Professor Deliang Zhang
Position: Professor, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, China. Previously Professor, Department of Engineering, The University of Waikato. Field: Metallic materials.
Professor Deliang Zhang is a materials scientist and materials engineer who worked in the Department of Engineering, University of Waikato for 17 years, until moving to Shanghai Jiao Tong University, China in 2013.
Professor Deliang Zhang
Professor Zhang is the director of the Waikato Centre for Advanced Materials. The centre has established close linkages with industrial companies and materials research groups at a number of universities and research institutes internationally and in New Zealand.
Deliang’s career path has taken him from graduating from high school in his hometown in China, to graduating with a BE degree in physical metallurgy from a university in China, to completing a PhD degree in metallurgy and materials science from a university in UK, to taking a few postdoctoral research/lecturing jobs in UK, USA and Australia, before coming the University of Waikato in 1996 to lecture in materials. In early 2013 he returned to China and now works at Shanghai Jiao Tong University, as a Chair Professor and also lead for the advanced powder metallurgy materials and technology research laboratory.
Research tools used in powder metallurgy
To assist with her research studies into titanium-based alloy powders, Asma Salman, a PhD student at the University of Waikato, makes use of electron and X-ray microscopy to probe the structure of the materials she is developing. Tensile testing is also used to assess the physical strength of the material.
Asma explains how she does this and how the information gained can be interpreted.
Point of interest
Can you think of other applications for electron microscopy?
At the University of Waikato Deliang was the leader of a research team undertaking research on titanium alloy powder consolidation, powder metallurgy and powder coating. This research aims to develop new technologies and build a knowledge base that New Zealand industry can use to develop new businesses producing titanium alloy products using New Zealand-made titanium alloy powders.
Technical challenges in powder metallurgy
In this video, Professor Deliang Zhang talks about some of the technical challenges that his research team face. Titanium has an affinity for oxygen, so most of the work has to be carried out in an inert atmosphere. The presence of oxygen in the metal can make it brittle.
Point of interest
The gas cylinders (coloured green) being adjusted by Stella Rayanova, Deliang’s research assistant, contain argon gas, which provides the inert atmosphere needed in the chamber.
Titanium is an expensive metal to produce commercially, and this research effort has established an alternative and far cheaper way to make titanium alloy powders.
Like most research scientists, Deliang is passionate about his work:
Materials research is fascinating because it gives you opportunities to realise your dream of creating new materials and to satisfy your desire of gaining insight into the natural world that controls the behaviour of the materials human society uses everyday.
This article is based on information current in 2009 and updated in 2018.
