� TECHNOLOGY � manufacturers today can recycle old materials instead of relying on new ore . Thanks to the alloy ’ s enduring popularity , there ’ s enough of it to sustain such recycling , too . As a result , energy-intensive mining operations can decrease , leading to more sustainable metal products .
Reducing stainless steel ’ s energy consumption
Of course , mining is not the only environmental concern around modern metals . Producing these materials often requires a significant amount of energy , which usually means higher fossil fuel consumption . However , the historical evolution of steel has made it increasingly energy-efficient .
The advent of the Bessemer Method in the mid-1800s made it possible to remove impurities with cold air , lowering the required furnace temperature . Many recent innovations follow the same pattern . By finding alternative production methods or adjusting adjacent workflows , steel producers can reduce the amount of energy they need .
Switching to recycled steel instead of virgin material has made a substantial impact here , as recycling requires much less heat . Arc furnaces , which can run on renewable power , are another key innovation .
The development of stainless steel alloys throughout history has led to unintended discoveries and benefits in other areas today . By building on this early work , researchers are making this material more eco-friendly and fit for the modern world .
While not specific to the metal industry , Internet of Things ( IoT ) tracking and artificial intelligence ( AI ) have enabled further improvements through energy modeling and process optimization .
Driving metalworking efficiency
Similarly , discoveries in stainless steel have made working with the metal — not just producing it — more energy-efficient . In addition to providing it with its namesake anticorrosive qualities , chromium improves stainless steel ’ s workability . Other additives like nickel have similar effects , allowing manufacturers to create metal products with less effort and reducing energy-related emissions .
The invention of metal 3D printing takes these benefits further . Metals must be able to melt and resolidify quickly to work as a 3D printing feedstock . Stainless steel ’ s additives make it ideal for this purpose . As the alloy has become increasingly workable with new process improvements , it ’ s become a viable printing material , reducing production-related energy consumption .
3D printing is additive — it deposits metal instead of removing it . As a result , it ’ s inherently less wasteful , using up to 80 % less material than conventional manufacturing processes . In this way , stainless steel lets manufacturers reduce their environmental footprint through its workability .
Green Steel World | Issue 15 | November 2024 13