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 strip with graphene, a one atom thick carbon layer whose properties include anti-corrosion and a high degree of electrical conductivity. Graphene coated steels could boost the energy efficiency of solar panels, or make buildings longer-lasting by reducing damage caused by water or even the most corrosive of chemicals.
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.
The partners will work together on long-term research, postgraduate training and knowledge exchange in a number of different pre-defined areas.
The picture shows EPSRC's CEO, David Delpy and Tata Steel's group director for R&D, Debashish Bhattacharjee, sign MOU witnessed by UK Secretary of State for BIS, Vince Cable, CE of Tata Steel's European Operations, Karl Koehler and Tata Steel's director process technology,