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Once again this year, the Metallurgy Group actively participated in MECSPE, the international trade fair for the manufacturing industry, held at Bologna Fiere from March 5 to 7.

On Friday, March 7, our professor Mattia Merlin was a key speaker in a seminar titled Microstruttura e trattamento termico: una sfida per il futuro della manifattura additiva, which was part of a series of talks promoted by Associazione Meccanica on the theme la sfida della manifattura additiva di materiali metallici: ricerca e innovazione nelle università dell’Emilia-Romagna. Several recent case studies were presented, resulting from collaborations with both the industrial sector and academia, focusing on heat treatment and its consequent effects on the microstructural characteristics and mechanical properties of ferrous and non-ferrous metal alloys produced through additive manufacturing.

The seminar was also an opportunity to highlight the results of two POR FERS projects from the Emilia-Romagna Region, in which Professor Merlin has played and continues to play a key role as a representative of the IN4 laboratory (formerly MECHLAV) at the Ferrara Technopole. Specifically, these projects include RIMMEL “RIvestimenti Multi-funzionali e multi-scala, per componenti MEccanici in acciaio e Leghe di alluminio fabbricati con additive manufacturing”, which concluded in 2022, and ALERT “Leghe di ALluminio per componenti soggetti a fatica E fretting: Rivestimenti e Trattamenti superficiali integrati”, which is currently ongoing.

On the same day, our professor Annalisa Fortini organized an educational visit for students of the Metallografia e Failure Analysis course in the Mechanical Engineering program. The visit included stops at several booths of major suppliers of metallographic preparation equipment and consumables, as well as testing instruments for mechanical evaluations of metallic materials. This experience allowed students to interact directly with industry experts, explore new techniques, and deepen their knowledge in a field of growing importance for companies.

Once again, participation in MECSPE proved to be a valuable opportunity for discussion and development, strengthening the connection between academic research and industrial innovation in the field of Metallurgy.

On Thursday, February 27, the students of the Metallurgy II course, taught by Prof. Mattia Merlin, attended a technical seminar organized in collaboration with IIS – the Italian Institute of Welding.

The seminar, led by Eng. Giovanni Garbarino, explored the topic of metallurgy and weldability of structural steels and austenitic stainless steels, providing students with a valuable learning opportunity and the chance to engage with an industry expert.

A heartfelt thank you to the Italian Institute of Welding for their valuable collaboration and for the insightful presentation.

On the occasion of the International Day of Women and Girls in Science, the Tecnopolo of Ferrara hosted the event ResearcHER on the afternoon of Tuesday, February 18 - a special meeting dedicated to the students of Liceo L. Ariosto in Ferrara.

The event opened with a presentation of the Tecnopolo by Manager Angela Princi, followed by a series of testimonials from female researchers who shared their journeys in science and innovation. Among them, our Associate Professor Annalisa Fortini introduced the Metallurgy Laboratory of the Department of Engineering, offering students a unique opportunity to explore firsthand the practical applications of metallurgy and the research conducted within our group. The enthusiasm and active participation of the students made the event a valuable moment of exchange and reflection, with the goal of sparking their curiosity and guiding them toward informed choices for their future.

A special thanks to the Tecnopolo of Ferrara for organizing this event, which allowed students to engage with the world of research and innovation in a tangible and inspiring way.

We are pleased to announce the publication of the manual 'Principles and applications of thermal analysis for aluminium alloys' an extraordinary achievement resulting from years of study, research, and practical application. 

The work, published by the Italian Metallurgical Association, is signed by Annalisa Fortini, lecturer in our Metallography and Failure Analysis course, alongside Marialaura Tocci and Andrea Manente. This volume represents a fundamental contribution both scientifically and practically, aiming to provide a clear and accessible reference for those wishing to approach or deepen the topic of thermal analysis in the context of aluminum alloys. 

Mr. Davide Maghini, currently a first-year PhD student in Metallurgy in our Department's PhD programme in Engineering Sciences, has won the study grant offered by ASSOFOND for his experimental thesis entitled "Influence of solidification rate on the low cycle fatigue behaviour of a heat treated AlSi7MgCu3 cast alloy: an in-situ investigation".

ASSOFOND study grants are reserved for recent graduates who have defended their Master's thesis on innovative topics in the foundry sector (metallurgy, plant engineering, design, simulation, environmental and energy sustainability).

On Friday, 29 November 2024, at Villa Fenaroli in Rezzato (BS), during the in-person session of the 37th ASSOFOND Technical Foundry Conference, Mr. Davide Maghini was awarded by Professor Giovanni Caironi, president of the AIM-Assofond Foundry Study Centre.

The supervisor, Professor Mattia Merlin, together with the co-supervisors, Engineer Annalisa Fortini and Engineer Toni Bogdanoff, and the entire metallurgy group, congratulate Mr. Davide Maghini on this well-deserved award.

On Friday, 6th December 2024, Master's degree students in Mechanical Engineering, attending the course on Metallurgical Processes and Product Innovation (lectured by our esteemed Professor of Metallurgy, Mattia Merlin), undertook an educational visit to Arvedi Steelworks in Cremona. Arvedi Steelworks is a leading producer of flat steel products using ISP (In-line Strip Production) and ESP (Endless Strip Production) technology.

The students were welcomed in the morning by Arvedi's personnel with a theoretical introduction to the innovative aspects of steel production at the Cremona plant, as well as a technical in-depth analysis of the operation of the melting furnaces. Subsequently, during the visit, students had the opportunity to witness the production of coils, starting from the melting of scrap, treatment in a ladle furnace, continuous casting, and then observing how, in just 180 metres, liquid steel can be transformed into high-quality coils through a continuous process. The visit continued in the afternoon at the finishing lines, which include the stages of cold deformation, pickling, galvanizing, and painting.

Various metallurgical aspects related to the production and transformation of steel emerged prominently during the visit, allowing students to delve deeper into many of the topics covered in the Metallurgical Processes and Product Innovation course.

We would like to thank President Giovanni Arvedi for this opportunity, the Arvedi Steelworks staff for their hospitality, and in particular, Engineer Roberto Venturini and Engineer Lorenzo Zanaboni for their professionalism and for all the technical insights provided.

On Friday 22nd November 2024, Master's students in Mechanical Engineering, attending the course on Metallurgical Processes and Product Innovation (lectured by our esteemed metallurgy professor, Mattia Merlin), undertook an educational visit to Fonderia S. Possidonio Srl in San Possidonio (MO). The Foundry, part of the Gruppo Mazzucconi, is a leader in the production of low-pressure aluminium alloy castings for the automotive sector.

During the visit, students were guided through a tour that allowed them to witness the practical application of aluminium foundry processes, thus enabling them to translate and personally understand many of the topics covered during the lectures. In particular, they were able to observe the production lines for an engine block and a structural chassis component that the company produces for renowned European automotive brands. Starting from the melting and preparation of the alloy, students were able to follow the various stages of the production process, including moulding, extraction of castings from the mould, fettling and mechanical machining, radiographic inspections, and the final stages of heat treatment and non-destructive testing with penetrant liquids.

The Plant Manager, Engineer Roberto Spagnolo, is thanked for his hospitality. A special thanks goes to Engineer Michele Digiesi for his professionalism demonstrated during the visit.

On Friday, 25th October 2024, Master's students in Mechanical Engineering, attending the course on Metallurgical Processes and Product Innovation (taught by our esteemed Professor of Metallurgy, Mattia Merlin), undertook an educational visit to the AFV BELTRAME Steel Mill in Altavilla Vicentina (VI).

AFV BELTRAME is synonymous with excellence and innovation in the production of merchant bars and special profiles for a wide range of applications, including construction, shipbuilding, as well as mechanical engineering, oil & gas, and energy sectors.

During the first part of the visit, students had the opportunity to witness the production of steel billets, starting from the selection of scrap metal in the 'scrap yard', through the melting of the scrap in a furnace, the treatment of liquid steel in a ladle furnace, to the continuous casting process with free or protected jet. The visit then continued along the heating and hot rolling lines that transform the newly produced billets into various sections of rolled or profiled products, which are subsequently packaged and prepared for shipment.

Numerous metallurgical aspects related to the production and processing of steel emerged prominently during the visit, allowing for a deeper understanding of many of the topics covered in the Metallurgical Processes and Product Innovation course.

We would like to thank Leonardo Princic and Alessia De Luca for their hospitality and for organising the visit. Additionally, a special thank you goes to the quality department staff who, during the plant tour, demonstrated passion and professionalism, always being available to provide students with numerous technical insights.

From 11th to 13th September 2024, our Department's Metallurgy Research Group participated in the 40th AIM National Conference, organised by the Italian Association of Metallurgy at the School of Engineering and Basic Sciences of the University of Naples Federico II.

The opening ceremony was held in the Great Hall of the Naples East Complex of the University of Naples Federico II, where the 'Premio Aldo Daccò 2024' award was presented. The award was jointly won by our researcher, Cindy Morales, and Andrea Bongiovanni from the Polytechnic of Turin.

Furthermore, our Professor Gian Luca Garagnani received a significant recognition for his active contribution to the Italian Association of Metallurgy, culminating years of distinguished service as a Metallurgy lecturer.

During the Conference, the group's professors, researchers, research associates and scholarship holders had the opportunity to present seven oral papers on research in the fields of tribology and wear, sustainability of cast aluminium alloys, shape memory NiTi alloys for biomedical applications, and sintered steels, areas in which the group is actively engaged.