
Overview
Background
Prof Andrej Atrens's research interests are in: the service performance of engineering materials and alloy development.
He received a PhD from the University of Adelaide in 1976, a DEng from the University of Queensland in 1997, and became FHEA in 2018.
His current research projects are in the fields of:
- Mg Corrosion
- SCC
- Hydrogen embrittlement
Availability
- Emeritus Professor Andrej Atrens is:
- Available for supervision
- Media expert
Fields of research
Qualifications
- Bachelor (Honours) of Science (Advanced), University of Adelaide
- Doctor of Philosophy, University of Adelaide
- Postgraduate Diploma in Education, The University of Queensland
- Doctoral Diploma of Engineering, The University of Queensland
- Australian Institute of Physics, Australian Institute of Physics
- Engineers Australia, Engineers Australia
- Fellow, Higher Education Academy, Higher Education Academy
Research interests
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Mg Corrosion
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Hydrogen Embrittlenent
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Stress Corrosion cracking
Research impacts
Atrens has made significant contributions to the understanding of the service performance of engineering materials. This includes:
- Related electrochemical hydrogen charging to equivalent hydrogen fugacity.
- Demonstrated that there is little risk in auto service of HE for the advanced high-strength steels currently used in automobile light-weighting,
- Elucidated corrosion mechanisms of magnesium alloys, stainless steels and copper alloys,
- Developed a model for the patination of copper, and a procedure for an artificial patination process,
- Developed an improved understanding of passivity in stainless steels and binary alloys such as Fe-Cr, Ni-Cr, Co-Cr, Fe-Ti, and Fe-Si.
- Characterised the corrosion reactions, types of corrosion and the corrosion morphologies for Mg alloys and related these to alloy chemistry, metallurgy and microstructure.
- Help to provide an understanding of the biocorrosion of Mg.
- Produced a comprehensive explanation of the strange electrochemical behaviour of the negative difference effect, which underlies the corrosion behaviour of magnesium and its alloys.
Works
Search Professor Andrej Atrens’s works on UQ eSpace
2025
Journal Article
Thermodynamic prediction of alloying element distribution in magnesium matrix composites
Zhou, Xiwei, Yuan, Yuan, Liu, Tingting, Chen, Tao, Wang, Jun, Zhang, Ligang, Wu, Liang, Tang, Aitao, Chen, Xianhua, Atrens, Andrej and Pan, Fusheng (2025). Thermodynamic prediction of alloying element distribution in magnesium matrix composites. Journal of Magnesium and Alloys. doi: 10.1016/j.jma.2025.01.022
2025
Journal Article
Microwave-Sintered Nano-SiC Reinforced 8SiC/Ti-3Cu Composite: Fabrication, Wear Resistance, Antibacterial Function, and Biocompatibility
Li, Xin, Zhao, Ying-Chao, Yin, Dengfeng, Cai, Ying, Xiao, Desheng, Zhao, Ming-Chun, Wen, Cuie and Atrens, Andrej (2025). Microwave-Sintered Nano-SiC Reinforced 8SiC/Ti-3Cu Composite: Fabrication, Wear Resistance, Antibacterial Function, and Biocompatibility. Advanced Healthcare Materials, 14 (6) 2403626, e2403626. doi: 10.1002/adhm.202403626
2025
Journal Article
Insights into nano-ZrO<sub>2</sub> reinforced self-antibacterial Ti–3Cu composites <i>via</i> laser metal deposition: content-optimized bioactive nano-ZrO<sub>2</sub> integrated for wear resistance, <i>in vitro</i> antibacterial and biological properties
Zhao, Ming-Chun, Shi, Zhiyong, Li, Xin, Zhao, Chaochun, Wang, Wenze, Yin, Dengfeng and Atrens, Andrej (2025). Insights into nano-ZrO2 reinforced self-antibacterial Ti–3Cu composites via laser metal deposition: content-optimized bioactive nano-ZrO2 integrated for wear resistance, in vitro antibacterial and biological properties. Journal of Materials Chemistry B, 13 (14), 4353-4373. doi: 10.1039/d5tb00143a
2025
Journal Article
Insights into core-shell multi-structure and strengthening by multi-microalloying (Sc, Zr, Er and Ti) of a T6 treated Al-Li-Mg alloy
Yin, Dengfeng, Zhang, Shenchen, Li, Xin, Yao, Jiangang, Yin, Qi, Atrens, Andrej and Zhao, Ming-Chun (2025). Insights into core-shell multi-structure and strengthening by multi-microalloying (Sc, Zr, Er and Ti) of a T6 treated Al-Li-Mg alloy. Journal of Materials Research and Technology, 34, 286-296. doi: 10.1016/j.jmrt.2024.12.035
2025
Journal Article
Customization and prospects of friction stir processing for improving the biomedical properties of metallic implants for orthopedic applications
Li, Jialong, Zhao, Ming-Chun, Zhao, Ying-Chao, Yin, Dengfeng and Atrens, Andrej (2025). Customization and prospects of friction stir processing for improving the biomedical properties of metallic implants for orthopedic applications. Journal of Materials Research and Technology, 34, 2133-2149. doi: 10.1016/j.jmrt.2024.12.191
2024
Journal Article
Electrophoretic deposition of MXene coating on Mg alloy 2,5 PDCA-LDH film for enhanced anticorrosion/wear
Wu, Yulong, Wu, Liang, Wang, Linqian, Wang, Cheng, Yu, Fubing, Yao, Wenhui, Yuan, Yuan, Xie, Zhihui, Andrej, Atrens, Wang, Jingfeng and Pan, Fusheng (2024). Electrophoretic deposition of MXene coating on Mg alloy 2,5 PDCA-LDH film for enhanced anticorrosion/wear. Colloids and Surfaces A: Physicochemical and Engineering Aspects, 702 135043, 1-12. doi: 10.1016/j.colsurfa.2024.135043
2024
Journal Article
Bio-functional niobium-based metallic biomaterials: exploring their physicomechanical properties, biological significance, and implant applications
Liu, Ziyuan, Zhao, Ming-Chun, Yin, Dengfeng, Zhao, Ying-Chao and Atrens, Andrej (2024). Bio-functional niobium-based metallic biomaterials: exploring their physicomechanical properties, biological significance, and implant applications. Acta Biomaterialia, 192, 1-27. doi: 10.1016/j.actbio.2024.12.036
2024
Journal Article
Enhancement of the corrosion resistance of the Mg alloy ZW61 by dual-frequency ultrasonic vibration
Yin, Zhaoyang, Le, Qichi, Zou, Qi, Ren, Liang, Zhou, Weiyang, Jiang, Yanchao, Chen, Xingrui, Atrens, Andrej and Liao, Qiyu (2024). Enhancement of the corrosion resistance of the Mg alloy ZW61 by dual-frequency ultrasonic vibration. Journal of Magnesium and Alloys, 12 (12), 4887-4908. doi: 10.1016/j.jma.2023.12.003
2024
Journal Article
Recent advances in bio-functional Ta-based bone materials: materials design and bioactivity
Wu, Manyuan, Zhao, Mingchun, Cai, Ying, Yao, Jiangang, Wang, Ping and Atrens, Andrej (2024). Recent advances in bio-functional Ta-based bone materials: materials design and bioactivity. International Journal of Extreme Manufacturing, 6 (6) 062010. doi: 10.1088/2631-7990/ad7b03
2024
Journal Article
Influence of hydrogen fugacity on the fracture toughness and fracture mechanism of a X65 natural gas transmission pipeline steel
Chowdhury, Md Fahdul Wahab, Tapia-Bastidas, Clotario V., Hoschke, Joshua, Venezuela, Jeffrey, Roethig, Maximilian and Atrens, Andrej (2024). Influence of hydrogen fugacity on the fracture toughness and fracture mechanism of a X65 natural gas transmission pipeline steel. International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, 89, 1415-1429. doi: 10.1016/j.ijhydene.2024.09.035
2024
Journal Article
Insight on the mechanism by which microstructural characteristic influenced creep resistance of dilute Mg-Mn-Zn alloys in varied processing conditions
Liu, Haifeng, Zhao, Ming-Chun, Xiao, Zhenyu, Zhao, Ying-Chao, Nagaumi, Hiromi, Sakai, Taku, Atrens, Andrej and Yang, Xuyue (2024). Insight on the mechanism by which microstructural characteristic influenced creep resistance of dilute Mg-Mn-Zn alloys in varied processing conditions. Journal of Materials Research and Technology, 33, 9297-9312. doi: 10.1016/j.jmrt.2024.11.212
2024
Journal Article
Additive manufacturing of high-strength low-alloy AISI 4340 steel with an optimal strength-ductility-toughness trade-off
Yao, Ju, Tan, Qiyang, Venezuela, Jeffrey, Atrens, Andrej and Zhang, Ming-Xing (2024). Additive manufacturing of high-strength low-alloy AISI 4340 steel with an optimal strength-ductility-toughness trade-off. Additive Manufacturing, 94 104496, 104496. doi: 10.1016/j.addma.2024.104496
2024
Journal Article
Insight into nano transition metal disulfides as anode for potassium ion batteries
Pan, Mengqi, Zhao, Ming-Chun, Zang, Qisheng, Liu, Junliang, Atrens, Andrej and Zhang, Fuqin (2024). Insight into nano transition metal disulfides as anode for potassium ion batteries. Energy Material Advances, 5 0120. doi: 10.34133/energymatadv.0120
2024
Journal Article
Preliminary evaluation of the influence of hydrogen on the fracture toughness of a X65 gas transmission pipeline steel
Chowdhury, Md Fahdul Wahab, Tapia-Bastidas, Clotario V., Hoschke, Joshua, Venezuela, Jeffrey, Liu, Ting, Djukic, Milos B., Depover, Tom, Verbeken, Kim, Mcinnes, Lenny, Roethig, Maximilian, Karimi, Amir and Atrens, Andrej (2024). Preliminary evaluation of the influence of hydrogen on the fracture toughness of a X65 gas transmission pipeline steel. Advanced Engineering Materials, 26 (16) 2400352. doi: 10.1002/adem.202400352
2024
Journal Article
Effect of solution pH value on the corrosion resistance of Co-Fe LDHs coating developed on MAO treated magnesium alloy AZ31
Chen, Yonghua, Li, Jiaxin, Wu, Liang, Zhang, Yuhan, Deng, Jiahao, Yao, Wenhui, Wu, Jiahao, Yuan, Yuan, Xie, Zhihui, Atrens, Andrej and Pan, Fusheng (2024). Effect of solution pH value on the corrosion resistance of Co-Fe LDHs coating developed on MAO treated magnesium alloy AZ31. Colloids and Surfaces A: Physicochemical and Engineering Aspects, 694 134220. doi: 10.1016/j.colsurfa.2024.134220
2024
Journal Article
Insight on interfacial microstructure and corrosion characteristics of Mg/Al explosive welded composite plates
Lu, Yuchen, Li, Huizhong, Liang, Xiaopeng, Chen, Zhi, Zeng, Zhiheng, Zhao, Ming‐Chun and Atrens, Andrej (2024). Insight on interfacial microstructure and corrosion characteristics of Mg/Al explosive welded composite plates. Advanced Engineering Materials, 26 (20) 2400754. doi: 10.1002/adem.202400754
2024
Journal Article
Refinement of cast microstructure of A517 steel by addition of TiB2
Liang, Guo-fang, Liu, Yin-gang, Yang, Xian-liang, Tan, Qi-yang, Wu, Tao, Wang, Jian-jun, Atrens, Andrej, Tian, Zhi-qiang and Zhang, Ming-xing (2024). Refinement of cast microstructure of A517 steel by addition of TiB2. Journal of Iron and Steel Research International, 31 (11), 2815-2827. doi: 10.1007/s42243-024-01248-9
2024
Journal Article
Self-healing PEO/MgAlLa LDHs-MXene composite coating loaded with 4-aminophenol for corrosion protection of Mg-Gd-Y-Zn LPSO Mg alloy
Wu, Jiahao, Wu, Liang, Yao, Wenhui, Zhou, Yan, Wu, Mingyi, Yuan, Yuan, Xie, Zhihui, Atrens, Andrej, Wang, Jingfeng and Pan, Fusheng (2024). Self-healing PEO/MgAlLa LDHs-MXene composite coating loaded with 4-aminophenol for corrosion protection of Mg-Gd-Y-Zn LPSO Mg alloy. Electrochimica Acta, 491 144358. doi: 10.1016/j.electacta.2024.144358
2024
Journal Article
Corrosion resistance study of ZIF-67/Co-Fe LDHs composite coating on the surface of AZ31 magnesium alloy micro-arc oxidation film
Chen, Yonghua, Wu, Liang, He, Xiaoxiao, Yao, Wenhui, Wu, Jiahao, He, Yuantai, Zhou, Yan, Yuan, Yuan, Wang, Jingfeng, Xie, Zhihui, Atrens, Andrej and Pan, Fusheng (2024). Corrosion resistance study of ZIF-67/Co-Fe LDHs composite coating on the surface of AZ31 magnesium alloy micro-arc oxidation film. Journal of Alloys and Compounds, 989 174278. doi: 10.1016/j.jallcom.2024.174278
2024
Journal Article
Hydrogen blistering and cracking of high-strength pipeline steel welds produced by electrochemical hydrogen charging
Lan, Liangyun, Zhang, Yiting, Chang, Zhiyuan, Li, Huixing, Yin, Jiyao and Atrens, Andrej (2024). Hydrogen blistering and cracking of high-strength pipeline steel welds produced by electrochemical hydrogen charging. Materialia, 34 102091, 102091. doi: 10.1016/j.mtla.2024.102091
Funding
Current funding
Past funding
Supervision
Availability
- Emeritus Professor Andrej Atrens is:
- Available for supervision
Before you email them, read our advice on how to contact a supervisor.
Available projects
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Thesis Project
The aim is to provide an overview and summary of the state of art and description of key technical challenges, drivers and trends emerging in the technology/sector.
The total topic is huge so it is necessary to target one part. A possible approach is to look at a particular number of sectors. Sectors can be defined in a number of ways.
- Focus on the manufacturing process: Casting, Shaping and forming, machining, Fabrication, Fabrication of microelectronic devices and micromanufacturing, Joining, Surface Technology, Composites, Ceramics, Wood, Concrete
- Focus on the industry or industry sector: Aerospace, auto, microelectronic or consumer electronics, consumer goods etc.
A number of these sectors need to be chosen and analysed. For each sector an overview/summary is to be provided together with the references of where the information was obtained.
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Gas Phase Inhibition of Hydrogen Embrittlement
We aim to understand the kinetics of the inhibition of hydrogen embrittlement in hydrogen gas environments by added gases such as oxygen.
We are building a gas phase permeabilty apparatus capable of operating at 200 C and 200 bar hydrogen
Supervision history
Current supervision
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Doctor Philosophy
Strong Hydrogen-Tolerant Steels via Tuning Nanogradients
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Jeffrey Venezuela
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Doctor Philosophy
Feasibility of the use of gas phase inhibition of hydrogen embrittlement in gas transmission pipelines carrying hydrogen
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Jeffrey Venezuela
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Doctor Philosophy
Hydrogen embrittlement of pipeline steels
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Jeffrey Venezuela
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Master Philosophy
Hydrogen and pipeline steels; orientation dependence of fracture toughness
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Jeffrey Venezuela
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Doctor Philosophy
Hydrogen embrittlement of pipeline steels, subcritical crack evaluation
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Jeffrey Venezuela
-
Doctor Philosophy
The influence of long-term degradation effects on the hydrogen embrittlement of pipeline steels used in hydrogen transportation
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Matthew Dargusch, Dr Jeffrey Venezuela
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Doctor Philosophy
Hydrogen Embrittlement of Additively Manufactured Advanced Structural Materials
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Qiyang Tan, Dr Jeffrey Venezuela, Professor Mingxing Zhang
Completed supervision
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2023
Doctor Philosophy
Design, manufacturing, and evaluations of biodegradable metal mesh implant for pelvic floor reconstructions
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Matthew Dargusch, Dr Jeffrey Venezuela
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2022
Doctor Philosophy
The discharge performance of advanced Mg-based alloys for Mg-air battery
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Mingxing Zhang
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2022
Doctor Philosophy
Hydrogen Embrittlement of Advanced High Strength Steels for Auto Applications
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Mingxing Zhang, Dr Jeffrey Venezuela
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2020
Doctor Philosophy
Temporary Corrosion Protection of a New Generation of Magnesium Alloys
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Matthew Dargusch
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2019
Doctor Philosophy
Exploring Magnesium Corrosion in a Medical Environment
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Matthew Dargusch
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2017
Doctor Philosophy
Influence of hydrogen on some DP, Q&P and TWIP grades of advanced high strength steels for auto construction
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Mingxing Zhang
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2017
Doctor Philosophy
The Influence of Hydrogen on MS980, MS1180, MS1300 and MS1500 Martensitic Advanced High Strength Steels Used for Automotive Applications
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Mingxing Zhang
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2015
Doctor Philosophy
Corrosion and Stress Corrosion Cracking of Magnesium Alloys
Principal Advisor
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2015
Doctor Philosophy
Influence of hydrogen on metallic components for clean energy
Principal Advisor
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2012
Doctor Philosophy
Corrosion of Mg and Mg Alloys for Medical Applications
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Darren Martin
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2011
Doctor Philosophy
Influence of the Applied Stress Rate on the Stress Corrosion Cracking of 4340 and 3.5NiCrMoV Steels
Principal Advisor
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2009
Doctor Philosophy
Metallurgical influences on stress corrosion cracking (SCC) of rock bolts
Principal Advisor
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2008
Doctor Philosophy
A mechanistic Understanding of Stress Corrosion Cracking of Mg Alloys
Principal Advisor
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2008
Doctor Philosophy
A study of the mechanism by which cobalt ions minimize corrosion of lead alloy anodes during electrowinning of base metals
Principal Advisor
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2007
Master Philosophy
UNDERSTANDING CORROSION IN HOT POTASSIUM CARBONATE (HPC) ACID GAS REMOVAL PLANTS
Principal Advisor
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2005
Doctor Philosophy
CHEMISTRY OF IN-SITU PHOSPHATING COATING
Principal Advisor
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2004
Doctor Philosophy
STRESS CORROSION CRACKING OF ROCK BOLTS
Principal Advisor
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2023
Doctor Philosophy
Novel approaches to improve the mechanical properties of a high-strength low-alloy steel
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Mingxing Zhang
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2018
Doctor Philosophy
Influence of trace addition of Be on the oxidation behaviour of Mg alloys
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Mingxing Zhang
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2005
Doctor Philosophy
COMPUTER MODELING OF GALVANIC CORROSION FOR MAGNESIUM ALLOYS
Associate Advisor
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2005
Doctor Philosophy
THE CORROSION PERFORMANCE OF ANODISED MAGNESIUM ALLOYS
Associate Advisor
Media
Enquiries
Contact Emeritus Professor Andrej Atrens directly for media enquiries about:
- Corrosion
- Hydrogen embrittlement
- Magnesium corrosion
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