Doctoral student; Licentiate in Engineering Materials Science

Doctoral Student (Licentiate) in Engineering Materials Science

Cemented carbide tools are essential to Sweden's manufacturing, construction, and mining industries due to their exceptional hardness and wear resistance. At the same time, the supply of virgin tungsten (W) and cobalt (Co) is uncertain, and only about 10% of today's cemented carbide tools are produced from recycled material. Increasing recycling is therefore crucial for reducing energy use, climate impact, and dependence on critical raw materials.

The aim of the PhD project is to contribute to a mechanistic understanding of how recycled raw materials influence the microstructure and performance of cemented carbides in demanding applications, primarily metal cutting but also rock excavation. Recycled raw material often contains impurities which can affect the final properties of the product. The work builds on a pre-study in which real-time characterization under simulated loading conditions showed strong potential for explaining how impurities and microstructure govern material behaviour.

The project will be carried out within the CHARM project funded by Vinnova and involves close collaboration with leading industrial partners (Sandvik Coromant, Seco Tools, Sandvik Mining) as well as researchers at KTH and Lund University. It is also linked to Vinnova's competence centre NEXT and European networks such as AIM-NEXT and RESQTOOL. The work includes development of new characterization methods, analysis of microstructure–property relationships, and knowledge-based optimization of recycled cemented carbides.

The overall goal is to enable high-performance tools based on recycled materials, thereby strengthening sustainability, competitiveness, and raw-material security for Swedish and European industry.

Supervision:
Peter Hedström and Lisa Toller Nordström are proposed to supervise the doctoral student. Decisions are made on admission.

To be admitted to postgraduate education (Chapter 7, 39 § Swedish Higher Education Ordinance), the applicant must have basic eligibility in accordance with either of the following:

• passed a second cycle degree (for example a master's degree), or
• completed course requirements of at least 240 higher education credits, of which at least 60 second-cycle higher education credits, or
• acquired, in some other way within or outside the country, substantially equivalent knowledge

In addition to the above, there is also a mandatory requirement for English equivalent to English B/6.

In order to succeed as a doctoral student at KTH you need to be goal oriented and persevering in your work. During the selection process, candidates will be assessed upon their ability to:

• independently pursue his or her work
• collaborate with others,
• have a professional approach and
• analyze and work with complex issues.

After the qualification requirements, great emphasis will be placed on personal skills.