Scientists from the Institute of Metallurgy and Machine-Building and Ural Steel have created a technology for the manufacturing of tailor-made heavy plate steels for use in the rigorous conditions of the Arctic.

The institute is part of the State Scientific Center (CNIITMASH) of Rosatom's engineering division Atomenergomash.

"The novel materials and technology for their production are of crucial importance for LNG projects and can also be used in conditions of the extreme north. The new steels are better that any Russian or foreign made materials and their use for the production of LNG equipment can cut costs by 25 percent," reads a press release by Atomenergomash.

The project to create a technology for the manufacturing of the 0N6 heavy plate nickel steels was launched in the spring of 2019 by CNIITMASH scientists and Urals Steel technologists. The first pilot batch of new steel of different plate thicknesses was rolled out in the fall.

The manufacturing of these new cryogenic steels can help Russian producers emerge on the market of high added value products. The use of these types of steel can reduce the production cost of cryogenic equipment by 25 percent without any detriment to the characteristics and security and reliability requirements, Deputy Director of the Institute of Metallurgy and Machine-Building Yevgeny Yakushev said, as quoted in the press release.

Low and medium alloy cryogenic nickel steels are widely used around the world for the manufacturing of reservoirs, tanks and equipment for LNG projects.