Nanostructured steels are on the horizon: Revolutionary steels devised with nanotechnology may be poised to usher in a new Iron Age

摘要

Steel is known for its versatility, strength, and low cost. There are roughly 25,000 distinct alloys currently in its ranks. But this number may someday drastically expand thanks to recent developments in bulk-material nanotechnology and science, says Daniel Brana-gan, chief technical officer, at The Nanosteel Co., in Idaho Falls, Idaho. In the coming decade, nanostructured steels may be one of the key technology drivers in the 21st century, playing a pivotal role in industrial, architectural, and civil design. The range of possible properties available via nanoscale science may include steels with the hardness of alumina ceramics and the strength of carbon-based fibers. Other potential attributes may be superior corrosion resistance over nickel-based superalloys, higher strength-to-weight ratios than titanium alloys, and better weldability than cobalt-based stellites.