Prof. Willie B. du Preez
NRF Rating: C
Visiting Professor
Qualifications: PhD in Solid State Physics, Pr Sci Nat (Registered Materials Scientist)
Professional Background
Prof. du Preez’s research and development on metal additive manufacturing is aimed at producing outputs and generating data for the qualification of titanium-based aerospace and renewable energy products. His research on the additive manufacturing of platinum group metals has a similar aim, contributing to the improved international competitiveness of South African manufacturing companies.
Research Supervision and Collaboration (2023)
Key Collaborative Project: Additive manufacturing of platinum-rhodium alloy components for high-temperature applications (in collaboration with Mintek).
Research Projects Supervised:
- Redesign and characterisation of a light aircraft nose wheel fork for production in Ti6Al4V(ELI) via laser powder bed fusion (DEng).
- Plasma spheroidisation and reconditioning of powders for metal additive manufacturing (DEng).
- Development of a numerical modelling design method for artificial trileaflet heart valves (DEng).
- Development of a small- to medium-load-bearing resorbable, bone-regenerating scaffold using additive manufacturing (DEng).
- Implementing digital twin technology for quality control in selective laser melting (DEng).
Areas of Expertise
- • Metal Additive Manufacturing
- • Titanium Alloys
- • Platinum Group Metals and Alloys
- • Process Qualification
- • Product Development
Selected Publications
Highlighting top recent contributions. DOIs are linked for easy access.
Top Journal Articles
- • Dzogbewu, TC and du Preez, WB. 2023. Fused tracks and layers of Ti10Mo6Cu data obtained via laser powder bed fusion. Data in Brief, 46, 108775.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dib.2022.108775 → - • Kouprianoff, D and du Preez, W. 2023. Reducing time and cost of the heat treatment postprocessing of additively manufactured Ti6Al4V. Materials Today Communications, 35, 106186.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mtcomm.2023.106186 → - • Dzogbewu, TC, de Beer, DJ and du Preez, WB. 2023. Laser powder bed fusion of Ti15Mo fused tracks and layers. JOM, 75(8).
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11837-023-05842-2 → - • Muiruri, A, Maringa, M and du Preez, W. 2023. Numerical simulation of the Taylor impact test for laser powder bed fusion parts based on microstructural internal state variables. Applied Sciences, 13, 5372.
https://doi.org/10.3390/app13095372 → - • Monaheng, LF, du Preez, WB and Polese, C. 2023. Failure analysis of a landing gear nose wheel fork produced in Ti6Al4V (ELI) through selective laser melting. Engineering Failure Analysis, 153, 107548.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.engfailanal.2023.107548 →
Top Conference Presentations
- • du Preez, W and Maringa, M. (2023). Accelerating the qualification of laser powder bed fusion Ti6Al4V(ELI) components through modelling and simulation. Ti-2023: The 15th World Conference on Titanium, Edinburgh, 12 to 16 June 2023.
- • Monaheng, LF, du Preez, WB and Polese, C. (2023). Selective laser melting process chain for development of a Ti6Al4V(ELI) nose wheel fork of a light aircraft. Ti-2023: The 15th World Conference on Titanium, Edinburgh, 12 to 16 June 2023.
- • Nkhasi, N, du Preez, W and Bissett, H. (2023). Plasma spheroidisation and characterisation of commercial titanium grade 5 powder for use in metal additive manufacturing. RAPDASA-RobMech-PRASA-AMI Conference, MATEC Web of Conferences 388, 03004.
https://doi.org/10.1051/matecconf/202338803004 → - • Thejane, K, du Preez, WB and Booysen, GJ. (2023). Implementing digital twinning in an additive manufacturing process chain. RAPDASA-RobMech-PRASA-AMI Conference, MATEC Web of Conferences 388, 10001.
https://doi.org/10.1051/matecconf/202338810001 → - • Muiruri, AM, Maringa, M and du Preez, WB. (2023). X-Ray diffraction profile analysis of martensitic Ti6Al4V(ELI) produced by laser powder bed fusion. RAPDASA-RobMech-PRASA-AMI Conference, MATEC Web of Conferences 388, 10003.
https://doi.org/10.1051/matecconf/202338810003 →
