Researchers unveil magnet that slashes alloy heat treatment time and energy use by 80%

A UF-developed superconducting magnet dramatically reduces metal production energy by combining magnetic fields with heat treatment. The Induction-Coupled Thermomagnetic Processing technology accelerates carbon diffusion in steel, cutting processing time from eight hours to minutes while using 80% less energy. This $6 million prototype, funded by the Department of Energy, could transform manufacturing, reduce costs, and decrease carbon emissions within the next decade.