The 16th Annual SAIMM Student Colloquium 2019

Posted on October 17, 2019

On 16 October 2019, the students from the University of Pretoria gathered with other students from all spheres of Africa at The Canvas Riversands, Fourways, Johannesburg for the annual SAIMM (The Southern African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy) Student Colloquium to present their research projects.

Universities from South Africa, Namibia and Zimbabwe were represented.

Three final year undergraduate students from the Department of Materials Science and  Metallurgical Engineering in the Faculty of Engineering, Built Environment and Information Technology (EBIT) presented their research projects at this year’s SAIMM Student Colloquium; Shonny Thuketana with her project on Characterization of defects in 3D printed AlSi10Mg l). Handri Steenkamp; The interaction of sulphur with a PGM freeze lining and Ruvette Schoeman presented her research project on Micro-pelletizing of basic oxygen furnace dust to recycle back to sinter plant.

Ms Shonny Thuketana took this year’s prize with her research focusing on the 4IR technology that is growing rapidly not just in the minerals industry. Her presentation considered:

-  L-PBF (Laser Powder Bed Fusion) Advantages

- Ability to produce complex structures

- Shorter time for manufacturing

- Reduction of mass

- Material and cost-efficiency

- >L-PBF Disadvantages

- Residual stresses

- Poor surface finish

- Porosity

- Requires post-processing

Dr Heinrich Moller, Senior Lecturer from the Department of Metallurgical and Materials Science is very proud that the department has taken this sought-after prize for two consecutive years. In the years 2013 to 2015 UP Metallurgical Engineers managed to win the competition for three years in a row and if UP Metallurgy wins again in 2020, this feat will be repeated.

The #StudentColloguium16#MakingMiningMatters#FutureofMiningand Metallurgy was trending at this event.

- Author Emly Nofemela

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