| NRF RATING | C |
| DESIGNATION | Visiting Professor |
| QUALIFICATIONS | PhD in Solid State PhysicsPr Sci Nat (Registered Materials Scientist) |
| PORTFOLIO | 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 additive manufacturing of platinum group metals has a similar aim. This work is contributing to improved international competitiveness of South African manufacturing companies.
Research projects supervised during 2023:- Redesign and characterisation of the nose wheel fork of a light aircraft for production in Ti6Al4V(ELI) through laser powder bed fusion (DEng study).
- Plasma spheroidization and reconditioning of powders for metal additive manufacturing (DEng study).
- Development of a numerical modelling design method for the local production of artificial trileaflet heart valves with hydrodynamic performance similar to native valves (DEng study).
- Development of a small- to medium-load-bearing resorbable, bone-regenerating scaffold using additive manufacturing (DEng study).
- Implementing digital twin technology for quality control in selective laser melting (DEng study).
- Process validation of external dental prostheses produced using laser powder bed fusion of CoCr alloys (DEng study).
- Performance assessment of a Ti6I4V(ELI) light aircraft nose wheel fork produced through laser powder bed fusion (MEng study).
- Metal additive manufacturing of Ti6Al4V from blended elemental powders (MEng study).
- Formulation and production of an additively manufactured Ti6Al4V(ELI) composite with enhanced mechanical properties (MEng Study).
Collaborative project with Mintek
Additive manufacturing of platinum-rhodium alloy components for high temperature applications |
| AREAS OF EXPERTISE | Metal additive manufacturingTitanium alloysPlatinum group metals and alloysProcess qualificationProduct development |
| PUBLICATIONS | 2023 journal publications- Thywill Cephas Dzogbewu, Willie Bouwer du Preez, Fused tracks and layers of Ti10Mo6Cu data obtained via laser powder bed fusion, Data in Brief 46 (2023), 108775, doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dib.2022.108775
- Dean Kouprianoff and Willie du Preez, Reducing Time and Cost of the Heat Treatment Postprocessing of Additively Manufactured Ti6Al4V, Materials Today Communications 35 (2023) 106186, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mtcomm.2023.106186
- Thywill Cephas Dzogbewu, Deon Johan de Beer and Willie Bouwer du Preez, Laser powder bed fusion of Ti15Mo fused tracks and layers, JOM 75(8) (2023) https://doi.org/10.1007/s11837-023-05842-2
- Amos Muiruri, Maina Maringa and Willie du Preez, Numerical Simulation of the Taylor Impact Test for Laser Powder Bed Fusion Parts Based on Microstructural Internal State Variables, Appl. Sci. 2023, 13, 5372. https://doi.org/10.3390/app13095372
- Lehlohonolo Francis Monaheng, Willie Bouwer du Preez & Claudia Polese, Failure analysis of a landing gear nose wheel fork produced in Ti6Al4V (ELI) through selective laser melting, Engineering Failure Analysis 153 (2023) 107548 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.engfailanal.2023.107548
- L Masheane, W du Preez and J Combrinck, Implementation of a digital twinning approach to improve designs of polyurethane heart valves, South African Journal of Industrial Engineering, Dec 2023, Vol 34(4), pp 104-115. http://dx.doi.org//10.7166/34-4-2982
- M Moletsane, W du Preez, D de Beer and S Nkhwa, Characterisation of bone-regenerating scaffolds produced through lithography-based ceramic manufacturing, South African Journal of Industrial Engineering, Dec 2023, Vol 34(4), pp 47-58. http://dx.doi.org//10.7166/34-4-2984
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| PRESENTED CONFERENCES, SEMINARS, WORKSHOPS | 2023 conference publications- Willie du Preez and Maina Maringa, Accelerating the Qualification of Laser Powder Bed Fusion Ti6Al4V(ELI) Components through Modelling and Simulation, Ti-2023 The 15th World Conference on Titanium, Edinburgh International Conference Centre, 12 – 16 June 2023
- Lehlohonolo Francis Monaheng, Willie Bouwer du Preez and Claudia Polese, 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 International Conference Centre, 12 – 16 June 2023
- Nthateng Nkhasi, Willie du Preez and Hertzog Bissett, Plasma spheroidisation and characterisation of commercial titanium grade 5 powder for use in metal additive manufacturing, 2023 RAPDASA-RobMech-PRASA-AMI Conference, MATEC Web of Conferences 388, 03004 (2023). eISSN: 2261-236X https://doi.org/10.1051/matecconf/202338803004
- K. Thejane, W.B. du Preez, G. J. Booysen, Implementing digital twinning in an additive manufacturing process chain, 2023 RAPDASA-RobMech-PRASA-AMI Conference, MATEC Web of Conferences 388, 10001 (2023). eISSN: 2261-236X https://doi.org/10.1051/matecconf/202338810001
- A.M. Muiruri, M Maringa, W. B du Preez, X-Ray diffraction profile analysis of martensitic Ti6Al4V(ELI) produced by laser powder bed fusion, 2023 RAPDASA-RobMech-PRASA-AMI Conference, MATEC Web of Conferences 388, 10003 (2023). eISSN: 2261-236X https://doi.org/10.1051/matecconf/202338810003
- Hein Möller, Maje Phasha, Joseph Moema, Willie du Preez and Maina Maringa, Structural and elastic properties of binary FCC Pt-Rh alloys – a first-principles study, 2023 RAPDASA-RobMech-PRASA-AMI Conference, MATEC Web of Conferences 388, 01002 (2023). eISSN: 2261-236X https://doi.org/10.1051/matecconf/202338801002
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| EXTERNAL PROFILES | LinkedIn
ResearchGate
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OrcID |
Prof. Du Preez Willie
Tel:
wdupreez@cut.ac.za