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Media Contact: Fred Strohl Communications and Media Relations 865.574.4165

Audio Spot: Stronger steel alloys developed at ORNL

Audio Clip

OAK RIDGE, Tenn., Dec. 4, 2006 — Development of stronger stainless steel alloys that can be used in equipment for high temperature materials processing has been an ongoing effort at the Department of Energy's Oak Ridge National Laboratory.

Oak Ridge distinguished research scientist Phil Maziasz says the alloys decrease the cost of high temperature materials processing.

"These are used for radiant burner tubes in furnaces that produce galvanized steel," says Maziasz. "They need to remain strong and not fail."

Maziasz says Oak Ridge's state of the art technology capability spearheaded the effort, recently earning a prestigious R&D 100 Award.

"Our materials were small changes in the alloy composition with the aid of computational science to make them stronger, withstand higher temperatures and last a lot longer without being more expensive," Maziasz says.

The work is being conducted through a cooperative research and development agreement between ORNL, Duraloy Technologies and Nucor Steel.

ORNL is managed by UT-Battelle for the Department of Energy.