PhD Studentship: Engineering: Fully Funded M2A EngD Scholarship: Development of Refractory Coatings to Support the Decarbonisation of the Steelmaking Process

Start date: October 2022

Sponsoring company: Tata Steel UK 

Refractory materials are designed to be resistant to decomposition by heat, pressure and, chemicals and, to retain their mechanical properties at temperatures encountered in the modern manufacturing environment. The purpose of a refractory material is to contain heat whilst simultaneously protecting processing equipment. Typically, these materials are used as linings for boilers, furnaces, incinerators etc and have multiple applications in the steelmaking process.

Liquid Iron and Steel are both transported and processed in Refractory coated vessels, examples being torpedoes, ladles, BOS (Basic Oxygen Steelmaking) vessels, tundishes etc. At each point of transfer, temperature loss occurs. The temperature deficit is addressed either through chemical heating processes or adjustments made to scrap and alloy inputs to manage the final temperature. These heating and heat balance processes have a resultant impact on the CO2 ‘footprint’ and overall conversion cost of the final steel product.

This project aims to study Refractory coating systems and to understand their impact on energy loss and, through literature reviews / benchmarking, to identify opportunities for reducing this loss. Thermal modelling will be utilised to develop solutions alongside refractory testing (thermomechanical) and value in use assessments to understand the overall impact on energy losses and CO2 ‘footprint’. Contact and non-contact thermal measurement systems will be evaluated as a tool to support trials and evaluations of proposals resulting from this research. 

Eligibility

Candidates must normally hold a minimum undergraduate degree at 2.1 level (or Non-UK equivalent as defined by Swansea University), or a combination of degree and equivalent experience to the same level.

We would normally expect candidates to have met the University’s English Language requirements (e.g. IELTS 6.5 overall with 5.5+ in each component) by point of application. 

Candidates must have the legal right to live/work in the UK at the start of their studies (student visas do not apply).

Additional Funding

The scholarship covers the full cost of UK tuition fees and a stipend of £20,000 p.a. for a period of four years.

Advert information