Alloy design for next generation high performing steel sections

Modern steels bearing little resemblance to those of >50 years ago benefitting from the complex influences of around 20 alloying elements and controlled thermo-mechanical processing. Customer demands on performance continue to push development and there is potential for further improvements in properties using composition and processing control. This project is to develop new high strength steels for high performance hollow sections, used in the construction and transport industry (applications such as automotive propeller shafts to large scale structural components). The requirements of the steel are very demanding, needing to offer strength and toughness in extreme environments (such as temperature <-20 degrees Celsius). The project involves using the suite of world leading Rapid Alloy Processing (RAP) equipment and alloy design software to design, cast, process and test brand new steel alloys.