Nanoparticle study focuses on high-manganese steels
Researchers at the Kelvin Nanocharacterisation Centre at Glasgow University are playing a central role in a €1.9m (£1.6m) EU project to characterise the properties of steels with nanoparticle additives.
Car manufacturers and scientists believe that the nanoscale particles are key to developing high-manganese steels that will reduce the weight of vehicles and help meet stricter carbon dioxide emissions targets, without compromising on safety.
The role of the Glasgow researchers will be to analyse samples of high-manganese steel containing the nanoscale precipitates of niobium and vanadium carbides, which help strengthen the steel by creating points within its structure that make it more difficult to deform.
Dr Ian MacLaren, lecturer in physics and astronomy, said: ’Steel plays an important part in car manufacturing because it is strong and durable, and yet is ductile. This means that in a crash situation, the structure of the car can absorb the force of an impact by crumpling.
’In seeking to reduce the amount of steel used in vehicles, and thus the weight, it is very important to retain both strength and ductility, which is where the niobium or vanadium precipitates come in.’
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