Dr Lindsey Benson
Position
Research Engineer
Agency
CSIRO
Dr. Lindsey Benson came to the University of Sheffield in 2009 to study chemistry as an undergraduate. As part of her degree, she spent a year studying at the University of Queensland and completed a short research project developing her research skills.
After returning to Sheffield, her master's research – Phosphate ester cleavage of an RNA model compound (HPNPPI) by cobalt-based complexes was completed under the supervision of Professor N. Williams. She then joined the Advanced Metallic Systems CDT and enjoyed outreach projects and public engagement.
Past Research Focus
Current titanium usage is severely restricted due to the cost of the production of titanium metal components. By combining a low cost extraction technique (FFC process) with a low cost near net shape powder metallurgy technique (FAST) there is the potential to drastically reduce the cost of titanium. Further reductions in cost can be made by producing a titanium alloy directly from ore like material – such a synthetic rutile.
By utilising synthetic rutile as a feedstock, there is less dependency on master alloy additions due to the presence of remnant elements within the feedstock, left over from its production via the Becher process. My project is closely linked with technology company Metalysis and looks at the production and characterisation of the novel titanium alloys produced directly from synthetic rutile via the electrodeoxication FFC process.
Key highlights from my research include defining the reduction mechanism of synthetic rutile and determining the mechanical properties of the subsequent synthetic rutile derived titanium alloy.