Steel is a fully recyclable material and a driver of the energy transition, decarbonisation and electromobility. The by-products of the steel industry are metallurgical gases, slag and dust and are therefore secondary raw materials for various branches of industry, such as the construction materials and chemical industries. Key questions to support the ongoing transformation of the steel industry are answered by current research activities at the Institute of Iron and Steel Technology. One focus is research into the use of hydrogen and bioammonia as reducing agents for iron production. In addition, slags and dusts serve as valuable sources for the recovery of strategic metals such as vanadium and cobalt. At the same time, processed slags are produced that are used as building materials. In addition, research activities are being carried out to increase the use of steel scrap and recycled refractory materials in the production of future steels with customised properties.

In cooperation with several industrial partners, the team is researching the targeted recycling of conditioned scrap from end-of-life vehicles for reuse in automotive construction. This closes energy and material cycles. Another field of research is the design and production of new types of steel for a wide range of requirements. Targeted alloy design makes it possible to produce copper-alloyed high-performance electrical sheets with 6.5% silicon and good cold formability. In addition, modern, ultra-high-strength steels made of chromium, magnesium, nickel, carbon and nitrogen with increased plasticity are being researched for applications in vehicle construction and mechanical engineering. A new alloy and microstructure design enables the production of cold-formable copper-alloyed steels with antibacterial properties.

Another area of research is the development of innovative steel powders for additive manufacturing. In this way, the institute is contributing to the conservation of resources, independence from raw materials and climate neutrality.