Process Metallurgy

Process metallurgy research unit focuses on pyrometallurgical metal production and other high temperature processes with main emphasis on the production of iron, steel and ferroalloys. Research is executed in close co-operation with the metallurgical industry. At the moment, the key areas of research are circular economy and reduction of carbon dioxide emissions in metal production by hydrogen reduction, electrified processes and biofuels. The learning outcomes of the metallurgical education include methodological skills needed in the research and development related to metallurgical processes. This means application of experimental, analytical and simulation tools when studying metal production as well as auxiliary processes.
Prosessimetallurgin tutkimusryhmä  Alakuppilan portailla joulukuussa 2023 Valokuvaaja Eveliina Halttu

Research

Process metallurgy is one of the main subject areas of University of Oulu’s Centre for Advanced Steels Research (CASR) and its research deals with the university’s strategic research areas “Creating sustainability through materials and systems” and “Digital solutions in sensing and interactions”.

The research activities cover the whole production chain of steel for carbon steels and stainless steels from raw material processing all the way up to casting. Recent research has focused on the development of production chains for carbon-neutral steels by replacing carbon with hydrogen and bio-coal together with electrifying the processes. The focus areas of the research are:

  • reducing agents and reduction metallurgy,
  • primary and secondary metallurgy
  • recycling and sustainable metallurgical processes, and
  • new measurement and processing methods in metallurgy.

Studying

Metallurgical education is tightly connected with metallurgical research and hence its focus is on the methodological skills (experiments, analyses, modelling) needed in the R&D of metallurgical processes. More detailed information about our courses is available in the Moodle. You can also contact Eetu-Pekka Heikkinen for more details about our education.

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