October 8, 2026
Steel Research Hub research showcased at PRICM 12
Research undertaken in the ARC Steel Research Hub for Australian Steel Innovation (Steel Research Hub) at the University of °µÍø½ûÇø was recently showcased at the 12th Pacific Rim International Congress on Advanced Materials and Processing (PRICM 12). (UOW) delivered the keynote presentation, while PhD researcher Ali Baqeri (UOW) presented recent findings from Project 2.1.7: Development of Fundamental Understanding and Processing Schedules for Hot Rolled Microalloyed Steels with 800 MPa Strength.
The two presentations highlighted advances in the development and processing of advanced high strength microalloyed steels, reinforcing the Steel Research Hub's commitment to supporting innovation across Australia's steel industry.
In her keynote address, titled "Towards Cost-Effective and Sustainable High Strength Low Alloy Steel: Composition and Processing Optimisation", Professor Pereloma highlighted approaches to alloy and process design for the development of high-strength steels with improved performance while considering both cost-effectiveness and sustainability. Her presentation reflected the broader objectives of the Steel Research Hub, supporting the development of higher value steel products and more advanced processing techniques for the Australian steel industry.
In his presentation titled "Evolution of Precipitates during Industrially Simulated Coiling of Cr–V–Nb Microalloyed Steel”, Ali focused on the evolution of nanoscale carbonitride precipitates during thermomechanical processing and coiling. This research forms part of his PhD project, undertaken under the supervision of Professor Pereloma, and investigates how alloy composition and processing conditions influence precipitation and, ultimately, the microstructure and properties of high strength steels. By combining thermomechanical processing with advanced characterisation techniques, including transmission electron microscopy and atom probe tomography, the work builds on the research team's earlier discovery of a distinctive V-rich core and Cr-rich shell structure within these nanoscale precipitates. This has provided new insights into the mechanisms influencing precipitate stability during prolonged coiling. The presentation highlighted the strong collaboration with industry partner .
In summary, PRICM 12 provided an international platform for the Steel Research Hub’s successful research, showcasing its work to researchers and industry professionals across the fields of advanced materials, physical metallurgy, and materials processing.