Improved Steels through Green QPQ Surface Modification

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Thermomechanical quench-polish-quench (QPQ) surface modification—using waste, rather than the traditional cyanide-based environment—on different types of steel, to increase resistance to corrosion and abrasion.

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Competitive advantage

  • Surface modification can be customised and is environmentally friendly
  • This new surface modification technology outperformed any other traditional nitriding or plating of steel and will increase both its corrosion and abrasion resistance
  • An innovative and effective way to produce steel components with enhanced properties at low cost

Impact

  • This innovative and economical new approach marries industry demands for more cost-effective, durable steel products with global imperatives to address resource depletion and environmental degradation, through the recovery of resources from waste.

Successful applications

  • Formation of ultrahard surface on normal carbon steel increasing its compression strength by 30 percent and its hardness by 40 percent

Capabilities and facilities

  • The Centre for Sustainable Materials Research and Technology (“SMaRT”) is an internationally recognised pioneer in the transformation of complex waste into value-added resources, such as turning waste glass or textiles into high performance building applications, or using waste rubber tyres to produce Green Steel
  • Purpose-built state-of-the-art laboratories
  • Specialist furnaces