Dr David Culliton

Research Interests

My current research focus is defined by an engineering approach to the materials' aspects (substrate, surface degradation & treatments) of renewable energy capture devices with a particular interest in offshore variants.

My research is based on an active interest in knowledge enhancement in the general areas of Surface Engineering/Degradation Phenomena, Wear/Corrosion, Biofouling and Tribocorrosion. My PhD focussed on the corrosion/tribocorrosion element of this whilst previously I worked on a surface coatings research project involving numerous coating systems applied to a cast aluminium alloy component.

I am the sole Irish representative of the European Academy of Surface Technology (EAST). This is a non-profit organisation which represents an International Platform for Science and Technology and an Interface between Research and Application in all Areas of Surface Technology. www.east-site.net

I am an active member of the MP1407 COST Action, in which I am vice-leader (https://www.e-minds.ch/the-project/organisation/core-group/) of Workgroup 3 (PROTECTION AGAINST DEGRADATION OF COMPONENTS BY CORROSION AND CORROSION-WEAR).

I am involved in 2 H2020 FETOpen proposals in the fields of Anti-Biofouling using biomimetic texturing and nano-magnetics/robotics for low-water sanitation and commercial de-icing applications.

Engagement and Collaboration

• Investigation into the potential of Laser Nitriding on improving wear characteristics of high-wear ferrous alloys used in the mining industry. (Enterprise Ireland Innovation Partnership fund, €75k, PostDoc 2017).
• Commercialisation of the novel tribocorrosion degradation resistant iSeal„¢ surface treatment (Enterprise Ireland); Commercialisation fund, €350k, Project Manager 2014-2016).
• Investigation into the potential of Laser Shock Peening techniques on improving wear characteristics of high-wear ferrous alloys used in the mining industry. (Enterprise Ireland Innovation Partnership fund, €370k, PostDoc 2011-2012).
• Development of a novel tribocorrosion degradation resistant iSeal surface treatment (Enterprise Ireland Proof of Concept fund, €93k, Project Manager 2008-2009).
• Investigation on surface treatments for Al-Si alloys used in the Pulp & Paper industry. (Enterprise Ireland Innovation Partnership fund/ABS, €66k, Project Manager 2006-2007).

Past Research Students

M.Eng: Luca Brugnetti, Biomimetic Texturing to Enhance Superhydro- Phobic/-Philic Properties of Engineered Surfaces (2017)

M.Phil: Leye Olayiwola, Effect of Laser Shot Peening on Surface Roughness and Wear Properties (2013)

Areas of interest as a supervisor include

• Engineering
• Surface Degradation Phenomena
• Materials Research
• 3D & CFD Modelling/Simulation

Publications

Peer Reviewed Journal Articles

D. Culliton · A.J. Betts; Part I: Effect of Coating/Substrate relationship on the development of galvanic processes in corrosive environments using electrochemical detection techniques · Submitted To : Corrosion Science 2017 (under review)

D. Culliton · A.J. Betts; Part II: Effect of Substrate Alloying Composition on the development of galvanic processes in corrosive environments using electrochemical detection techniques · Submitted To : Corrosion Science 2017 (under review)

M. BuÄko · D. Culliton · A.J. Betts · J. B. Bajat; The electrochemical deposition of Zn–Mn coating from choline chloride–urea deep eutectic solvent · 2017 · Transactions of the Institute of Metal Finishing

D. Culliton · A.J. Betts · S. Carvalho · D. Kennedy; Improving Tribological Properties of Cast Al-Si Alloys through Application of Wear-Resistant Thermal Spray Coatings · 2014 · Journal of Thermal Spray Technology

D. Culliton · D. Kennedy · A.J. Betts; Impact of intermetallic precipitates on the tribological and/or corrosion performance of cast aluminium alloys: A short review · 2013 · International Journal of Cast Metals Research

Conference Proceedings and Papers

A.C.S. Bastos · D. Culliton · M.G.S. Ferreira; A SVET analysis of the galvanic corrosion of LM24 and LM25 cast aluminium alloys coated with thermal sprayed Inconel 625 · 2015 · ASST Conference, Madeira.

D. Culliton · A.J. Betts · D. Kennedy; Localised Galvanic Corrosion Processes in Thermal Spray Coated/Cast Aluminium Alloy systems · 2012 · Matrib Conference, Vela Luka

D. Culliton · A.J. Betts · P. Concannon · D. Kennedy; Thermal Spray Coatings: Effect of Selected Coating Parameters on Corrosion Resistance · 2011 · Matrib Conference, Vela Luka

D. Culliton · A.J. Betts · D. Kennedy; Enhanced corrosion of LM25 caused by the presence of Cathodic Flame Spray Coatings in an NaCl/Aqueous Solutions · 2007 · EuroCorr, Freiburg

Patents

D. Culliton · A.J. Betts · D. Kennedy; A surface treatment for enhanced resistance to corrosion and synergistic wear & corrosion (tribocorrosion) degradation. Filed 2015.