Ovako develops steels for green ammonia engines
Steel company Ovako is developing a new generation of lean alloy steels engineered to withstand the challenges posed by green ammonia in combustion engines.
Steel manufacturer Ovako has announced the development of a new generation of lean alloy steels designed to meet the demands of internal combustion engines utilizing green ammonia as fuel.
The transportation sector is a major contributor to global greenhouse gas emissions, and decarbonizing it is critical. While electrification is a key strategy, internal combustion engines are expected to remain in use for heavy-duty applications like large trucks and shipping.
Green ammonia, produced using renewable energy, is emerging as a promising alternative fuel. However, its use in combustion engines presents material challenges, including susceptibility to stress corrosion cracking, nitridation, and wet corrosion.
Ovako aims to address these issues by developing cost-effective lean alloy steels. Preliminary research indicates that aluminum-alloyed steels with specific chromium content show enhanced resistance to corrosion compared to conventional materials. The company has also introduced a new Corrosion Resistance Index (CRI) to help evaluate the performance of these alloys.