Chairholders

Profile

Franco Chiesa

Centre de métallurgie du Québec
Cégep de Trois-Rivières

Chair title

NSERC Industrial Research Chair for Colleges in Aluminum Transformation

Chair program

Industrial Research Chair for Colleges

Role

Chairholder since 2012

Summary

The NSERC Industrial Research Chair for Colleges in Aluminum Transformation at the Centre de métallurgie du Québec (CMQ) is committed to assisting in the development of this industry by proposing innovative and realistic technological advances.

In operation for over 25 years, the CMQ has supported the development of several dozens of businesses in the field, primarily SMEs. Building on that experience, the CMQ is well placed to collaborate with SMEs to develop concrete R&D activities, and help implement the results in the production process.

Franco Chiesa, chairholder, has been active in applied innovation in aluminum casting for 20 years; over 80 percent of Mr. Chiesa's publications are in this field. His original research on the heat flux at the interface between the mould and the casting naturally led to solidification modeling. Mr. Chiesa developed correlations enabling the prediction, for the most common cast alloys (Al-Si-Mg), of the porosity distribution and mechanical properties of parts obtained through sand or metal casting and lost wax casting.

An important part of the chair program he will lead is built on this expertise in casting research. The program will broaden the application of those correlations to alloys with very high mechanical characteristics, which are more difficult to implement (Al-Cu, Al-Si-Cu), and alloys that don't require heat-treating (Al-Mg and high-silicon Al-Si-Mg). As part of the new chair program, the researcher will also study new concepts in bi-material assemblies (aluminium-steel and aluminium-copper).

Two new research niches will be developed: aluminum extrusion, a field that is expanding as a result of the increased use of aluminum in building construction, and assembly welding using innovative processes like cold metal transfer MIG welding.

The innovation arising from the chair program will directly benefit Canadian aluminum transformation companies, driving growth and facilitating the establishment of new companies in the field by providing them with strong R&D and staff training support.

Because the CMQ trains Cégep de Trois-Rivières metallurgy and metallurgical engineering students, the chair program will also contribute to the training of skilled labour in state-of-the-art technology. This highly skilled, well paid personnel is in great demand today by companies in the field, and will contribute to the overall vitality of Canadian society.

Partners

• RioTinto Alcan
• FluoroSeal
• IMAC Automatisation
• Technologie du magnésium et de l'aluminium
• Moulage sous-pression AMT
• Lemoltech
• Canimex
• Paber Aluminum
• Thomas & Betts Ltd.
• CIF Métal ltée
• Dienamex
• REGAL

Contact information

Centre de métallurgie du Québec
Cégep de Trois-Rivières
Parc industriel des hautes-forges
3095 Rrue Westinghouse
Trois-Rivières, Québec
G9A 5E1

Tel.: 819-376-8707, ext. 30
Fax: 819-376-0229
Email: franco.chiesa@cegeptr.qc.ca

Website:
http://www.cmqtr.qc.ca