So, what do these athletes from all over the world competing in various different sports have in common? They all rely on steel to enhance their performance and keep them safe while they compete for the highest honors in their profession.

Here are some of the most prominent ways steel plays its part in winter Olympic sports:

Blades/Edges of Steel

Ice Hockey

Ice hockey is easily the main attraction of winter Olympics as hockey finals are usually the last events of the Games. The same can be said of para ice hockey as well. Athletes glide through the rink on specially-made sledges, or sleds, and have as much, if not more, full-contact than regular ice hockey.

Stainless steel is the material of choice for ice hockey skate blades. (Source: FXBX)

There are several pieces of equipment that enable hockey players to perform at their best, including their skates and sleds. The deciding factor in the quality of skates comes down to the type of steel used in the blades, or runners. Harder types of steel are preferred for less wear and tear and so that athletes do not have to sharpen the blades too often.

That’s why most opt for stainless steel, for its high-strength, hard, ductile and corrosion-resistant qualities. For para ice hockey players, their sleds make or break the game, and materials like magnesium, high-manganese anti-vibration steel and stainless steel give them the edge they need.

SEE ALSO: How POSCO’s Advanced Technology Gives Speed to Korea’s Para Ice Hockey Team

Figure Skating

Blades on figure skates look similar to that of hockey skates, but are longer and heavier. Figure skate blades also have the thickest type of blades at 4 to 5mm. These blades were most commonly made of tempered carbon steel coated with chrome, but lighter materials such as stainless steel are becoming more common. At the professional level, many athletes wear skates with high-grade steels that are much more expensive than common skates. A distinct characteristic of these blades is the spiked front toe which gives figure skaters the traction they need for rigorous jumps and spins.

Figure skates have spiked toes to assist jumps and spins. (Source: Bend Source)

Short and Speed Skating

Like blades for hockey and figure skates, short track and speed skates are also made of stainless steel. Short track skates are slightly curved and shorter than speed skates, with slightly rounded backends for safety.  

Figure skates have spiked toes to assist jumps and spins. (Source: International Skating Union)

Speed skates are different from those for short track because the back-end of the blade is detached from the boot. this reduces friction and energy loss. Also, the detached blade allows the blade to remain attached to the ice longer than attached blades.

Skiing and Snowboarding

Steel also plays a crucial part in the construction of ski and snowboard edges. With high-quality steel, athletes can sharpen the edges more frequently, and sharp edges are crucial for carving and turning on snow. Edges are most commonly made of stainless steel, and they are inserted into the body of the ski or snowboard via “teeth” or T-shaped ridges. Most edges have a Rockwell 48 hardness.

Ski and snowboard edges are made of steel to achieve maximum sharpness. (Source: YouTube)

Rock-hard Skeleton, Ultra Sharp Blades

Bobsled

There are several variations of bobsled events during the Olympics: 2-man, 4-man and women’s doubles. No matter how many people are on a team, each bobsled has a steel chassis or skeleton and four steel blades attached to the bottom of the sleds. Every team must use the same type of steel for blades used in competition. Much like a car, materials that make up the bobsled must be lightweight yet strong so the athletes have the freedom to steer through the track. During competition, sleds slide through at an average speed of 150 km/hr.

Ski and snowboard edges are made of steel to achieve maximum sharpness. (Source: Lake Placid)

SEE ALSO: Ask an Expert: How POSCO GIGA STEEL Frames the G4 Rexton

Luge

The luge is considered to be the most dangerous winter Olympic sport due to high speeds and sharp turns of the track. After push off in a seated position, the person or pair lies flat on their backs and steer the sleds with their bodies. Sleds have a pair of steel blades attached to the bottom. Olympic rules prohibit teams from heating the blades before competition as it would decrease friction against ice. Instead, athletes try to maintain the sharpest blades possible.

The Luge is one of the most dangerous winter Olympic sports. (Source: Team GB)

Skeleton

Opposite of the luge, skeleton athletes race flat on their stomachs, with no brakes. Instead of starting on the sled, the athletes have to sprint for about 40 meters before hopping on. All skeleton sled frames must be made of steel, and blades are usually made of high-quality stainless steel. As for all the “sliding” sports, there are strict rules for the size and weight of the sleds.

Skeleton athletes sprint 40 meters before jumping on their sleds stomach first. (Source: MPR News)

It is also the most common material found in medical supplies that contribute to people’s health and safety on a daily basis.  

Surgical Steel

“Surgical steel” is a term used to describe stainless steels for medical applications, and are generally made up of 316, 440 and 420 stainless steels. Surgical stainless steels are corrosion resistant, have a shiny, aesthetically pleasing exterior and are extremely hygienic. Plus, they have a long life cycle and require minimal maintenance.

Surgical steel is also used for screws and joints that hold bones together. (Source: National Geographic)

Due to these properties, surgical steel is the material found in medical equipment such as syringes, scalpels and gauges. Moreover, screws used to hold broken bones together and other parts for application inside the body are made of surgical stainless steel.

For the same reasons, surgical steel is also used to make jewelry.

Know anyone who is allergic to certain types of jewelry? Often times people think they are allergic to gold or silver, but chances are, they are allergic to other alloying elements, the most common one being nickel. In the United States, up to 17 percent of women and 3 percent of men are allergic to nickel, and the number is rising. Surgical steel with zero nickel content is a safe and cost-friendly alternative, and demand for the hypoallergenic material is growing.

Surgical steel is commonly applied to piercing jewelry. (Source: Elixa)

Surgical steel was a part of the 45.8 million metric tons of stainless steel produced globally in 2016, almost double the 24.5 million metric tons produced in 2005. The growing demand and application of stainless steel are playing a positive role in the economy, but it has also been the cause of environmental pollution.

POSCO’s Surgical Steel

One of POSCO’s surgical stainless steels is the PossRB1. It is comparable to the 420J2 stainless steel that is often applied to kitchen blades, however, it has a much higher level of hardness, and thus can be applied to surgical scalpels and razor blades.

Surgical scalpels come in direct contact with the body and need to be especially clean and non-corrosive. (Source: NY Times)

Another example is POSCO’s 304i stainless steel used to make syringe needles. It is an upgraded version of 304 stainless steel with a 9 percent nickel content, traditionally applied to syringe needles. The production process of syringe needles is demanding and require multiple steps to process into the desired thinness and diameter. To add, the materials need to be especially clean, or else the needle can fracture or not reach the desired thinness. POSCO’s 304i stainless steel is manufactured using POSCO’s strip casting technology and can be processed into the thinnest diameter requirements for 32 gauge needles (dental needles).

Syringe needles require a demanding production process. (Source: Tangent Industries)

POSCO’s poStrip Technology for Stainless Steel Production

In order to reduce the harmful environmental effects of steelmaking on the environment, POSCO partnered with the Research Institute of Industrial Science & Technology (RIST) in 1989, to come up with an innovative technology for stainless steel production called poStrip, or POSCO’s strip casting technology.   

The poStrip technology is an innovative way to make steel production more sustainable. (Source: POSCO E&C)

For more than 13 years, POSCO and RIST experimented with a twin-roll strip casting system where thin strips of steel can be produced in a single, continuous process. Hot molten steel passes through two cylindrical rollers that rotate and cool the hot steel sheets immediately, thus eliminating the need for hot rolling. In conventional casting processes, molten iron is poured into molding frames to produce steel slabs that are then rolled into sheets.

The new technology vastly reduced the cost of production, delivery time as well as the amount of harmful emissions created in the steelmaking process. In the end, POSCO’s poStrip technology was perfected and applied to various types and grades of POSCO’s stainless steels.

Not only is the innovative technology cost-effective and sustainable, it produces better quality steels.

In 2015, POSCO received the Steelie Award for Innovation of the year from the World Steel Association. POSCO was recognized for its high-quality stainless steel products that were produced with the innovative strip-casting production technology. POSCO will continue to research and improve the production and overall quality of stainless steels so that its partners can manufacture world-premium supplies, machines and architecture.   

The Korean National Para Ice Hockey Team playing against the U.S. national team in 2014 (Source: Aljazeera)

Para ice hockey, previously called ice sledge hockey, may not be common to everyone, but many consider it the highlight of para-athletic events. A team is composed of athletes who have a physical impairment in the lower part of their body, so instead of wearing skates, they glide through the rink on ice sledges (also known as sleds).

Watch any para ice hockey match, and it will be surprising to see that there is as much, if not more physical contact than regular ice hockey. Although these athletes may be limited in their everyday movement, on ice, they appear to be flying on their sledges.

The thrill and intensity of the sport are just some of the reasons why steel-company POSCO continually supports the Korean national team and para-athletics in general. It is also why POSCO joined the mission to create specially-made sledges for the Korean National Para Ice Hockey Team.

Ice Sledges Make or Break the Match

Due to the nature of the sport, the sledges have to withstand various forms of physical contact such as body checking. They also have to move in complete unison with the players, almost like an additional limb, because it determines the player’s’ steering and control of direction.

So, the sledges have a direct impact on performance.

Some members of the Korean national team have been playing for over 18 years, and they know better than anyone the importance of their sledges in relationship to performance and results. Ideally, a sledge has to be light yet strong, able to absorb shock from external contact and fit the athlete’s body perfectly.

A Korean National Para Ice Hockey Team player fights for the puck during a game against Japan.

All of the sledges the Korean ice hockey team used were previously imported from Canada. The sledges were heavier and often could not withstand harsh contact. On average, 5 to 7 sledges were damaged during a game and required repair work.

That’s why Massive Blade, a company that specializes in ice sports equipment, decided to make the sledges domestically in Korea. When POSCO heard that Massive Blade was looking for a light and strong material to build the sledges out of, researchers jumped on board the mission to produce these new and improved sledges.

The First Domestic Sledge, Built with POSCO’s Technology

This first-of-its-kind sledge was made with POSCO’s new high-strength magnesium alloy, high-manganese anti-vibration steel and stainless steel. Meaning, they replaced the heavy aluminum alloys that made up the previous sledges with POSCO’s advanced materials.

Magnesium

Magnesium has a high specific strength (also known as the strength-to-weight ratio) and is about two-thirds lighter than aluminum. The downside is that it is challenging to mold, so it is not widely used despite its phenomenal lightweight and specific strength qualities. This is where POSCO’s Research Institute of Industrial Science & Technology (RIST) stepped in to provide a solution

RIST has been researching magnesium and its production technology for application in mountain bike frames and car frames for 3 years. As a result, RIST also owns the necessary equipment and machinery for processing and producing magnesium parts. In order to develop their technology for processing magnesium, RIST researcher Lee Mok-Young said they had to first identify the characteristics of the material, maintain the proper heat treatment temperature and optimize the accompanying tools for molding magnesium. The molding tool is a new, innovative technology that ultimately decides whether magnesium can be shaped into the necessary parts.

RIST researchers came up with a processing technology to increase the moldability of magnesium

When the processing technology is applied to magnesium, it results in a material that is approximately twice as moldable as regular magnesium. As a result, magnesium was able to be applied to sledges for the first time ever.

High-Manganese Anti-Vibration Steel

High-manganese anti-vibration steel is another material that helped enhance the sledges. They applied it to the parts of the sledge with the most exposure to contact such as the front bar and bucket brackets to prevent injuries as well as to minimize structural deformities. High-manganese anti-vibration steel is widely used in buildings for shock absorption, and according to Kim Sung-Gyu, director of the Gwangyang Steel Commercialization Promotion Team, the anti-vibration properties of the steel make it possible to contain vibrations from external force within the metal. This means less shock is transferred to the players, minimizing the risk of injury.

A technician applies high-manganese anti-vibration steel to the front bar

Stainless Steel

Finally, POSCO’s stainless steel was applied to the sledge blades. There are two blades at the bottom of every sledge, and each blade is 3mm thick. It is important to use high-strength steel so that the thin blades can stay sharp and carry the weight of the sledge and player throughout the whole game. Plus, the blades have to hold the frame 8.5cm to 9.5cm above the ice so that the puck can pass through freely under the sledge. The length of the blade also cannot exceed one-third of the total length of the sledge.

Stainless steel blades are sharpened and reattached

That’s a lot of work for just two blades, and that’s why POSCO’s stainless steel was applied. Besides the fact that it has optimal high-strength, hardness and ductility qualities, stainless steel is corrosion resistant, an important factor for blades constantly exposed to water and ice.

Korea’s National Para Ice Hockey Team Gets Wings

Aside from choosing the right materials, POSCO’s RIST researchers spent the most time trying to understand the difficulties and discomfort the para-athletes face on the sledges. It is true the sledges have to be light and strong, but there are further limitations to gauge precise movement and direction during an intense and dynamic game.

That’s why the researchers scrapped the project in its final stages multiple times to start over. During the process, they made numerous models and constantly talked with the players, coaches and the director. Not only that, the RIST researchers also consulted POSCO’s engineers about technical issues related to the materials. The finished product is really the accumulation of intensive research and running back and forth between the rink, the RIST research lab and POSCO offices.

National team members are adjusting to the new, upgraded sledges

The result of their collaboration is a sledge that is 34 percent lighter and capable of absorbing greater shock than the previous sledges.

The players are already adjusting to their new equipment and it won’t be long until they can test them out in an actual match. POSCO will continue to support para-athletes and the Korean National Para Ice Hockey Team so they can focus on their intensive training without worrying about sledge malfunctions and injuries.

TO (a safe) VICTORY!

Cover photo courtesy of Team USA Hockey.

POSCO hopes the team will be able to fully invest in training and perform to the best of their ability at the upcoming games.

The Rise of the Korean National Para Ice Hockey Team

While the Korean National Para Ice Hockey Team is now receiving more funding and exposure, their journey was not always smooth-sailing. As seen in the 2014 Korean documentary Parallel, the Korean para ice hockey athletes have faced many difficulties along the way. But, in facing their adversity with hard work, perseverance, and determination, they have found success as they prepare for the upcoming 2018 Winter Games.  

2010 Winter Games in Vancouver, Canada

Until 2010, sledge hockey at the Winter Games had been dominated by Canada, the U.S., Norway, and Sweden. Starting at the Winter Games in Vancouver in 2010, the world started to notice the potential of Korean para-athletes as they finished in 6th place in their first Winter Games. Following the Vancouver Winter Games, the team continued their success from 2011-2013 at multiple international tournaments. These wins helped add momentum and build expectations for the team as they prepared for the Winter Games in Sochi.

Korea defeated Sweden 4-2 in the 2013 Para Ice Hockey Qualification Tournament held in Torino, Italy (Courtesy of Svenska Parasportförbundet Sveriges Paralympiska Kommitté)

2014 Winter Games in Sochi, Russia

In 2014, Korea’s ice sledge hockey team returned to the Winter Games. In their first match, Team Korea defied expectations with a 3-2 defeat of the hometown team and ultimate silver medalist, Russia.  However, after that monumental win, multiple team members suffered a series of injuries that helped lead to subsequent losses to the US, Italy, and the Czech Republic. Although the team won their 7th place match 2-0 against Sweden, players could not hide their disappointment.

Dongshin Jang, who scored the final goal in the match against Sweden, cited the team’s many injuries as one of the reasons for defeat adding, “We tried our best to win the medals in order to be recognized and get the support we need. We did well considering our conditions, but I cannot hide my disappointment.”

2018 Winter Games in PyeongChang, Korea

In 2018, Team Korea will have a home rink advantage as the games come to PyeongChang. As they prepare to participate in the 2018 Winter Games, they have shown great progress. Just one year after their humbling defeat at Sochi, Team Korea defeated Poland 15-0 at the IPC Ice Sledge Hockey World Championships, the most points ever scored in a World Championship game.

Korea’s ice sledge hockey team pose for a team photo at the 2013 Para Ice Hockey Games held in Torino, Italy. (Courtesy of Luc Percival)

Team Korea’s training is in full swing as they are aiming to be one of the top five teams in the 2017 World Championships A-Pool. Trials will be held in Gangneung, Korea, from April 11-20, 2017. If Team Korea takes one of the top five slots, it will directly qualify for the PyeongChang 2018.

POSCO is supporting Team Korea to allow them to focus on their training for 2018. Team Korea has already succeeded far beyond expectations and POSCO is honored to be supporting such a talented team.   

Skating on Steel Sledges

Para ice hockey began at a rehabilitation centre in Stockholm, Sweden, during the early 1960’s. It was started by a group of Swedes who wanted to continue playing hockey despite not being able to skate anymore. Para ice hockey made its official debut on the world stage during the 1994 Lillehammer games.

Sledges for para ice hockey, made of steel, are set on two blades usually made of tempered steel. (Courtesy of Randykwapis)

Instead of skates, players use double-blade sledges that are typically made of steel. They are 0.6m to 1.2m in length with a curved front end and a seat for the athletes. The sledge was modified to be set on two 3 mm blades, which are usually made of tempered steel that allows the puck to pass underneath the sledge. Players use two sticks to propel the sledge over the ice and to hit the puck. The design, weight, and strength of the player’s equipment are critical. The ability for the sledge to withstand the weight of the players and strong impacts is critical. The steel used in the sledge can make a crucial difference to their performance as it impacts control on the ice and the durability of the blades.  

His name may not sound so familiar. It is not as well-known as Genghis Khan, the ruler who laid the cornerstone of The Mongol Empire, but Saladin is still recognized as a beloved historical figure among Muslims. He is the one who fought for the Holy Land of Jerusalem on behalf of Islam during The Crusades, a fierce 200-year-war between European Christianity and the Islamic world in the 11-13^th centuries.

A noticeable part in the front of the statue of Saladin is the sword that he is holding with his right hand, pointing it up towards the sky. It may seem like an ordinary sword, but this blade, also known as the Damascus blade, contains an interesting history in relation to iron. Let us appreciate a part of the history of iron, through following the footsteps of this sacred weapon.

An invincible sword made of Wootz steel, captivates everyone’s heart

Firstly, one cannot help to wonder how the sword ended up with the name of Syria’s capital. It does not have obvious ties to Damascus, and its origins actually bring it back to ancient India.

Take a moment to look at the column in the photo above. It is made with steel, weighs six tons and measures 10 meters high. Judging from its pristine condition, which does not have a lot of rust, one may think it was made rather recently; however, it was erected 1700 years ago, during India’s Gupta Dynasty. Many scholars have conducted investigations on its composition to solve its mysteries, but they were not able to discover a definite reason as to how it has been able to remain rust-less.

This column, called “the iron pillar of Delhi”, is made with something called Wootz steel. Because of its durability, even to hammering, Wootz steel was mainly used for making sharp blades. It is unreasonable to think swords made with such an outstanding material to remain only in India; it was exported worldwide, to Russia, China and even to Persia. Eventually, swords made with Wootz steel captivated the hearts of the Damascus people in Syria.

But why is this specific sword called the “Damascus blade”, and not the “Indian sword” or the “Wootz steel sword?”

Damascus used to be the trade center of West Asia. Wootz steel blades were exported through the city and due to its high demands, it is predicted that a shortage in supply shortage must have occurred. At around 300 B.C., the spread of the Wootz steel blade began when merchants started to produce swords directly by hiring artisans. That is when the storied blade got its name as the “Damascus blade” – born and raised by India, but rising to fame only after it reached Damascus, Syria.

Strong and beautiful, the Damascus sword

Beginning with its manufacturing process, the Damascus blade was an extraordinary tool. While its blade is solid due to a mixture of carbon that allows it to maintain an even level of solidity, its body has a distinct pattern due to differences in carbon distribution that enables it to be shock absorbing. That is why a writer once described the sword as “a shining wave in a breezy pond.”

Because of its strength and beauty, the Damascus blade was a weapon coveted by many. One person who especially wanted one of the valuable swords was Mutawakkil, a caliph of Abbasid who ruled the Islamic world from the 8^th to 13^th centuries. He had heard of its reputation from southern India where it was being produced at the time, and eventually succeeded in obtaining this legendary weapon, after various attempts and paying a huge sum of money – only to lead him to his death.

He assigned his adjutant Bagyr as a keeper of the sword, and it just so happened Mutawakkil’s subordinate was planning a revolt against his leader. Bagyr later murdered Mutawakkil with the Damascus blade, his most precious treasure – ending his quest for the sword in an ironic fate.

A weapon that defeated the Crusades

It was not until the Crusades that the fame of the Damascus blade spread to Europe from Asia; it was Saladin’s army’s use of the Damascus blade that pierced crusaders’ thick armor and severed their swords in one swing.

However, there is another reason why this particular sword is incredible; it is not only strong and sharp, but also light and slim. One may think that the sword featured in Saladin’s statue is undersized. It’s almost hard to believe that a hero who once ruled over the world was wielded such a small sword, but not everything that is bigger is necessarily better. Saladin’s army was much more advanced in battle because of their mobility, than the crusaders who used heavy swords.

There are some urban legends of the lithe and powerful blade that exist from its heyday. When King Richard I, who lead the Crusades, showed off his sword, Saladin responded by throwing a piece of silk over his Damascus blade, which apparently finely sliced through the cloth.

There were also rumors such as that the devil taught humans how to make the Damascus blade, and while one can only wonder how reliable this tale to be, it surely reaffirms the blade’s reputation as tremendous weapon.

The Crusades eventually ended in defeat, and from an Islamic perspective, the Damascus blade is considered to be what successfully prevented the invasion of Christianity.

Since then, the Damascus blade has fought in battlefields around the world. But around 250 years ago, the manufacturing technique faded from the generations of artisans, and since then, it has not been restored. Even though we develop other weapons of mass destruction using steel at this day and age, the craft of making the historically significant blade has evaporated into a memory.

Will there be another day in the future when we will be able to appreciate the Damascus blade’s legendary pattern of “a shining wave in a breezy pond” once again?

Written by Changhoon Kang, author of ‘Era of Steel’

The opinions expressed in this POSCO Report piece are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect the views of POSCO.

Surgical stainless steel plays a vital role in the medical industry – it is used for a range of instruments, as well as orthopedic implants, such as bone screws and plates.

Precision Instruments

Scalpels are an invaluable tool, used to perform a broad range of surgical procedures. The use of scalpel-like instruments actually dates back to ancient Egypt, when special knives were used for embalming the bodies of members of the royal family. However, it was not until 1915 that Charles Russell Bard and Morgan Parker developed and patented the modern two-part scalpel, which consists of a blade and a handle.

Most commonly known as the B.P. handle scalpel, this features a blade forged from type 316L stainless steel, the type of steel that is most resistant to corrosion in the face of direct contact with biological fluid. Stainless steel is an alloy that contains 16 percent chromium, helping boost its famous corrosion resistance.

While performing any type of procedure, be it minor or extensive, surgeons need access to a wide range of instruments. In addition to scalpels, many other surgical tools are made from stainless steel.

These include Mayo scissors, both straight-blade and curved-blade variations, which are made from stainless steel, although more expensive titanium versions are also available. Straight and curved Mayo scissors are designed for cutting body tissue, as well as cutting sutures – essential steps for a host of different surgical procedures.

Another very common instrument used in hospitals and clinics around the world is the hypodermic needle. This is a hollow needle, used with a syringe to inject or extract fluids from the body. Many consider it to be one of the most important tools in modern medicine.

The hypodermic needle has gone largely unchanged for the past century, and because of its ability to remain sterile if treated properly, it has helped to significantly reduce the risk of contamination during medical care.

Stronger Orthopedic Implant Support

Metal alloys have been used for orthopedic implants since the beginning of the 20^th Century. Before this, medical professionals had experimented with the use of materials such as ivory, rubber, acrylic and even wood, but most ended up causing further health complications for patients.

Medscape mentions that metals made from iron, cobalt, chromium, titanium and tantalum are commonly used in modern procedures, as alloys made from these materials can be used safely and effectively. Medscape also states that these alloys’ mechanical, biological and physical properties play significant roles in the longevity of such implants.

The Journal for Orthopedic Science explains that stainless steel plates used for the internal fixation of fractures have been used for more than 100 years, when a medical company called Lane first introduced the metal plate. The journal notes that in 1912, another company, Sherman, introduced internal fracture fixation pieces that made improvements to the metallurgical formulation of the plate, increasing corrosion resistance.

Surgical stainless steel alloys (316L) are made from varying amounts of iron, chromium and nickel, and are currently used in the manufacturing of prostheses. Many orthopedic implants are still made of surgical stainless steel, and the material is used mainly for plates, screws and intramedullary devices.

New Medical Possibilities

In the world of advanced health technology, surgical robotics is becoming increasingly prevalent. Although skilled human technicians are still essential, surgical machines can perform less invasive tasks, and often enable a faster recovery time for patients.

Driving the success in many of these medical robots are stainless steel motors, which allow for aseptic conditions (freedom from contamination). Surgical robots also use metal alloy arms and hydraulics in order to perform the intricate operations – all requiring yet more steel.

Important Resource

Surgical stainless steel’s medical adaptability makes it a cornerstone material for doctors around the world. It is readily available, affordable and interchangeable – making it perfect for blades, needles, tools, implants and even robotics.

The use of surgical stainless steel often provides patients with faster recovery times – a factor that means that just about any medical environment you come across will bring you into contact with safe and sterile surgical stainless steel.

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Brazil’s sugar cane straw market is bigger than ever, allowing for the expansion of the renewable energy sector, as well as the emergence of new biofuels.

To satisfy the growing demand for cane straw, equipment manufacturer Fácil System recently developed specialized, wear-resistant steel knives for its raw material shredding mill, making the sugar cane shredding process more efficient and profitable than ever.

Sugar cane straw—the tops and leaves of the sugar cane stalk—has become an important crop for nations like Brazil. The energy-rich straw has become increasingly used to generate electricity and create ethanol. Because it is a clean, affordable and low-carbon biofuel, sugar cane ethanol has emerged as a leading renewable fuel throughout the South American country.

Nevertheless, the processing of sugar cane straw involves an excessive amount of shredding and milling, and the crop’s strong fibers have a reputation for quickly wearing out processing machines. One company, however, is changing the game by utilizing high-strength steel.

A Cutting-Edge Solution

Since 1986, the Brazilian company Fácil System has made equipment and components for drying, crushing, grinding, screening and material handling systems for mining, quarry, ceramics, cement, fertilizer and other industries using creative and innovative techniques. Being located in the sugar plantation region of Araraquara, however, the company is especially familiar with sugar cane straw.

Spotting the added value of sugar cane straw, which had previously been discarded during harvesting, CEO Laércio Ribeiro, began to develop a new machine for shredding the material, envisioning a new market.

After an extensive review of potential materials for the machine, it was determined that only high-strength steel could meet the company’s performance target. Besides its wear properties, high-strength steel provides the possibility of cutting sheet metal via hot methods or water jets without changing the steel’s internal structural composition.

The mill rotor on the new machines, which shreds the sugar cane straw, consists of a set of shredding knives bolted in a spiral pattern to the equipment support at the axles. The knife blades, as well as the machine’s outlet grate, were developed with wear-resistant, high-strength steel.

The end result was a new sugar cane straw shredder for sugar cane waste, which could be used in boilers for energy recovery, like the cogeneration of heat and electricity.

The innovative use of wear-resistant steel extends the service life of the knives, lowers maintenance costs and delivers energy savings. In fact, the new shredders are roughly 40 percent more energy efficient than previous solutions.

Furthermore, the knives can stand up to 120 days of use—exactly half of the typical sugar cane harvest. For comparison, blades made from softer materials only last 48 hours in the process. Compared to conventional hammer shredders, these high-strength steel knife shredders perform significantly better, all the while ensuring the expansion of the renewable energy market.

Because of high-strength steel, Brazil is in an even better position to offer its expertise in sugar cane ethanol to nations worldwide, especially developing countries that could produce biofuels but still depend on oil.

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Masamune: Japan’s Legendary Swordsmith

Masamune is widely recognized as Japan’s greatest swordsmith—so much so that he has reached an almost legendary status. He created swords and daggers in the Soshu tradition between the late 13^th and early 14^th centuries, according to most historians. His swords are reputed for their superior beauty and quality—remarkable in an era when sword-making steel was often impure.

A legend tells of a test where he was challenged by Muramasa, another great swordsmith and one of his supposed students, to see who could make a finer sword. When both swords were finished, they tested the results by suspending the blades in a small creek. Muramasa’s sword cut everything that passed its way, but Masamune’s cut only leaves.

As Muramasa taunted his master for his sword’s ineptness, an onlooking monk approached and explained what he had seen. “The first of the swords was by all accounts a fine sword; however it is a blood thirsty, evil blade, as it does not discriminate as to who or what it will cut,” he said. “The second was by far the finer of the two, as it does not needlessly cut that which is innocent and undeserving.”

An award for swordsmiths called the Masamune prize is awarded at the Japanese Sword Making Competition to a swordsmith who has created an exceptional masterpiece.

John Fritz: Father of the American Steel Industry

Also known as the “Father of the U.S. Steel Industry,” John Fritz was an American pioneer of iron and steel technology. Born in 1822, Fritz began his steel-centric career at the tender age of 16. He became an apprentice in the trades of blacksmith and machinist—the latter involving repairs of agricultural and manufacturing machinery, such as the simple blast furnaces of the time.

He then went on to work in a rolling-mill, where he was responsible for all machinery. He discovered flaws in design and construction, which he then corrected either by his own inventions or by those which he adopted and introduced.

Fritz was among the first to introduce the Bessemer process to the United States. He also proposed open-hearth furnaces, among other improvements, thus paving the way for the expansion of the steel industry. The John Fritz Medal, established on Fritz’s 80^th birthday in 1902, is awarded annually by the American Association of Engineering Societies for scientific or industrial achievement in any field of pure or applied science.

Jan Liwacz: Holocaust Survivor and Master Blacksmith

Polish native Jan Liwacz was detained and arrested by the Nazis in 1939. After being kept in multiple prisons, he arrived at Auschwitz the following year. As a master blacksmith, he was assigned to a kommando, manufacturing the camp’s infrastructure elements such as gratings, handrails, banisters and chandeliers. Yet, he is perhaps most known for his work on the infamous wrought-iron sign spanning the entrance of the concentration camp.

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Bearing the contemptuous phrase “Arbeit Macht Frei” (“Work Sets You Free”), the gate itself was constructed under German orders by Polish political prisoners in the metalworking detail under Liwacz. It is believed that, in an act of defiance which went unnoticed, the prisoners reversed the B in “Arbeit,” making it appear upside down.

In 1944, he was transferred to Mauthausen-Gusen concentration camp. After the liberation of the camp one year later, Liwacz trekked to Bystrzyca Kłodzka, Poland, where he started working at a local forge. He remained there as an artist blacksmith. After his retirement, he continued teaching artisan smithery in a local vocational school until he passed away in 1980.

Tony Swatton: Hollywood’s Renowned Propmaster

As a young boy, UK-born Tony Swatton passed his days cutting gemstones, making knives and silversmithing. When he was 17, Swatton attended a renaissance fair where he observed another blacksmith making armor. Soon thereafter, he made copies of the blacksmith’s equipment and used them to make a helmet. Just a decade later, he had refined his skills enough to open his Sword and the Stone workshop in North Hollywood where he began selling products to the likes of Euro Disney and Michael Jackson.

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His work attracted the attention of film corporations, and in 1991, he was employed to do his first film work on Hook, making swords. He has since become the mastermind behind some of Hollywood’s most recognizable props, working on more than 200 films including The Hunger Games and Pirates of the Caribbean franchises, as well as TV shows such as Sleepy Hollow and Revolution.

At his Burbank workshop, Swatton forges everything from historically accurate swords, to knives, to suits of armor, and hosts his own web series, Man at Arms.

Despite its thousand year old history, blacksmithing remains just as important today as it did in its early years. There’s no doubt that blacksmiths will continue to play a vital role across numerous industries as time goes on.

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One Turbine, Many Steel Parts

Image Credit: World Steel Association

From its all-important foundation down to its screws and studs, every part of a wind turbine—machinery used to produce wind energy—depends on iron and steel. In fact, steel, on average, represents 80 percent of all the materials used to construct a wind turbine. The main components of the machine are the tower, the nacelle and the rotor. While the blades are generally made of other materials, such as carbon fiber or alloys, steel holds the turning blades in place, utilizing a cast iron or forged steel rotor hub.

At the top of the tower are the rotor and the nacelle. Because a nacelle can weigh as much as 300 tonnes, steel’s strength makes it the perfect material for the nacelle’s frame, housing and machinery. The nacelle contains some of the highest-value steel, including electrical steel, a specialty metal tailored to fabricate the specific magnetic properties that make wind energy feasible.

Behind the blades, a low-speed shaft transfers the rotational force of the rotor to the gearbox. Here, the gears are operated using precision tools and hardened steel components, and increase the low rotational speed of the rotor shaft to the high speed required to power the generator. Next, the mechanical energy captured by the blades is converted into electric energy, which is then directed to the transformer and converted to the higher voltage needed by the electricity grid.

Most of the steel in a wind turbine is utilized in the tower. There are a variety of towers, including steel-concrete hybrid towers, steel truss towers and steel lattice towers, but about 90 percent of all wind turbine towers are tubular steel towers. To construct one of these, fan-shaped plate segments are cut from rectangular parent steel plates and are then roll-formed and welded into cone sections. The tower and the foundation, which connects the turbine to the ground or seabed, have to be tailored to carry these heavier blades and the bigger rotor that they necessitate.

Steel-Powered Wind Energy of the Future

From a climate change and sustainability perspective, it is important to take into account the life cycle of wind turbines. Because steel is infinitely recyclable and has a limited environmental impact, it only makes sense that it is a primary material in turbine construction. The recovery of the material at the end of its useful life (which, in wind turbines, is usually 20 to 30 years) also helps to regain upfront costs, owing to the value of steel scrap. As traditional turbines age, maintenance and replacements are needed. In response to this disadvantage, new solutions are being explored to revolutionize wind energy.

Image Credit: World Steel Association

Enter the EWICON (Electrostatic Wind Energy Converter)—the first ever wind energy generator that requires no blades or moving parts. Developed by researchers at Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands, the EWICON is a large rectangular-shaped steel frame that stands vertically and is made up of 40 steel tubes that run horizontally within the frame and generate charged water droplets. The droplets are discharged from the steel tubes and blown by the wind. Their movement generates power that is transferred to the electricity grid. Because the EWICON doesn’t have moving parts, maintenance costs are minimal. Additionally, it doesn’t make noise, vibrate or generate shadows, so it is more suitable for urban areas.

Likewise, the Dutch Wind Mill, a new project that is part of a collective effort to transform the Dutch city of Rotterdam into a clean technology city, incorporates EWICON technology and serves as another example of the ever-improving wind energy technologies.

This “Windmill of the Future” has been designed as a 174-meter-tall bladeless steel-and-glass windmill that is to be encased by 30,000 square meters of space containing apartments, a panorama restaurant and a hotel, which will all be linked together via a series of rotating observation cabins. The structure’s inner ring area will be comprised of a framework of horizontal steel tubes that generate energy in a new and sustainable way.

Dubbed the Electrostatic Wind turbine, it is a giant step up from a traditional wind turbine. Not only will this structure work like an ecosystem, but it will also be entirely energy-neutral and connected to a smart grid for surplus energy. Other technological features include an interactive information layer within the glass facades of the cabins, as well as systems for water treatment for organic waste and photovoltaics. At the moment, the project is in its research and development stages, but is set for completion between 2020 and 2025.

Continued technological advancements and supportive policy measures have the ability to dramatically increase the future of wind energy development around the world. In doing so, they will provide a more sustainable energy solution to meet the changing demands of the world. Steel will continue to support both traditional wind turbines, as well as the wind energy technologies of the future.

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The blades wielded by the Game of Thrones characters have become synonymous with the show itself, and hardcore fans across the world pay a lot of money to get their hands on replicas of the iconic swords, which each have their own special characteristics and names, like Blackfyre, Dark Sister and Longclaw. But, what makes these weapons so extraordinary?

A Mythical, Magical Metal  

The secret behind the swords’ superiority is the material of which they were forged: Valyrian steel. This mythical alloy, manufactured in the ancient empire of the Valyrians, is noted to be exceptionally sharp and tremendously strong, yet lightweight, making it an ideal metal for a sword. Its rippled patterns make it distinctive from other metals, and because of these properties, the steel is quite scarce and very expensive. Yet what makes Valyrian steel swords most unique and powerful is the fact that they are forged with magic spells and dragonfire in a sword making process that was all but lost over the ages.

While the fictitious alloy was more than likely the result of imaginative thinking than the consultation of chemistry books, George R. R. Martin, author of the A Song of Ice and Fire novel series on which the show is based, drew inspiration from real-life ancient weaponry, more specifically Damascus steel, to dream up the material.

Real-life Inspiration

Similar to its imaginary predecessor, Damascus steel, which originated in South India before the Common Era, was primarily used to make long-bladed weapons which were reputed to be tough, shatter-resistant and able to be honed to a sharp, resilient edge.

Additionally, the blades possessed the distinctive rippled patterns which resembled flowing water. It is said that Islamic knights would look at these patterns before a battle to be reminded of the flowing waters of the rivers of paradise, and be reassured that should they fall, their place in paradise would be secured.

Of course, there were no fire-breathing dragons or wizardry involved in the forgery of these blades, and the metal’s properties weren’t as ideal as those of Valyrian steel. The material did give rise to a number of legends, however.

It was believed that a blade made of Damascus steel could effortlessly cut through a rifle barrel, or cut in half a silk scarf falling across the blade. Some even say that Damascus steel swords were the strongest blades used in the Crusades. Whether there is any truth to these legends or not, the swords were undoubtedly extraordinary for their time.

Also like Valyrian steel, the original method of production of Damascus steel was eventually lost, and the manufacturing of the patterned swords ceased around 1750.

Although Damascus steel blades may be long gone, these intricate swords have been reincarnated, albeit fictitiously, and can continue to be admired, thanks to the Game of Thrones series, which airs on Sundays at 9PM Eastern Standard Time on HBO.

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