Groundbreaking technology opens the way for sustainable materials

Jan Frostevarg, Associate Professor at Luleå University of Technology, has been selected for IVA's (Royal Swedish Academy of Engineering Sciences) prestigious 100 List for 2024. His research on the MdT Sampler, a new technology that can accelerate and streamline the development of sustainable metallic materials, is highlighted for its significant societal impact and potential to drive sustainable innovation.

The MdT Sampler is an innovative technology that could revolutionize the development process for new alloys and other metallic materials. Traditionally, materials development has been a slow and costly process, but the MdT Sampler opens up new possibilities for both industry and academia to work faster and more cost-effectively.

“Our technology tackles one of the biggest challenges in materials science – slow, expensive development processes. With the MdT Sampler, we can streamline the creation of new, more sustainable materials, which is an important part of the fight against climate change,” says Jan Frostevarg.

A Tool for Sustainable Materials

With the MdT Sampler, researchers and companies can produce small material samples that can be heat-treated to simulate industrial processes. The technology enables rapid and cost-effective experimentation with different alloys and properties. Frostevarg describes the method as a kind of "test tube mixing" for metals – where small pellets with different compositions are tested and heat-treated to mimic real production conditions.

The goal is to make the MdT Sampler a compact and user-friendly tool that can be used in both industry and academia. The technology has the potential to support the development of new sustainable materials by reducing the need for toxic or unethically sourced elements and increasing the proportion of regionally sourced alloying materials.

“Reducing dependence on toxic or unethically sourced elements is a major advantage, both for the climate and geopolitical stability. Additionally, we can eventually reduce the need to import certain raw materials, strengthening Europe's self-sufficiency,” explains Jan Frostevarg.

Jan Frostevarg, Assistant Professor in Production Development.

From lab to commercial product

The MdT Sampler is currently at technology readiness level TRL4, meaning that the concept has been proven and tested in a lab environment. The next step is to further develop a prototype that can be used in real-world applications, with the goal of bringing the technology to market within a few years. In collaboration with the Arctic Business Incubator, LTU Business, and selected industry partners, Frostevarg and his team are actively working on business development and financing to make the MdT Sampler commercially available.

“Our goal is to bring the research from the lab to reality so that experts can more quickly develop new materials that are both sustainable and competitive. By making it easier and cheaper to develop new alloys, we can ultimately create significant value for both society and the environment,” says Jan Frostevarg.

IVA's 100 List

The project is one of eight from Luleå University of Technology featured on the 2024 edition of the Royal Swedish Academy of Engineering Sciences' (IVA) prestigious 100 list. The research projects on the list are considered to have great potential for practical application through commercialisation, business and method development, or societal impact.

• Read more about all the projects from Luleå University of Technology on IVA's 100 list 2024

• Manufacturing Systems Engineering