Projects

Summary

The European iron & steel industry finds itself at a critical stage, pressured by the need to reduce CO₂ emissions and meet the goals set out by the Paris Agreement and European Green Deal. The transition towards more sustainable processes based on electric arc furnaces (EAFs) and the intensive use of recycled scrap metal brings with it challenges such as pollution by residual elements (Cu, Sn, As, Sb, P) in martensitic steels.

NANO-S-MART systematically analyses the impact of these residual elements in martensitic steels – essential for sectors such as construction, the automotive industry, energy and defence.  The project covers the entire steel production process from macro, micro and nano perspectives, creating guidelines for the redesign of qualities and the validation of technologies in representative environments, thus contributing towards a more sustainable and circular European economy. 

Objectives

Create knowledge and guidelines about the effect of residual elements on martensitic steels by applying advanced technologies with a view to improving their processability, quality and sustainability. This in turn would impact on a reduction in CO₂ emissions and the transition towards cleaner iron & steel processes. 

Ceit’s role

Ceit is coordinating the project and spearheading the research into the hot behaviour and processability of martensitic steels via hot torsion testing and microstructural characterisation techniques of quenched and tempered samples.  It is also developing new materials and processing technologies, combining experimental capacities with modelling and simulation methodologies, and carrying out a life cycle analysis (LCA) with a view to assessing the reduction in CO₂ emissions.