Together with Alfa Laval and MAX IV, NanoLund researchers have studied and imaged stainless steel in an extreme atomic scale. The purpose: to use the valuable insights from the experiment in Alfa Laval’s future product development. For the first time ever, the thin layer of oxide could be imaged during high temperatures, due to the extreme atomic scale surface resolution of the microscope.
Facilitating cutting edge material innovation
“The experiment was very successful and gave us valuable insights about the oxide and how it reacts to high temperatures,” says Tom Erixon, President and CEO of Alfa Laval, in a press release from Alfa Laval.
“Stainless steel is used in many Alfa Laval products such as plate heat exchangers, separators and fluid handling equipment and the results from the experiment will be used in Alfa Laval’s product development where it can facilitate cutting edge material innovation.”
Alfa Laval came to MAX IV through a collaboration with Lund University guided by professor Anders Mikkelsen at NanoLund, and Filip Lenrick at Production and Materials Engineering, LTH. The experiment was partly funded by Sweden’s Innovation Agency Vinnova and the Swedish Foundation for Strategic Research, SSF. The team was led by Axel Knutsson, Material Specialist at Alfa Laval.
“The beamline personnel were extremely supportive and professional and gave the team constant support during the experiment. Our questions and wishes were endless and they answered and met them tirelessly”, said Axel Knutsson.
Read more on this topic at Alfa Laval’s and MAX IV:s web sites:
- Alfa Laval conducted ground-breaking material research at MAX IV
- The company Alfa Laval gains unprecedented insights on stainless steel at MAX IV
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