Making carbon-free steel with clean electricity
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Steel production generates almost 10% of global carbon emissions and has long been considered “hard to abate.” Enter Boston Metal, a startup that aims to make carbon-free steel using only (sing it with me!) clean electricity. CEO Tadeu Carneiro explains “molten oxide electrolysis” and its potential to transform the industry.

This boston company has developed a new process to manufacture steel using zero carbon dioxide and a whole lot of electricity

  • Dippy@beehaw.orgOP
    5·
    26 days ago

    Carbon is just the traditional way of removing oxygen from the iron oxide. There are other ways of purifying the iron. And this method cuts away a lot of steps involving multiple processes and a lot of coal. Give the article a read or listen for more info, it’s really interesting

    • IrritableOcelot@beehaw.org
      5·
      25 days ago

      At least according to Wikipedia, small amounts of carbon (< 2.14%) in the final alloy are an important component in controlling the ductility, which agrees with what I thought I remembered from materials classes (although I am not a materials scientist). Obviously not using the Bessemer process drastically reduces the amount of carbon necessary, but trace carbon is important.

    • doubtingtammy@lemmy.ml
      2·
      26 days ago

      Thanks for setting me straight! I kinda assumed it was some green washing bs, but the details in the interview are very interesting