AISTech 2026 — The Iron & Steel Technology Conference and Exposition — took place from 4th to 6th of May 2026 at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA.
The event once again demonstrated the strong international relevance of the iron and steel community, bringing together more than thousands of participants from industry, research, and academia.
The Chair of Ferrous Metallurgy at Montanuniversität Leoben was pleased to contribute to the technical program with two presentations addressing current challenges in continuous casting and steel process development.
Christian Bernhard presented the work:
“Synergy of In-Situ Methods to Investigate the Effect of Trace Elements on the Formation of Surface Defects in Continuous Casting of Steel”
The contribution focused on the importance of hot shortness in the context of increasing scrap-based electric steelmaking in the EU. By combining high-temperature laser scanning confocal microscopy, thermal gravimetry, and IMC-bending tests, the work provides deeper insight into the influence of trace elements such as Cu, Sn, and Ni on grain boundary behavior, intergranular oxidation, and surface crack formation during continuous casting.
Co-Authors: Michael Bernhard, Peter Presoly, Georg Gaiser, Robert Littringer
Monika Seidl presented the work:
“Improving Secondary Cooling Simulations in Continuous Casting: Regression Models Validated by In-Plant Traveling Thermocouples”
This presentation introduced a data-driven methodology for predicting heat transfer coefficients in the secondary cooling zone of continuous casting. Regression models developed from experimental data obtained at the nozzle measuring stand of Montanuniversität Leoben were integrated into the in-house simulation software m²CAST and validated using industrial temperature measurements from traveling thermocouples. The approach supports a more detailed analysis of operating parameters, heat transfer, and solidification behavior.
Co-Authors: Daniel Kavić, Christian Bernhard, Sergiu Ilie, Franz Ramstorfer, Ricardo Vieira Regis De Almeida Martins, Roberto Gerardo Bruna
We sincerely thank the organizers of AISTech 2026 for providing an excellent platform for scientific exchange, technical discussions, and international collaboration within the steel industry.
We would like to sincerely acknowledge K1-MET GmbH and our industrial partners voestalpine and Ternium for their valuable collaboration and continued support. Their contributions are essential for linking experimental investigations, numerical simulation, and industrial application in continuous casting research.
