AK Steel employee receives award for technical research paper

AK Steel, West Chester, Ohio, has announced that Research Engineer Grant Thomas, PhD, in collaboration with two research colleagues from the Colorado School of Mines, has received the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI) Finalist Medal for the technical paper entitled "Tensile Properties Obtained by Q&P Processing of Mn-Ni Steels With Room Temperature Quench Temperatures."

The paper highlighted the collaborative research conducted by AK Steel and the Colorado School of Mines in regard to the development of third-generation AHSS. These products, which feature enhanced formability, are expected to help automakers further decrease vehicle weight and increase fuel efficiency without sacrificing occupant safety.

According to AISI, Finalist Medals are awarded for technical papers having special merit and importance in connection with the activities and interests of the iron and steel industry. Papers are judged based on their potential value to the future prosperity of the industry, technical excellence and originality, effective communication, and breadth of interest to AISI members.

Thomas joined the company in 2012 as an engineer at its Research Center in Middletown, Ohio. He was promoted to research engineer in 2014. He has a bachelor’s degree in materials science and engineering from Iowa State University, as well as master’s and doctorate’s degrees in metallurgy and materials engineering from the Colorado School of Mines.

AK Steel produces flat-rolled carbon, stainless, and electrical steels primarily for the automotive, infrastructure and manufacturing, construction, and electrical power generation and distribution markets.