University of Utah metallurgical engineering Ph.D. candidate Munro Alley is passionate about sustainable engineering. His experimental research focuses on developing more energy-efficient and cost-efficient approaches to producing critical materials like titanium and rare earth elements.
Critical materials like rare earth elements and titanium are limited in their application by their cost, which stems from the energy-intensive nature of their production.
The research group Alley works in has developed an approach to producing titanium based on the magnesiothermic reduction of titanium oxide in a hydrogen atmosphere that has the potential to compete with state of the art production practices in use today.
Alley is working to develop a similar novel approach to apply to other materials.
Alley’s innovative and hands-on approach to engineering research has made him a promising innovative scientist and engineer of the future.
More articles like this in ‘Student Innovation @ the U!’
Find this article and a lot more in the 2023 “Student Innovation @ the U” report. The publication is presented by the Lassonde Entrepreneur Institute to celebrate student innovators, change-makers, and entrepreneurs.
