I was awarded a BSc degree in chemistry from Cairo University's Faculty of Science in Egypt (1991), an MSc degree in physical chemistry from Cairo University (1997), and a PhD degree in physical chemistry in 2002.
ALUMNUS – Current LinkedIn profile including contact details.
I completed my first PhD at the Toyota Technological Institute in Nagoya, Japan, specifically in their Materials Processing Lab (2000-2002). In 2005, the Japan Society for Promotion of Science (JSPS) awarded me a postdoctoral grant to work at Osaka University on a biomedical research project employing a thermal spray system. I have published several scientific papers on ceramic & metallic coatings for aerospace, defence, and biomedical applications. In 2009, I was offered a research fellow position at Swinburne University of Technology, working on a DMTC project to develop ultra-high temperature ceramic coatings for supersonic flight. From 2010-2014, I worked as a research officer at CSIRO, where I worked on a Boeing-CSIRO collaboration to investigate the performance of organic corrosion inhibitors on the corrosion of aluminium alloy for aerospace applications.
In 2018, I was offered a PhD research scholarship from IMCRC for a collaborative project between RMIT University, CSIRO, and Titomic Ltd as the industrial partner. My PhD’s original project title was ‘Additive manufacturing of high-performance titanium and titanium alloys via cold spray’. This thesis will focus on the microstructure & mechanical properties of cold sprayed Ti deposits fabricated at different spray parameters with post-heat treatment. Mechanical properties include tensile strength, fracture toughness, fatigue, hardness, and adhesive strength, which will be investigated & correlated with the titanium grain microstructure. Another part of this study will emphasise the mechanical strength of joints between Ti components.
Research interests: additive manufacturing of metal & composites, and surface modification for high mechanical corrosion control
Skills
- Additive manufacturing of metal components using cold spray systems
- Synthesis of metal/ceramic powders for additive manufacturing
- Chemical sealing of porous additive manufacturing components with nano-ceramic sealer
- Additive manufacturing of Ti, Inconel, Al, Mg, Cu, SS316 (304) MMC alloys
- Thermal spray coatings for ultra-high temperature applications
- Mechanical testing: tensile strength, wear & abrasion, hardness, adhesion
PhD project
Prior work
- 2018: Research & Development Chemist, Bathroom Werx, Preston, Victoria, Australia
- 2016-2017: Corrosion and Coatings Consultant, Harfords Surface Technology, Perth, Western Australia
- 2014-2015: Laboratory Engineer, Callidus Process Solutions, Western Australia
- 2010-2013: Research Project Officer, CSIRO, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
- 2009-2010: Research Fellow, Swinburne University of Technology, Hawthorn, Victoria, Australia
- 2005-2008: Postdoctoral Fellow: Joining & Welding Research Institute (JWRI), Osaka University, Japan
- 2002-2005: Researcher, Central Metallurgical Research & Development Institute, Cairo, Egypt
- 2000-2002: PhD student, Toyota Technological Institute, Nagoya, Japan
- 1993-2002: Research Assistant, Surface Coatings & Corrosion Control Department, Central Metallurgical Research & Development Institute, Cairo, Egypt
Publications
- Morks, M.F., Zahiri, S., Chen, X-B, Gulizia S., and Cole, I.S. (2022). Enhancement of the corrosion properties of cold sprayed Ti-6Al-4V coatings on mild steel via silica sealer. Materials and Corrosion, 73, 20-30. https://doi.org/10.1002/maco.202112504
- Morks, M.F., Zahiri, S., Chen, X-B, Gulizia, S., Vargas-Uscategui, A., and Cole, I.S. (2022). Influence of gas temperature and heat treatment on microstructure and performance of cold sprayed commercially pure titanium. Journal of Materials Engineering & Performance. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11665-022-06621-x
- Morks, M.F., Zahiri, S.H., Lang, J., Chen, X-B, Gulizia S., and Cole, I.S. (2022). The influence of powder morphology on the microstructure and mechanical properties of as-sprayed and heat-treated cold-sprayed CP Ti. International Journal of Advanced Manufacturing Technology, 118, 3869-3881. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00170-021-08222-9
- Morks, M.F., Cole, I., & Kobayashi, A. (2013). Plasma forming multilayer ceramics for ultra-high temperature application. Vacuum, 88(1), 134–138. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vacuum.2012.03.045
- Morks, M.F., Fahim, N.F., Muster, T.H., & Cole, I.S. (2013). Surface & Coatings Technology Cu-based Fe phosphate coating and its application in CO 2 pipelines. Surface and Coatings Technology, 228, 167–175. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.surfcoat.2013.04.025
- Morks, M.F., Fahim, N.F., & Cole, I.S. (2013). Environmental phosphate coating for corrosion prevention in CO 2 pipelines. Materials Letters, 94, 95–99. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.matlet.2012.12.033
- Morks, M.F., Fahim, N.F., Muster, T., & Cole, I.S. (2013). In-situ synthesis of functional silica nanoparticles for enhancement the corrosion resistance of TBCs. Surface and Coatings Technology, 225, 106–111. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.surfcoat.2013.03.022
- Morks, M.F., Corrigan, P., Birbilis, N., & Cole, I.S. (2012). A green MnMgZn phosphate coating for steel pipelines transporting CO 2 rich fluids. Surface and Coatings Technology, 210, 183–189. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.surfcoat.2012.09.018
- Morks, M.F., Corrigan, P.A., & Cole, I.S. (2012). Mn-Mg based zinc phosphate and vanadate for corrosion inhibition of steel pipelines transport of CO 2 rich fluids. International Journal of Greenhouse Gas Control, 7, 218–224. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijggc.2011.10.005
- Morks, M.F., Cole, I., Corrigan, P., & Kobayashi, A. (2011). Electrochemical Characterization of Plasma Sprayed Alumina Coatings. Journal of Surface Engineered Materials and Advanced Technology, 01(03), 107–111. https://doi.org/10.4236/jsemat.2011.13016
- Morks, M.F. (2010). Plasma spraying of zirconia-titania-silica bio-ceramic composite coating for implant application. Materials Letters, 64(18), 1968–1971. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.matlet.2010.06.016
- Morks, M.F., & Berndt, C.C. (2010). Corrosion and oxidation properties of NiCr coatings sprayed in presence of gas shroud system. Applied Surface Science, 256(13), 4322–4327. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apsusc.2010.02.024
- Morks, M.F., Berndt, C.C., Durandet, Y., Brandt, M., & Wang, J. (2010). Microscopic observation of laser glazed yttria-stabilized zirconia coatings. Applied Surface Science, 256(21), 6213–6218. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apsusc.2010.03.143
- Fahim, N. F., Morks, M.F., & Sekino, T. (2009). Electrochemical synthesis of silica-doped high aspect-ratio titania nanotubes as nanobioceramics for implant applications. Electrochimica Acta, 54(12), 3255–3269. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.electacta.2008.12.035
- Morks, M.F., Fahim, N.F., & Kobayashi, A. (2008). Microstructure, corrosion behavior, and microhardness of plasma-sprayed W-Ni composite coatings. Journal of Manufacturing Processes, 10(1), 6–11. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmapro.2008.12.001
- Morks, M.F., & Akimoto, K. (2008). The role of nozzle diameter on the microstructure and abrasion wear resistance of plasma sprayed AI2O3/TiO2 composite coatings. Journal of Manufacturing Processes, 10(1), 1–5. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmapro.2008.10.001
- Morks, M.F., Fahim, N.F., & Kobayashi, A. (2008). Structure, mechanical performance and electrochemical characterization of plasma sprayed SiO 2 /Ti-reinforced hydroxyapatite biomedical coatings. Applied Surface Science, 255(5 PART 2), 3426–3433. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apsusc.2008.09.088
- Morks, M.F., & Kobayashi, A. (2008). Development of ZrO2/SiO2 bioinert ceramic coatings for biomedical application. Journal of the Mechanical Behavior of Biomedical Materials, 1(2), 165–171. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmbbm.2007.09.002
- Morks, M.F. (2008). Fabrication and characterization of plasma-sprayed HA / SiO2 coatings for biomedical application. Journal of the Mechanical Behavior of Biomedical Materials, 1(1), 105–111. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmbbm.2007.04.003
- Morks, M.F., Kobayashi, A., & Fahim, N.F. (2007). Abrasive wear behavior of sprayed hydroxyapitite coatings by gas tunnel type plasma spraying. Wear, 262(1–2), 204–209. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wear.2006.05.013
- Morks, M.F., & Kobayashi, A. (2007). Effect of gun current on the microstructure and crystallinity of plasma sprayed hydroxyapatite coatings. Applied Surface Science, 253(17), 7136–7142. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apsusc.2007.02.183
- Morks, M.F., & Kobayashi, A. (2007). Influence of spray parameters on the microstructure and mechanical properties of gas-tunnel plasma sprayed hydroxyapatite coatings. Materials Science and Engineering B: Solid-State Materials for Advanced Technology, 139(2–3), 209–215. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mseb.2007.02.008
- Morks, M.F., Fahim, N.F., Francis, A.A., & Shoeib, M.A. (2006). Fabrication and characterization of electro-codeposited Ni/Zr-silicate composite coating. Surface and Coatings Technology, 201(1–2), 282–286. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.surfcoat.2005.11.107
- Morks, M.F., Salam Hamdy, A., Fahim, N.F., & Shoeib, M.A. (2006). Growth and characterization of anodic films on aluminum alloys in 5-sulfosalicylic acid solution. Surface and Coatings Technology, 200(16–17), 5071–5076. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.surfcoat.2005.05.022
- Morks, M.F., & Kobayashi, A. (2006). Influence of gas flow rate on the microstructure and mechanical properties of hydroxyapatite coatings fabricated by gas tunnel type plasma spraying. Surface and Coatings Technology, 201(6), 2560–2566. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.surfcoat.2006.04.030
- Morks, M.F., Gao, Y., Fahim, N.F., & Yingqing, F.U. (2006). Microstructure and hardness properties of cermet coating sprayed by low power plasma. Materials Letters, 60(8), 1049–1053. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.matlet.2005.10.073
- Morks, M.F., Tsunekawa, Y., Fahim, N.F., & Okumiya, M. (2006). Microstructure and friction properties of plasma sprayed Al-Si alloyed cast iron coatings. Materials Chemistry and Physics, 96(1), 170–175. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.matchemphys.2005.07.002
- Morks, M.F., Gao, Y., Fahim, N.F., Yingqing, F.U., & Shoeib, M.A. (2005). Influence of binder materials on the properties of low power plasma sprayed cermet coatings. Surface and Coatings Technology, 199(1), 66–71. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.surfcoat.2005.02.159
- Morks, M.F., Tsunekawa, Y., & Okumiya, M. (2004). Characterization and properties of splats sprayed with different cast iron powders. Materials Letters, 58(20), 2481–2485. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.matlet.2004.02.029
- Morks, M.F. (2004). Magnesium phosphate treatment for steel. Materials Letters, 58(26), 3316–3319. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.matlet.2004.06.027
Further information
- Prof. Ivan Cole (RMIT University)
- Dr Xiao-Bo Chen (RMIT University)
- Dr Saden Zahiri (CSIRO)
- Mr Stefan Gulizia (CSIRO)
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