Beyond materials discovery and improvement,USTB is applying MGE to optimize the manufacturing process.For example, automotive steel is usually manufactured through two stages featuring complex procedures and high energy consumption. Slabs are first hot-rolled and then cold-rolled to a desired thickness. Cars produced in this high-emitting way may be levied at a higher tax rate,or even restricted from export to the European Union countries according to the legislative proposal of "Fit for 55".
A team led by MAO Xinping, a professor at USTB and an Academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, proposed a low-carbon short-process path to make automotive steel by deploying thin slab casting and direct rolling, which eliminates the cold rolling and annealing steps.This innovative approach can slash energy consumption by 71.5% while enhancing the steel's overall performance.
The team also developed steels for cars,such as quenching-and-partitioning steel a type of steel with excellent strength and elongation,which is produced through a multi-step heat treatment.These steels are now being produced by the world's top steelmaker, Baowu Group,and many thousands of tonnes of finished steel has been supplied to automakers both domestically and internationally.
To further optimize these advanced material sand push the boundaries of green metallurgy,the team has achieved major breakthroughs in titanium microalloying.Their studies demonstrate that applying titanium microalloying specifically within the thin slab casting and direct rolling process can significantly enhance the toughness, weldability, and cost-efficiency of the steel.This offers a highly effective route for manufacturing the high-strength materials essential for lightweight vehicles.
In tandem with virgin steel production,the team is aggressively tackling the challenges of high-value metal recycling. As the industry shifts toward Electric ArcFurnace(EAF) manufacturing, they have expanded their focus to premium recycled steels capable off accommodating complex scrap inputs without sacrifcing strength, form ability,or surface quality. By systematically tracking the evolution of residual elements,such as copper,tin,and phosphorus,during melting,casting,rolling,and heat treatment,the researchers have clarified critical compositional thresholds for advanced steel products.
To streamline these complex metallurgical pathways,the team leverages intelligent materials design.They have developed dedicated databases and predictive odels that link alloy chemistry,process parameters, and service performance. This data-driven approach enables producers to identify robust short-process and EAF routes, reduce trial-and-error costs,and improve quality consistency from batch to batch.
Through strategic collaborations with leading steel producers and automakers,the team has established joint platforms to accelerate the industrialization of these low-carbon, high-performance automotive steels,driving the transition toward safer and greener transportation. Closely aligned with China's carbon neutrality goals, this comprehensive body of work reflects Professor MAO's broader vision of transforming the steel industry through process innovation, intelligent manufacturing, and sustainable metallurgy.His profound contributions have been recognized with three National Science and Technology Progress Awards(Second Class),nine provincial first-class awards, the National Model Worker title, and the prestigious Ho Leung Ho Lee Foundation Prize.
