Leading the Future of Welding: IIW Innovation Award Winners 2024

Elin: I’ve been with voestalpine Böhler Welding for 14 years now, since 2011. Time flies I am proud to work for such a technical driven company and being able to work on metallurgical research topics which are of high interest to me.

Elin: I’m focused on developing nickel-based flux-cored wires and have recently started working on a high-strength wire. My work spans a wide range of internal and external projects, including:

• Additive manufacturing with duplex and nickel-base alloys
• Fume emission reduction and its medical implications, in this respect we have launched a specific range of flux-cored wires with low Cr(VI) in the welding fumes to protect welders form hazardous fume contents.
• Corrosion testing of welds and chemical cleaning
• Creep-resistant stainless steels
• Welding of superaustenitics
• Thermodynamic simulations of precipitation in duplex and nickel-base alloys
• Cladding using nickel-based solid wires

Elin: The paper revisits research I conducted during my time at Outokumpu Stainless and is focusing on the evolution of heat-affected zones in duplex stainless steels during welding. I revisited unpublished material and collaborated with Dr. Sten Wessman (Swerim, Stockholm; affiliated with University West, Trollhättan) for Thermo-Calc simulations. The study shows that nitrogen content and cooling rate are key factors in grain growth and austenite reformation. One key finding is the difficulty in meeting ferrite content requirements (30–70%) in the HT-HAZ, which is highly relevant for customer discussions.

Elin: The original research began back in 2003. The recent phase involved reviewing literature, writing, and collaborating with Dr. Wessman. While the time spent in the office was relatively low, the project spanned many years and required deep technical discussions and analysis.

Elin: The Welding in the World Best Paper Award is presented annually by the International Institute of Welding (IIW). It recognizes excellence in scientific articles published in Welding in the World, focusing on quality and impact. The primary purpose of a scientific article is to communicate effectively and efficiently with the target audience. A high-quality scientific article should inform readers about progress in the field, placing the progress in the context of existing knowledge.

In 2024, 230 peer-reviewed papers were published. Our paper was selected in Category B – Metallurgy and Materials for its insights into high-temperature heat-affected zones in duplex stainless steels. Editors shortlist five papers per category, and the editorial board votes—excluding affiliated authors.

The award was introduced in 2013, and this is the third time that someone from voestalpine has received it:

• 2015: Dr. Elin Westin & Prof. Staffan Hertzman
• 2016: Wilhelm Maurer et al. from voestalpine Stahl GmbH
• 2024: Dr. Elin Westin & Dr. Sten Wessman. Receiving this award again is a proud moment for our team and company.