In-situ and simultaneous SANS and ND to study the precipitation and phase transformation kinetics in V-containing Nano-steels

Nano-steels are a new generation of Advanced High-Strength Steels, which are used in the automotive industry to reduce vehicle weight and thereby improve the fuel economy and/or the range of electric vehicles. These steels have high strength combined with high formability in order to make light-weight and complex shapes such as the suspension of the car. Nano-steels consist of extremely small Nano-particles. These Nano-particles may form in beautifully ordered rows in steel as if someone lays down tiny little marbles in a soft cushion with great precision and attention for detail. Humans cannot see these tiny little marbles that are hidden in the cushion with the naked eye. Therefore, our key objective is to ‘look’ with neutrons inside the cushion and observe how nature puts the marbles in place. In steel this takes place at high temperatures, so we have built a new furnace to do that.