Master's Thesis Opportunity at Outokumpu R&D in Avesta

Shape the Future of Sustainable Stainless Steel with Outokumpu!

Are you looking for an exciting master’s thesis project in Spring 2025? Outokumpu’s Research & Development department in Avesta is seeking ambitious students to join us and contribute to our cutting-edge projects. This is your chance to be part of a global leader in stainless steel production and sustainability.

Why Outokumpu?

At Outokumpu, we’re not just producing stainless steel—we're pioneering sustainability and innovation in the industry. With nearly a century of groundbreaking research, including the invention of duplex stainless steel right here in Avesta, we continue to push the boundaries of materials science. Now, you can join us in this journey.

What We Offer

• Spring 2025 start: All positions are for master’s thesis projects beginning in Spring 2025.
• Hands-on research: Work on advanced topics in materials science, mechanical engineering, and sustainability in our cutting-edge R&D facilities.
• Mentorship & expertise: Collaborate with industry-leading specialists and receive support from dedicated mentors.
• Impactful projects: Your thesis will directly contribute to the future of stainless steel production and sustainable innovation.
• Compensation & accommodation: We provide project-related expenses and stipend upon completion.

Available Thesis Topics for Spring 2025 (more information in appendix below)

• Continuous Cooling Transformation (CCT) Diagrams for High Alloyed Duplex Stainless Steels
• Critical Cooling Rates for 475°C Embrittlement Avoidance
• Low-Temperature HAZ Impact Toughness in Duplex Stainless Steels
• Toughness in Lean Duplex Stainless Steels
• Mechanical Testing in Hydrogen Environments
• Allowable Cold Work in Austenitic Stainless Steels for Structural Applications
• 475°C Embrittlement in MIG-Welded Duplex Grades (DX 2304, EDX 2304)
• Castability Mapping Using GLEEBLE

Who You Are
We are looking for students who:

• Are in their final year of a master’s program in Materials Science, Chemical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related field.
• Are passionate about research, sustainability, and innovation, with a specific interest in stainless steel.
• Can work independently and solve complex problems, while always prioritizing safety.
• Are fluent in English, both written and spoken (the thesis report will be in English).

Location: This role is based in Avesta, Sweden.

If you’re ready to start your thesis with us in Spring 2025, apply now! Submit your application, including a CV and a written essay or text in English detailing your research interests, on our website. Preferable if you specify which of the proposed topics that interests you the most.

Application deadline: November 24, 2024. Applications are reviewed continuously, so don’t wait!

For more information, contact Paul Janiak, R&D Manager Design & Fabrication, at +46 700 88 12 67 or via email at paul.janiak@outokumpu.com. For questions about the recruitment process, contact Julia Enström, Talent Acquisition Partner, at julia.enstrom@outokumpu.com.

Join us in shaping the future of materials and sustainability—starting in Spring 2025!

Appendix:

1. Continuous Cooling Transformation (CCT) Diagrams for High Alloyed Duplex Stainless Steels

This project focuses on understanding how different cooling rates affect intermetallic phase precipitation in thick duplex stainless steels. Using GLEEBLE technology, you'll conduct metallographic analysis and impact toughness testing, which is sensitive to microstructural changes. The goal is to distinguish between the effects of phase precipitations and 475°C embrittlement, which can cause reduced toughness in thicker duplex materials.

2. Critical Cooling Rates to Prevent 475°C Embrittlement in Duplex Stainless Steel

This project explores the critical cooling rates required to avoid embrittlement at 475°C, which affects the impact toughness of duplex stainless steels. By utilizing the GLEEBLE system, you will compare experimental cooling rates with calculated rates from the STEELTEMP® software. This research could potentially overlap with the CCT project, particularly when focusing on high-alloy duplex steels, but could also be applied to low-alloy duplex grades.

3. Low-Temperature HAZ Impact Toughness of Duplex Stainless Steels

With the upcoming EN1993-1-4 standards adding toughness requirements for duplex stainless steels, this project aims to assess how heat-affected zones (HAZ) perform at low temperatures. By simulating HAZ using the GLEEBLE system, you'll measure the toughness and may utilize EBSD (Electron Backscatter Diffraction) to further analyze the microstructure. This research will help ensure that our duplex grades meet future Eurocode specifications.

4. Influence of Processing Routes on Toughness in Lean Duplex Stainless Steels

This project investigates how different processing routes, such as thickness reduction levels, influence the toughness of lean duplex stainless steels. You'll utilize advanced techniques like EBSD and 3D EBSD to analyze how microstructural features affect toughness. The project will provide new insights into the relationships between material thickness, reduction levels, and toughness.

5. Mechanical Testing in Hydrogen Environments

Hydrogen embrittlement is a critical issue for many metals. In this project, you'll develop and evaluate testing methods such as SSRT (Slow Strain Rate Testing) and constant load testing to examine how different stainless steel grades perform in hydrogen environments. Methods for introducing hydrogen, such as electrochemical charging and autoclave pre-charging, will be evaluated, and a testing setup will be created to conduct initial experiments on selected materials.

6. Allowable Cold Working Limits in Austenitic Stainless Steels for Structural Applications

New Eurocode 1993-1-4 requirements place limits on the amount of cold working allowable for austenitic stainless steels in structural applications. This project aims to test various grades subjected to different degrees of cold working, assessing their toughness to provide engineers with guidelines on which grades and cold working limits are appropriate for structural use.

7. Welding in Cold-Worked Regions of Austenitic Stainless Steels (Optional Addition)

This project could extend the investigation of cold-worked austenitic stainless steels by simulating welding cycles using GLEEBLE technology. You'll compare impact toughness in cold-worked specimens with and without the welding cycle, offering valuable insights for industries where welding on cold-worked materials is common.

8. 475°C Embrittlement of MIG-Welded DX 2304 and EDX 2304

Duplex stainless steels DX 2304 and EDX 2304 are prone to embrittlement after prolonged exposure to temperatures between 275–350°C. This project involves long-term heat treatment of MIG-welded samples, microstructural analysis using SEM and EBSD, and impact toughness testing. Your findings will inform recommendations for maximum use temperatures in various standards for these steel grades.

9. Castability Mapping Using GLEEBLE

Highly alloyed stainless steels and nickel-based alloys face challenges during continuous casting. In this project, you'll use the GLEEBLE system to evaluate how cooling rates and deformation rates affect hot ductility and crack susceptibility. The goal is to create a castability map for one or two alloys, providing key data to optimize production processes for these challenging materials.