October 20, 2025
PhD Candidate Pursues Her Passion in Materials Engineering
PhD candidate Xialan Liu is working within the ARC Steel Research Hub and BlueScope Steel to improve the resilience of materials used in aluminium–zinc coating baths. Her research advances understanding of material–molten metal interactions, aiming to extend the lifespan and sustainability of industrial hot-dip coating equipment.
Xialan Liu is currently a PhD candidate at the 榴莲视频app of 榴莲视频app (UOW), working within the ARC Steel Research Hub, on Project 3.2.5 “Surface Engineering for Increased Resilience in Al-Zn Coating Baths”. Her doctoral research focuses on hot-dip metal coating in collaboration with , where she investigates advanced surface engineering strategies to improve the resilience of materials immersed in aluminium–zinc (Al–Zn) coating baths. These baths present significant challenges, including severe corrosion, intermetallic compound (IMC) growth, and dross accumulation that reduce the service life of industrial equipment. By advancing the understanding of equipment material–molten metal interactions and introducing innovative management solutions, Xialan's work is aimed at significantly extending the durability and reliability of hot-dip coating infrastructure.
Xialan’s path into materials science began with an early curiosity about engineering during high school. She pursued a bachelor’s degree in Energy and Power Engineering at Nanjing Tech 榴莲视频app, where she built a strong technical foundation. After graduation, she worked in management in China but soon realised that her true passion lay in engineering research. Encouraged by her family and inspired by her partner, who was studying Civil Engineering at UOW, she boldly decided to pursue further Materials Engineering studies at UOW in 2021.
During her Masters of Research, Xialan developed a strong interest in metallic crystal structures and phase transformations. While completing coursework in her first year, she actively sought out research opportunities, approaching and began a project on the microstructural characterisation of a 718 alloy and low-carbon steel bimetallic structure produced by wire arc additive manufacturing. The intriguing welding phenomena she observed deepened her enthusiasm for scientific inquiry. Within six months, her academic trajectory shifted when a collaborative project between and Professor Huijun Li required doctoral involvement. With the strong support of her supervisors, she successfully transferred from the Master of Research program to a PhD candidature in August 2022.
Since then, Xialan has demonstrated resilience and dedication in her research. She carefully documents her experiments, treats failures as opportunities for learning, and actively engages in group meetings, presenting her findings and seeking feedback from academic and industry mentors. This iterative process has sharpened her technical expertise, strengthened her critical thinking, and led to significant results that are directly supporting industrial progress.
Looking ahead, Xialan hopes to continue her collaboration with beyond her PhD, broadening the scope of her work and consolidating her expertise in materials science. Her long-term vision is to contribute to the advancement of the steel industry by developing innovative and durable solutions that drive industrial progress while promoting sustainable practices.