SCIENTIFIC NEWS
AIM-NEXT at EuroPM2026
Budapest, 11–14 October 2026
AIM-NEXT took part in Euro PM2026, the annual Powder Metallurgy Congress & Exhibition organised by the European Powder Metallurgy Association (EPMA) at the Hungexpo Congress Centre in Budapest, Hungary. The project was present in several parts of the congress.
PM Forum Special Session - Monday 12 October, 12:00–13:00
Open to all congress participants, this session gave a general overview of the AIM-NEXT project, its core objectives and its goals. It was a great success and a good opportunity to introduce the doctoral network to the wider PM community.
Poster exhibition - Monday 12 October, from 17:30
Three dedicated posters presented the project’s research, and the doctoral candidates behind them were there to discuss their findings and ideas with hardmetals (HM) stakeholders from industry and academia.
Technical session presentations - Monday to Wednesday
Five technical talks showcased the latest research of our DCs:
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Maximilain Ziegler (DC2): “A Reactive Sintering Strategy to Design Sustainable Cermets”
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Tamhasip Khan (DC4): “Effects of Cubic Boron Nitride Content on Mechanical Properties of PcBN Materials Containing VN/Al₂O₃ Binders”
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Paul Okhiria (DC6): “pH-Dependent Corrosion of WC Hardmetals with Ni-Based Binders in Acidic Chloride Media”
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Fanny Marvaldi (DC8): “Edge Toughness Assessment of Hardmetals”
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Atieh Koochakiabkenar (DC9): “Effect of Corrosive Environments on the Mechanical Behaviour of WC-6Co Hardmetals”
The five students presented excellent, high-quality work and had the chance to exchange views with leading figures of the sector.
We are very grateful to the EPMA for the visibility given to the project and for the fantastic organisation of the event.
Oral conference presentations
Paul Okhiria (DC6) EUROCORR 2026, held 6–10 September in Dublin, Ireland, where he gave a presentation entitled:
"Corrosion Behaviour of WC Based Hardmetals in Oxidising Hydrogen Peroxide Environment"
The work looked at how hardmetals corrode in hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂), a strong oxidising agent. Increasing the H₂O₂ concentration didn't just speed up corrosion — it changed its nature: from mainly attacking the metallic binder to also significantly attacking the WC grains themselves. In a 2.5% H₂O₂ solution, the four hardmetal grades tested behaved fairly similarly. But in the more aggressive 25% H₂O₂ solution, the grades showed notable tungsten release alongside binder dissolution, meaning the WC grains were directly attacked too. This is a clear contrast with more conventional corrosive environments such as HCl or NaCl, where damage is mostly limited to the binder. Interestingly, NiCr-containing grades held up substantially better than conventional WC-Co under these highly oxidising conditions, pointing to binder chemistry as an increasingly important factor as oxidising power increases.
Oral conference presentations
Fanny Marvaldi (DC8) recently attended the WorldPM2026 - AMPM2026 - Tungsten2026 conferences, organized by the MPIF (Metal Powder Industries Federation), held June 25–29 at the Palais des Congrès in Montréal, Canada.
Our fellow attended thanks to the MPIF/CPMT student grant, and had the opportunity to present her work both as a poster and as an oral presentation, entitled:
"Mechanical Microscopy of Hard Ceramic-Metal Composites: From Conventional WC-Co to Alternative Sustainable Systems."
Abstract: The study evaluates the mechanical response across different length scales of a WC-based composite with a γ-phase (mixed cubic carbides) and a Ti(C,N)-based cermet, using a conventional WC-Co grade as a reference. By combining nanoindentation mapping with statistical analysis, the work characterizes the micromechanical properties of each constituent phase, overlaying scanning electron microscopy images with hardness maps to link microstructure to mechanical behavior. The ultimate goal: providing a framework to guide the design of next-generation sustainable tool materials.
Oral conference presentations
From June 17th to 19th, three of our Doctoral Candidates (DCs) represented the AIM-NEXT project at the 10th CIRP Conference on High Performance Cutting (HPC 2026) in Cluny, France.
It was an incredible opportunity for our researchers to deliver oral presentations and showcase their latest breakthroughs directly to the global cutting tools community. Here is a look at the presentations:
Yining (DC7) presented - Surface Integrity Assessment of Post-Treated Al₂O₃/TiCN Coatings for Cutting Tools Applications.
Key idea: We investigated how different post-treatments modify the surface integrity, residual stress state, and mechanical performance of CVD-coated WC–Co cutting tools, revealing the mechanisms that improve coating durability and resistance to crack initiation.
Prabhav (DC5) presented - Machining performance and wear of PVD multilayer TiAlN-TiAlCrN coatings in machining 316L stainless steel.
Key idea: Machining tests were performed on TiAlN–TiAlCrN-coated cutting tools to assess their tool-life performance. The evolution of wear criteria governing tool life was investigated with emphasis on the underlying mechanical and chemical degradation mechanisms.
Xenia (DC10) presented - Towards Predictive Identification of Plastic Deformation of WC–Co Tools in High-Speed Machining, Part 2: Machining Methodologies and Characterization.
Key idea: We developed machining methodologies that intentionally generate different types of plastic deformation in WC-Co cutting tools, identified their force signatures, and characterized their geometrical and microstructural evolution to support future predictive monitoring of tool failure
Poster conference presentations
Fanny Marvaldi (DC8) recently attended the 19th CIEC (European Inter-Regional Conference on Ceramics) Conference, from 11th to 13th of February 2026, took place at the Montanuniversität Leoben, in Austria. She presented a poster entitled:
"Fracture behaviour of hard ceramic-metal composites: Fracture mechanics description and microstructural assemblage effects."
Summary: The study aims to perform a comprehensive and systematic mechanical evaluation of a WC-based system with a γ-phase (mixed cubic carbides) and a Ti(C,N)-based cermet, using a conventional WC-Co grade as a reference. The research includes detailed microstructural and mechanical characterization as well as fractographic inspections. Results validated the applicability of fracture mechanics as an effective framewok for explaining relative differences in fracture behavior attributable to extrinsic and intrinsic features associated with each material's distinct microstructural assemblage.
Oral conference presentation
Paul Okhiria (DC6) delivered an oral presentation last EuroPM 2025 in Glasgow (UK). His presentation entitled, "Influence Of Cobalt Binder Content On The Wear After Corrosion Behaviour Of WC-Co Hardmetals", showcase the first results related to his project.