The Iron Saga: From Stars to Sustainable Commodity
Speaker
Antoine Allanore
- Professor of Metallurgy, Heather N. Lechtman Professor of Materials Science and Engineering
- Director, Center for Materials Research in Archaeology and Ethnology
About This Talk
Modern civilization’s demand for materials, combined with a growing emphasis on sustainability, invites us to take a deeper look at iron, the 26th element on the periodic table, symbol Fe.
Iron is key to the history of our universe, life on Earth, and many wonders of the natural world. Yet iron production came relatively late in human technological history, and it remained absent in certain parts of the world until the 16th century.
Today, the scale and pace of production have dramatically changed. In 2023, iron and steel production reached an estimated 1.9 billion tons—an almost $1 trillion market. Iron and steel are the backbone of industries such as transportation, energy, manufacturing, consumer electronics, and medical tools. As population and global economic growth continue to rise, production could double in the next 40 years.
While iron is one of the most recycled materials, most iron production today relies on carbon-based processes to reduce iron oxide, which generate huge quantities of greenhouse gases—about 5% to 7% of global emissions. Lessening the environmental impact is a formidable challenge, but materials science and engineering can make a meaningful contribution through materials processing. In this talk, Professor Allanore will explore more sustainable processes for iron and steel production, highlighting innovations that replace the use of carbon with electricity.
Biography
Antoine Allanore is Professor of Metallurgy in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering (DMSE), and currently the Heather N. Lechtman Chair. He received his higher education in France, earning his engineer diploma at École Nationale Supérieure des Industries Chimiques and a M.Sc. and a Ph.D. from Lorraine University. After several years working as a research engineer in industry, He joined MIT in 2010 as a post-doctoral fellow under Professor Donald Sadoway. In 2012, he was named the T.B. King Assistant Professor of Metallurgy in DMSE. He teaches thermodynamics and sustainable chemical metallurgy at the undergraduate and graduate levels. His research has led to several new process technologies, including a method of producing iron and steel without greenhouse gas emissions. He currently serves as the Center for Materials Research in Archaeology and Ethnology at MIT.
About the Wulff Lecture
The Wulff Lecture is an engaging and accessible presentation designed for a broad audience. Its purpose is to inform, inspire, and motivate MIT undergraduates to explore the study of materials science and engineering. The event extends an invitation to all MIT, with a special emphasis on welcoming first-year students. Learn more