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It is only right that Metals Magazine reflects the global trend toward an even more diverse and powerful workforce in steel production. This interview features Lucia Nares, Head of Product Development for Hot-Rolled Products at Ternium Mexico.
Can you share with our readers a bit about your background?
Lucia Nares: My name has Libyan origins, but my entire family is from Mexico. I studied mechanical engineering at the University of Monterrey and began working at Ternium in January of 2012. Most of my work here has been in hot-rolling. When I started my career, I only knew I wanted to be an engineer. I noticed that many students went in the same direction, which would have been materials. I wanted to be different, and this ultimately led me to automation and then to metallurgy.
One of the projects Ternium has executed with Primetals Technologies involves a new hot-rolling mill. Is this investment enabling new possibilities in R&D?
Nares: The mill is a total game-changer. We will be able to extend the range of products we can manufacture significantly. I feel we really needed a hot-rolling mill at this stage, and I’m very excited about the new possibilities it offers.
What role do automotive steels play in your larger R&D strategy?
Nares: It matters greatly to us. Automotive steels are at the center of the steel industry’s R&D work, and we always aim to develop lighter, harder materials for many car parts, such as wheels, structural components, and components that enhance safety in the car.
Is it true that steel grades for the exterior of cars—automotive exposed—are the hardest to produce, and if so, why?
Nares: If cold-rolled material is used, I would say that it’s indeed relatively complex to make. But for producers of hot-rolled steel, it’s not quite so complex. With the new hot-rolling mill, we’ll be able to tackle the most challenging steels, as we’ve already got two galvanizing lines and a PLTCM. The new hot-rolling mill will allow us to establish a complete production chain on our Monterrey site.
Will automotive steels become less relevant once electric cars are more common?
Nares: No, not at all. Electric cars still require steel, even though they can be lighter and use less steel per unit weight. There are even new parts necessary for the construction of electric cars, for instance, to protect the battery. Carmakers have tried materials such as aluminum in the past, but found that steel worked better for stiffness, so they reverted to steel.
In your personal opinion, will hydrogen-powered cars soon succeed today’s electric cars?
Nares: I asked my husband about this, since he is a big car aficionado. It seems that hydrogen cars these days are still quite dangerous, as the technology is not mature yet. So I would not expect to see hydrogen-powered cars become mainstream any time soon.
How long do your R&D projects take, for instance, the development of a new steel grade?
Nares: At least a year and a half. The definition of the material—the chemistry, the thermomechanical process, and the right cooling strategy—usually takes a few months. Aside from meeting the specification, the material will also have to satisfy our client, so we’ll align with them repeatedly in order to ensure they’ll be able to use our products for the intended applications. Once this is done, we can scale up production step-by-step.
What tends to be the most common challenge?
Nares: Ensuring that the material will work “in the field.” It has to be functional, in addition to meeting specifications.
Where do you draw inspiration from for new R&D ideas?
Nares: We get it from working with our clients. It is our job to make sure they’ll achieve their goals. This is what drives us.
Is there any innovator that you particularly admire?
Nares: I admire Galileo. He had a unique duality: he was both an innovator and an artist. If your work is ultimately results-oriented, it’s not always easy to infuse it with artistic beauty. Galileo achieved this.
What technology would you like to see invented, even if it probably never will be?
Nares: Producing drinkable water. I think that we might see shortages in the future. We should be more environmentally conscious, for ourselves but also for our children.
