Microwave Steelmaking

Makarand writes "Researchers at the Michigan Technological University are working on a low-cost steelmaking process which uses microwaves to heat iron ore instead of conventional heating. Their steelmaking facility was made of magnetrons from six household microwaves wired together and an electric arc furnace. When fed iron oxide and coal, the microwave energy could reduce the iron ore to iron within minutes and the electric arc furnace smelted the iron and coal into steel. The steel industry is taking a closer look at this new process which could cut steel production costs by upto 50%."

Comments

Re:For america lets hope not

[Anonymous Coward]

This story is yet another example of what makes the USA great.

The inventor, Jiann-Yang (Jim) Hwang, came from Taiwan to the U.S. to pursue his graduate studies. (Here's his resume.) He graduates from Purdue with a Ph.D., and 20 years later, he's a professor of materials science at Michigan Technological University, and is adding to the collective innovating efforts of our nation.

Personally, I'm all for smart, hard-working people immigrating to the U.S. and staying here. All those temp workers in the technical industry who have come over here from India? All those people from Ecuador who are willing to work like dogs in the restaurant industry? All those people from Eastern Europe who are filled with the entrepreneurial sprit? Don't give them visas, make them citizens!