Advanced Materials and Processing Laboratory
The Advanced Materials and Processing Laboratory (AMPLab) at Loughborough University is a research group focused on advanced manufacturing and materials engineering, with expertise spanning additive manufacturing, physical metallurgy, and mechanical performance.
AMPLab specialises in the processing and development of advanced metallic systems, including titanium alloys, steels, aluminium alloys, nickel superalloys, and high-entropy alloys. Research activities address the relationships between processing, microstructure, and properties, enabling the design and optimisation of materials for both structural and functional applications.
The group applies a combination of Laser Powder Bed Fusion (LPBF), post-processing, materials characterisation, and mechanical testing, supported by computational and experimental approaches. This integrated methodology enables the development of components with controlled geometry, tailored microstructures, and application-specific performance.
AMPLab’s research spans a wide range of sectors, including healthcare, aerospace, nuclear, defence, and magnetic and functional materials systems, reflecting a broad capability in both fundamental materials science and applied engineering.
Research themes
Additive Manufacturing of Advanced Alloys
Development of processing strategies for metallic systems including titanium alloys, steels, aluminium alloys, nickel superalloys, and high-entropy alloys, with emphasis on Laser Powder Bed Fusion and related technologies.
Process-Structure-Property Relationships
Fundamental understanding of how processing conditions influence microstructure, phase stability, residual stress, and resulting mechanical and functional performance.
Post-Processing and Microstructural Control
Heat treatment, surface engineering, and post-processing strategies to tailor material behaviour and enhance performance of additively manufactured components.
Design and Mechanical Performance
Integration of computational modelling and experimental testing to evaluate structural behaviour, optimise designs, and validate performance under application-relevant conditions.
Functional and Structural Applications
Application-driven research across sectors including healthcare, aerospace, nuclear, defence, and magnetic systems, linking materials development to real-world engineering challenges.
People
Academic leadership and staff
Research focus: Additive manufacturing, physical metallurgy, phase transformations, and process–structure–property relationships in advanced alloys.
Research focus: Additive manufacturing of functional materials, including magnetic materials and advanced alloys, with emphasis on process optimisation and performance.
Research staff and collaborators
Research focus: Laser Powder Bed Fusion of advanced alloys, microstructural characterisation, and mechanical behaviour of additively manufactured systems.
