A native of Linz, Sarah L. came to Styria to stay. Her enthusiasm for steel also has Upper Austrian roots. Both of her parents worked here in Linz. And during her school and college years, Sarah L. got a taste of shift work there during her summer vacations. Later, while writing her thesis here in Linz, she finally discovered her passion for research.
In October 2012, immediately after completing her studies in materials science at the Montanuniversität Leoben, Sarah L. began working in the product development group here in Kapfenberg. Her work today consists of a combination of experimental research and numerical predictions, which are cross-referenced. In this way, Sarah L. designs material properties to meet customer requirements and optimizes existing processes.
For example, the team also examines how process steps—such as heat treatments—affect the microstructure and properties of the material. “We develop new or adapted alloys and optimize their chemical composition or the associated processes. We use simulation programs, numerical predictions, metallographic examination methods, and various material testing procedures to gain the best possible understanding of the material. This allows us to improve the material’s properties, reduce scrap, or achieve cost savings. It’s an exciting field with many opportunities for independent research,” says Sarah L. The most exciting thing about my work is that we have various examination and analysis methods at our disposal to describe the microstructure of the material.
The researcher is currently focusing on the class of precipitation-hardening steels. Her projects center on the detailed characterization of process steps and the improvement of material properties, such as the toughness of these steels. In her research, Sarah L. finds it essential to combine creativity with structure and organizational skills. Additionally, her creative approach helps her structure complex content more quickly, identify key decision-making criteria, and make potential solutions more tangible. For the mother of a three-year-old daughter and a six-year-old son, working with focus and efficiency is just as important as always approaching new topics with an open mind.
Continuous professional and personal development, along with viewing topics from different perspectives, are crucial to successful research for Sarah L. “New approaches and collaborative solutions often emerge from close collaboration with colleagues from other fields and companies,” says Sarah L. She also repeatedly finds fresh inspiration and new perspectives for her research work in the creativity of her personal passion: interior design.
Die voestalpine ist ein weltweit führender Stahl- und Technologiekonzern mit kombinierter Werkstoff- und Verarbeitungskompetenz. Die global tätige Unternehmensgruppe verfügt über rund 500 Konzerngesellschaften und -standorte in mehr als 50 Ländern auf allen fünf Kontinenten. Sie notiert seit 1995 an der Wiener Börse. Mit ihren Premium-Produkt- und Systemlösungen zählt sie zu den führenden Partnern der Automobil- und Hausgeräteindustrie sowie der Luftfahrt- und Öl- & Gasindustrie und ist darüber hinaus Weltmarktführer bei Bahninfrastruktursystemen, bei Werkzeugstahl und Spezialprofilen. Die voestalpine bekennt sich zu den globalen Klimazielen und verfolgt mit greentec steel einen klaren Plan zur Dekarbonisierung der Stahlproduktion.
