Partnership formed to develop graphene-coated steels
Tata Steel has formed a strategic partnership with UK research body the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) to develop innovations including graphene-coated steels and next-generation sensors that can operate in extreme environments.
The research will include studying the viability of coating steel strips with graphene, a one atom thick carbon layer whose properties include anti-corrosion and a high degree of electrical conductivity.
Also among the key research areas will be ways to improve waste recycling processes and the development of new sensor equipment whose ability to operate in very high temperatures or extreme chemical environments could lead to greater understanding of metallurgical and chemical properties and processes.
Debashish Bhattacharjee, group director for R&D at Tata Steel, said: "Our customers want us constantly to develop new and more sophisticated products that will help them overcome their challenges, now and in the future. We also need to develop new manufacturing processes to support product development.
"Our partnership with EPSRC will broaden and enhance our research capabilities, helping to speed up the achievement of these objectives."
