According to a report published Wednesday in science journal Nature, South Korean researchers have developed a new high-strength, low-density steel alloy that can outperform titanium’s strength and ductility.
The new steel alloy proposed by the researchers strengthens the steel in the same fabrication process that makes it lighter and more flexible. Aside from the development’s applications in the automotive industry, the report said it could have wide-reaching implications in manufacturing, construction and engineering.
“The balance of lightness, strength and ductility in metallic alloys has been explored since the Bronze Age,” said the research team. “There is increasing demand for a broad range of structural materials for environmentally benign, energy-efficient, lightweight engineering systems.”