State Key Laboratory of Featured Metal Materials and Life-cycle Safety for Composite Structures

Laboratory Orientation

In alignment with several national strategies such as the "New Era Western Development," the strategic needs for national green development, the high-end, green, and intelligent development of industries like the aluminum industry in Guangxi, and the construction of long-lasting high-quality major infrastructure projects for the new western land-sea corridor, this research focuses on the significant scientific issues within the "resource-material-structure" organic chain. Leveraging Guangxi's unique resources and advantageous industries, its proximity to ASEAN, and the university's "Double First-Class" initiative, this research aims to address key scientific problems and achieve technological breakthroughs. The primary focus areas include the green development and utilization of Guangxi's characteristic aluminum resources, high-performance aluminum alloys that can withstand extreme and complex environments, aluminum-steel composite materials, critical technologies for the intelligent and mathematical processing of aluminum alloy materials, and the design, processing, and preparation of metal-concrete composite structures like aluminum-steel, along with their application in major transportation infrastructure projects.

Laboratory Research Area

1. Green and Efficient Development of Aluminum Resources and New Functional Materials

2. Design, Processing, and Intelligent Manufacturing of New Aluminum Alloys and Their Composites

3. Full Lifecycle Safety Design and Theory of Characteristic Engineering Composite Structures

Laboratory History

The laboratory originated in 2005 when it was recognized by the Guangxi Department of Science and Technology as the "Key Laboratory of Guangxi Nonferrous Metals and Characteristic Materials Processing." In 2010, it was approved by the Ministry of Science and Technology to establish the "National Key Laboratory Cultivation Base of Guangxi Nonferrous Metals and Characteristic Materials Processing jointly built by the Province and the Ministry." In 2018, a formal application report for the construction of the National Key Laboratory jointly built by the Province and the Ministry was submitted to the Ministry of Science and Technology. Following the directive from the Autonomous Region Party Committee and Government in 2022, the laboratory was integrated with the construction of the world-class civil engineering discipline to form the "National Key Laboratory of Characteristic Metallic Materials and Composite Structures Full Lifecycle Safety jointly built by the Province and the Ministry." The construction project was officially approved by the Ministry of Science and Technology on December 27, 2022.

Laboratory Team

Since being recognized as a major technological innovation base in the autonomous region and a key national-level platform planned by the university in 2017, the laboratory has seen increased funding and infrastructure development. The university has been vigorously and continuously recruiting high-level talents, strengthening its innovative research capabilities, and expanding research directions in related fields. Currently, the laboratory boasts a formidable academic team led by a member of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, including 4 overseas high-level talents introduced through national programs, 7 “Chang Jiang Scholars” of the Ministry of Education, 4 candidates from the national "Ten Thousand Talents Program," 3 recipients of the National Natural Science Award Second Prize, 6 recipients of the National Science and Technology Progress Award Second Prize, 2 recipients of the National Science Fund for Distinguished Young Scholars, 2 recipients of the National Science Fund for Excellent Young Scholars, 1 candidate from the national "Ten Thousand Talents Program," and 8 scholars from the Chinese Academy of Sciences' Hundred Talents Program.

Laboratory Research Foundation

Since 2018, the laboratory's researchers have led projects that won one Second Prize of the National Science and Technology Progress Award, two China Patent Excellence Awards, one highest provincial and ministerial-level Science and Technology Award, and nine First Prizes of provincial and ministerial-level Science and Technology Awards. They also participated in winning three National Science and Technology Progress Awards. In 2020, the research team on "Key Technologies for Long-Span Arch Bridges," led by Academician Zheng Jielian, received the Second National Innovation and Excellence Award. Additionally, the Pingnan Third Bridge, designed and constructed under their leadership, won the "Outstanding Engineering Award of the China Steel Structure Gold Award."

In recent years, the laboratory has undertaken over 200 national-level research projects and topics, including major national basic research projects, key projects of the National Natural Science Foundation of China, and national scientific and technological projects. The laboratory has achieved a significant number of high-level original scientific research results, such as red mud full material processing technology, high-purity gallium purification and separation technology, green mineral flotation reagents, and high-strength, high-toughness, corrosion-resistant large-scale aviation aluminum alloy material preparation technology. Some of these research outcomes have even reached internationally leading levels in their respective fields.