Benjamin Tobey
SSAB Research & Development Center
I was given the incredible privilege to work as a co-op at SSAB Americas’ Research and Development facility in Montpelier, Iowa, starting this summer and continuing to until the end of the year. The R&D facility is located on the same campus as the Montpelier mill, one of SSAB’s two electric arc furnace steel mills in North America where they produce steel plates and coils for many industrial sectors, including construction, energy, agriculture, transportation and heavy equipment.
Over my stay, I was given five total projects to work on. I have stewardship over four of the projects and will start the fifth one where the summer intern leaves off. Each of my projects provides me with unique experience. My projects include (1) optimizing the settings for steel cleanliness analysis by using a scanning electron microscope, (2) testing a simulation model, (3) analyzing a breakout shell, (4) finding the best tempering temperature for two medium-carbon microalloyed steels, and (5) reducing dilution and improving properties in chromium carbide overlays. Since there is not enough time to discuss all my projects, I will discuss the tempering project, as it provides most broad metallurgical training for me. I consider it my main project for now. In this project, we work on two steels to study the effect of tempering on the mechanical properties of these steels. The conditions include as-rolled and tempered at four different temperatures. Then tensile, Charpy, bending and microhardness testing will be performed. The microstructures of the steels will also be characterized by using optical and electron microscopes. This provides a great opportunity for me to gain experience with all the standard mechanical tests, and a chance to personally use the electron microscope and optical microscope. It also gives me an opportunity to oversee a project from start to finish. I got to see the sample blanks get waterjet out of the plate. I got to heat treat them myself, see the test blanks turn into finished samples, mount and polish the samples, then examine the samples and analyze the results.
In all my projects, I met with the engineers to figure out what needed to be done, then worked with the analysts on how to best execute the engineer’s instructions. Once the instructions were set and the methods known, I was given independence to manage my projects as I saw fit, choosing which ones to work on at what time. Throughout the process, the engineers would meet with me to keep all of us up to date on the project and they would make sure I knew why we were doing things, not just what we were doing. Aside from the meetings, the engineers were always there in case I had questions.
Even though I have taken classes and even done undergraduate research helping a graduate student with their own projects, this experience was different. This gave me an opportunity to learn from people in industry who apply their knowledge every day. I also got to learn some things the classroom doesn’t teach you, I had to work around the schedules of others, meet with the engineers and my boss, attend meetings, receive training on equipment, write weekly progress reports, order my own time, and even clean the high bay every week. I was given a taste of what the engineers do with their projects and was shown how my work can make a difference and improve the world.
Working at SSAB has been not just beneficial, but a positive experience for me. I get to see some of how industry works, but I also get to work with a team. SSAB runs with a lean team of highly specialized engineers, supported by analysts. Since the department is small, it's easy to get to know people, and there is a good culture here. SSAB also takes safety very seriously, and that is reflected in the people that work there; they share safety stories and everyone is always urged to stay vigilant and aware, so I have never felt unsafe working here. I am very thankful to SSAB and AIST for giving me this opportunity to get a taste of the industry, and for both of their support along the way.