Vahid Javaheri

Impact on Achieving Carbon Neutrality in the Steel Industry

For Experts

Dr. Javaheri’s research is pivotal in advancing the steel industry’s journey towards carbon neutrality and also addressing the critical challenge of hydrogen embrittlement in steels, which is essential for the safe and efficient use of hydrogen as an energy carrier as well as utilization of hydrogen as a reducing agent in steel making. By employing multiscale correlative advanced characterization techniques such as Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), Electron Backscatter Diffraction-Transmission Kikuchi Diffraction (EBSD-TKD), High-Energy Synchrotron X-Ray Diffraction (HE-Synchrotron XRD), and Atom Probe Tomography (APT), his team meticulously analyzes the microstructural properties of advanced steels. These insights are complemented by multiscale modeling approaches, including Density Functional Theory (DFT), phase field modeling, Finite Element Method (FEM), and CALPHAD modeling. This comprehensive methodology enables the design and development of novel advanced high-strength steels and innovative processing routes. For instance, one of the recently developed medium carbon steels, which maintains reasonable ductility, has achieved a strength level of 2.5 GPa—nearly three times stronger than typical high-strength structural steels. This breakthrough not only enhances material performance but also contributes to reducing the carbon footprint of steel production by enabling the use of less material for the same structural applications. The same approach is also used for developing steels that maintain better mechanical integrity in hydrogen-rich environments. This research is crucial for applications in hydrogen storage and transportation, contributing to the broader adoption of hydrogen as a clean energy source.

For the Public

Dr. Javaheri’s work is making significant strides toward a greener future by helping the steel industry reduce its carbon emissions. His research focuses on creating new types of steel that are much stronger and more efficient. By using advanced tools to look at the steel’s structure on a very small scale, and combining this with powerful computer models, Dr. Javaheri and his team can design steels that are not only incredibly strong but also more environmentally friendly. For example, one of their new steel types is almost three times stronger than the steel used in many buildings today, which means we can use less steel to do the same job. This innovation is a big step towards making the steel industry more sustainable and helping to combat climate change.

Vahid and his group are also working on making steel safer and more reliable for use with hydrogen, which is a clean energy source that can help reduce our reliance on fossil fuels. Hydrogen can sometimes make steel brittle and prone to breaking, By studying the steel’s structure very closely and using advanced computer models, he and his team are developing new types of steel that can resist more against this brittleness. This means that the steel can be used safely in hydrogen storage tanks and pipelines, helping to make hydrogen a more viable option for clean energy in the future.