Generic filters
Exact matches only
FS Logoi

New design strategy for high-performance steels

July 2024 | International research team develops steel with ultrahigh cryogenic tensile strength and tensile elongation, two crucial aspects for the transport and storage of liquid gases like nitrogen and hydrogen. Results now published in the journal Science.

von | 24.07.24

Logo MPIE

International research team develops steel for liquid gas transport and storage

Exploring sustainable manufacturing and processing paths, liquid gases like nitrogen and hydrogen are becoming increasingly important. However, transporting and storing these gases remains challenging and costly due to embrittlement effects. Currently used steels are expensive due to their high nickel content. A research team, including scientists from the German-based Max Planck Institute for Sustainable Materials (MPI SusMat), has designed a new steel that withstands ultralow temperatures while exhibiting high strength and ductility. Their findings were recently published in the journal Science.

Dislocation cutting at cryogenic temperatures

The researchers developed a steel composed of iron, manganese, aluminum, nickel, and carbon. These elements form a robust matrix characterized by locally ordered zones and precipitates.

“The steel achieves its exceptional low-temperature strength through temperature-dependent solid solution strengthening. This distinctive effect induces shearing in typically brittle nanoparticles, thereby facilitating deformation,” explains Mohamed N. Elkot, postdoctoral researcher at MPI SusMat and co-author of the publication.

“It has been known that precipitates can lead to mechanically strong alloys. However, until now, B2 nanoprecipitates were considered nonshearable. This is the first time, dislocation cutting has been observed in high-strength steels when the temperature decreases to near liquid nitrogen temperatures. We induced this shearing mechanism by designing a compositionally complex alloy,” says Zhangwei Wang, a professor at Central South University in Changsha, China, and the corresponding author of the publication.

Achieving better properties with compositionally complex alloys

Compositionally complex alloys consist of at least five major elements, unlike conventional alloys that use one or two prevalent elements. This design strategy harnesses different, often opposing effects, such as the intense strengthening and strain hardening provided by otherwise impenetrable brittle nanoprecipitates. Additionally, it introduces ductility through the sequential shearing of nanoprecipitates with ongoing deformation. This results in a lightweight, compositionally complex steel with ultrahigh cryogenic tensile strength of up to 2 gigapascals and a remarkable tensile elongation of 34%.

The MPI SusMat team is designing compositionally complex alloys for various applications such as magnets and structural materials. The newly designed steel serves as a model system for future developments. It is less expensive due to its low nickel content and suitable for lightweight design due to its high strength. The current study thus paves a new route for designing high-performance structural materials.

More information

This research was conducted in collaboration with researchers from the Central South University in Changsha (China) and the East China University of Science and Technology in Shanghai (China).

F. Wang, M. Song, M.N. Elkot, N. Yao, B. Sun, M. Song, Z. Wang, D. Raabe (2024) Shearing brittle intermetallics enhances cryogenic strength and ductility of steels, Science 384 (2024) 1017, science.org/doi/10.1126/science.ado2919

 

(Source: MPIE/2024)

Jetzt Newsletter abonnieren

Die ganze Welt der Metallurgie, immer in Ihrem Postfach.

Hier anmelden

Fachinformationen für Sie

_temp_Strategische Einsichten aus aktuellen Studien zur Zukunft der Gasinfrastruktur mit Wasserstoff

_temp_Strategische Einsichten aus aktuellen Studien zur Zukunft der Gasinfrastruktur mit Wasserstoff

Autor: Ulrich Bünger

Im Zuge der Energiewende ist auch die Gasindustrie von der Europäischen Kommission aufgefordert, Strategien zur Defossilisierung der Gasversorgung bis 2050 zu entwickeln. Diese Entwicklung soll im europäischen Konsens der Akteure im Gassektor und ...

Zum Produkt

Pusher reheat furnace combines increased production with a reduction in emissions

Pusher reheat furnace combines increased production with a reduction in emissions

Autor: James Feese/Felix Lisin, Gerrit Wohlschläger, Sandra Runde
Themenbereich: Thermoprozesstechnik

Operators of furnace systems in the steel industry are being confronted to an ever increasing degree with rising fuel prices and stringent environmental regulations – regardless of whether their system is an ageing one or brand new. The dream ...

Zum Produkt

Prozesswärme – 04 2019

Prozesswärme – 04 2019

Themenbereich: Thermoprozesstechnik

Die PROZESSWÄRME 4 ist die THERMPROCESS-Ausgabe – im großen Sonderteil enthält sie alles zur größten internationalen Messe der Branche. Interviews mit Branchenvertretern und eine Produktvorschau sind ebenso enthalten wie das Programm des ...

Zum Produkt