Japanese research group to research quality issues in recycled steel

The Association for the Promotion of Research on Production Technology has started recruitment for its 2025 special research group on the “Advanced Circular Use of Steel Scrap.” The group, led by Associate Professor Ichiro Daigo of The University of Tokyo’s Research Center for Advanced Science and Technology, will provide a platform for industry, government, and academic collaboration. Its primary goal is to overcome quality inconsistencies in steel scrap, a key barrier to producing high-grade steel from recycled materials.

As Japan’s steel industry moves to decarbonise, a major focus is the transition from high-emission blast furnaces to electric arc furnaces, which use steel scrap as a primary raw material. However, the presence of contaminant elements like copper, known as tramp elements, in scrap makes it difficult to manufacture high-quality steel products using this method.

The research group identifies two key characteristics of steel scrap: the presence of unexpected tramp elements and, crucially, the variability in their concentration. It highlights the latter as a significant technical challenge that has not been sufficiently addressed, making quality stabilisation essential.

To address this, the research group asserts that discussions must span the entire supply chain, from demolition sites where scrap originates to recyclers, steelmakers, and rolling mills. The current system, where different technologies and business practices in each segment hinder overall optimisation, requires a comprehensive, cross-sectoral approach.

The initiative will host three to four meetings during the 2025 fiscal year, featuring lectures and discussions, themed around steel scrap, resource circulation, the circular economy, carbon neutrality, tramp elements, and high-grade steel.