Sustainable New Technology for the Improvement of Metallic Materials for Future Energy Applications

Abstract

The need for a more sustainable and accessible source of energy is increasing as human society advances. The use of different metallic materials and their challenges in current and future energy sectors are the primary focus of the first part of this review. Cryogenic treatment (CT), one of the possible solutions for an environmentally friendly, sustainable, and cost-effective technology for tailoring the properties of these materials, is the focus of second part of the review. CT was found to have great potential for the improvement of the properties of metallic materials and the extension of their service life. The focus of the review is on selected surface properties and corrosion resistance, which are under-researched and have great potential for future research and application of CT in the energy sector. Most research reports that CT improves corrosion resistance by up to 90%. This is based on the unique oxide formation that can provide corrosion protection and extend the life of metallic materials by up to three times. However, more research should be conducted on the surface resistance and corrosion resistance of metallic materials in future studies to provide standards for the application of CT in the energy sector.