Tata Steel exploring new frontiers

Looks at opportunities in materials, silicon an alternative to steel to introduce a 2nd product line

Tata Steel is exploring opportunities in materials alternative to steel with the idea of introducing another product line beyond the existing one. “It is a joint company effort and it’s very early. But, our eyes are now beginning to set on alternative materials. The application for these materials can be in sectors like pharmaceuticals, electronics or anything related to the automotive sector. It would be a completely different area that can give us a natural hedge against the cyclicity of the steel business,” said Peeyush Gupta, vice-president (steel & marketing) of Tata Steel.

It may be early days, but Tata Steel is on a search to find the next ‘silicon’. Elemental silicon has an immense impact as most computers, cell phones, and modern technology depend on it.

One area that Tata Steel is working on is graphene, believed to be the world’s first two-dimensional material. It is ultra-light, 200 times stronger than steel, yet incredibly flexible. It is a superb conductor and can act as a perfect barrier, and is also transparent. Graphene research is focused on applications in energy, membranes, composites and coatings, biomedical, sensors and electronics.

Gupta admitted that graphene was one area for Tata Steel, but did not want to elaborate. He, however, said that globally, the material space is witnessing immense research and development (R&D).

In Tata Steel, some cases are in the R&D stage, in some cases, there are applications being looked at and in some cases, there are manufacturing processes being studied so that it can go into pilot. "We can work with our European counterparts," said Gupta.

In August, Tata Steel signed a memorandum of understanding with the Indian Institute of Technology, Madras to set up a research centre in the IIT Madras Research Park as part of its long-term strategic roadmap in the area of advanced materials. The idea is to come up with new materials, which will include graphene.

Tata Steel UK signed a collaboration agreement with Talga Resources to explore opportunities in graphene supply, processing and applications. As part of the agreement, Talga would supply graphene and graphitic carbon materials for use across applications in various Tata research programmes including, but not limited to, anti-corrosion pigments and conductive, formable, barrier and thermal coatings.

This is not Tata Steel's first initiation into new materials. Tata Steel had once explored opportunities in titanium. In 2003, Tata Steel had signed an agreement with Outokumpu Finland's physical separation division based in the US, Outokumpu-Lurgi, Germany, Pincock Allen Holt (an international resource and mining consulting company), US, and Larsen & Toubro, for setting a titanium dioxide project in Tuticorin district of Tamil Nadu.

The first phase involved mining and separation or ilmenite and some other minerals, and its subsequent upgradation into synthetic rutile or titanium dioxide slag, and the second phase entailed titanium dioxide pigment. Titanium dioxide is widely used in the paints industry as it increases the opacity of the paint film. However, land issues derailed the project. Tata Steel had applied for prospecting licence over an area of 5,100 hectares in north Kerala. Gupta said the project was closed. "Titanium is an attractive element, but profitable extraction on a commercial basis is difficult."