ADVANCED MATERIALS & PROCESSES | MAY/JUNE 2024 6 METALS | POLYMERS | CERAMICS In March, SSAB Corp., Stockholm, introduced the first emission-free steel powder for commercial use, made of recycled SSAB Zero steel. The powder features the same properties as SSAB’s high-strength steel and is designed for use in 3D printing. ssab.com. NEW PROCESS TURNS ELECTRONIC TRASH INTO TREASURE Scientists at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign developed a new method to extract valuable metals from discarded electronics and low-grade ore. They say the process uses significantly less energy and fewer chemicals than current methods. Their research involves the first precious metal extraction and separation process fully powered by the energy of electrochemical liquid-liquid extraction (e-LLE). The new technique uses a reductionoxidation reaction to selectively extract gold and platinum group metal ions from a liquid slurry containing dissolved electronic waste. In the lab, the team used an organic solvent to dissolve catalytic converters, electronic waste such as old circuit boards, and simulated mining ores containing gold and platinum METALS CHALLENGE QUANTUM STATUS QUO A team of researchers led by James Rondinelli at Northwestern University, Evanston, Ill., unveiled a class of metals that challenges the status quo of how metals behave, opening a realm where quantum oddities abound. With the creation of the compound Ca3Co3O8, the traditional distinctions between metals, polar materials, and magnets blur, confronting the fundamental understanding of what interactions give rise to material properties. According to Rondinelli, “This achievement opens the door to a frontier of unique quantum phenomena never before seen in classical systems and conventional metals.” One of those phenomena is intrinsic magnetochiral anisotropy, where certain materials act in a special way when electricity flows through them. Unlike regular metals, where the resistance to electricity is the same no matter which way the current goes, in these materials, the resistance changes depending on the direction of the current. This discovery could improve the performance and architecture of electronic devices, giving researchers more control over how magnetism and electricity work together. The team used quantum mechanical simulations and collaborative experimentation to predict Ca3Co3O8—a polar metal devoid of inversion symmetry yet imbued with ferromagnetic properties. “This material and its derivatives will serve as an exemplary group to explore the diverse range of emergent states combining polarity, magnetism, and metallicity, paving the way for exciting functionalities in electronic and spintronic devices,” says Rondinelli. Moving forward, the team will dive deeper into understanding the intricate relationship between polarity and magnetism within metallic systems. This involves performing additional studies to investigate the nuanced mechanisms underlying these interactions and their implications for material properties and applications. northwestern.edu. Reliance Inc., Scottsdale, Ariz., acquired MidWest Materials, Perry, Ohio, a provider of hot-rolled, high strength hotrolled, coated, and cold-rolled steel used in trailer manufacturing, agriculture, metal fabrication, and building products. reliance.com. BRIEFS Northwestern University researchers identified a new class of materials that blurs the distinctions between metals, polar materials, and magnets. A newly developed process uses electrochemistry to extract precious metals from discarded electronics in an e icient and environmentally friendly manner. Courtesy of Fred Zwicky.
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