Internship - R&D Engineer - Non-destructive evaluation of solutionizing quality of 6xxx alloys - H/F

Category: Engineering

C-TEC RECRUTE

INTERNSHIP - R&D ENGINEER F/H/X

Constellium is a global leader designing and manufacturing innovative and high value-added aluminum products and solutions for a broad range of applications dedicated primarily to aerospace, automotive and packaging markets. Constellium Technology Center (C-TEC) based in Grenoble (Voreppe - 38) is Constellium’ s European research center with 246 employees and 20 nationalities.

PROJECT TITLE: « Non-destructive evaluation of solutionizing quality of 6xxx alloys by electrical conductivity measurement »

6xxx alloys s a family of aluminum alloy widespread in automotive industry (sheets for Body in White, structural parts) and more generally in industry for their good compromise of formability, strength and corrosion resistance while at an affordable cost.

Constellium is one of the worldwide leading companies in the development and production of 6xxx alloys for automotive market, transportation and industry. Automotive Body Sheets are produced in plants both in Europe and also in the US and these plants do product development supported by our 2 R&D centers based in Voreppe (France) and Plymouth (US-Michigan).

As heat treatable 6xxx alloys need to be re-solutionized before age hardening treatment. For automotive body sheets this consists in a flash solutionizing whose parameters are tightly controlling in-service hardness and formability.

The objective is to develop a method for fast and non-destructive evaluation of solutionizing quality and more generally solute elements content through electrical conductivity measurement coupled to physical metallurgy models.

The project has several components:

Make a proof of concept of the method: assess on lab trials to validate that the conductivity measured on as-solutionized samples is highly correlated to solutionizing quality
Generate a conductivity database of industrially processed samples in the US for a diversity of products
Assess the method for this database and check the coherency with corresponding process parameters

The role of the intern will consist, after a first phase of training in our trades and tools, to:

Follow and make analysis of lab trials in CTEC Voreppe R&D center to do proof of concept of the method determining content of elements in solid solution based on conductivity measurement and metallurgical model
Have a 2 months stay in the US in CTEC Plymouth R&D center to generate a conductivity database of industrially processed samples. Some trips to Bowling Green plant (US-Kentucky) may be possible.
Back in CTEC Voreppe deploy method on the samples database. The consistency of the method will by the way be checked by comparing with both expected results from process parameters and mechanical characterizations done in parallel. Adjustment of the metallurgical model may be found necessary and would thus be investigated.

Profile :

Education level: Adapted for a “Cesure type” 6 month period between Master1 & Master2

Engineering school / option required: materials science

Competencies & technical & soft skills requirement:

Scientific skills: materials science, knowledge of metallurgy appreciated
Attraction to modelling / data analysis
Computer skills: Python, Office
Soft skills: rigorous, autonomous, teamwork
Languages: English/French
Mobility : 2 months in the US (Plymouth-Michigan)
Good level of the English language (both written and spoken)