Collaboration in Action
- Published: Thursday, 25 December 2025 13:56
With a lecture titled “Russia - China: Advanced Materials and Metallurgical Technologies within the Framework of Megagrant,” Hailiang Yu delivered a talk at Nosov Magnitogorsk State Technical University. Professor Yu, a representative of Central South University (Changsha, PRC), is a long-time partner and friend of the university, as well as one of the world’s leading experts in metallurgy and materials science. According to Scopus data, he ranked second globally in citations among all scientists in 2024 and is included in the top 2% of the most influential scientists worldwide, as identified by Scopus and Stanford University.
“This year, we have introduced an engaging format of open lectures and academic readings, within which experts of our university and representatives of industrial enterprises delivered public popular science lectures. These events were held both on the university campus and at the “Prityazhenie” venue. We decided to conclude this calendar year of open lectures on a high note,” said Ildar Abdulveleev, Vice-Rector for academic affairs at Nosov Magnitogorsk State Technical University.
Professor Yu was introduced to students and academic staff by Alexander Pesin, a professor at Nosov Magnitogorsk State Technical University. Alexander Moiseevich explained that the team of scientists of NMSTU has been collaborating with Professor Hailiang Yu’s laboratory for about fifteen years.
“During this time, we have obtained eight joint Russian patents and published twelve scientific papers. In the competition of the Russian Science Foundation, we ranked 13th in the country across all fields: from engineering and natural sciences to medical and humanities. The topic of our research is ‘The phenomenon of dynamic structural and phase transformation under asymmetric rolling of polymorphic alloys and the development of methods for producing new high-tech materials,” said Alexander Pesin, professor of NMSTU.
Professor Hailiang Yu, in his presentation, spoke about himself, his achievements, his research team, and the studies conducted within the framework of the megagrant, as well as the prospects for practical application of these developments in industry, including metallurgy, transport, and mechanical engineering. In addition, the professor shared practical recommendations on preparing and publishing scientific articles in high-ranking international journals: the types of publications that exist, how journals are selected, and what editors pay attention to.
“Central South University of China is among the leading universities in the country and is one of the global leaders in research on aluminum and light alloys. I am confident that our cooperation will yield significant scientific results. Rolling is one of the key areas of metal processing, and for many years we in Russia and China have been working on issues of asymmetric rolling. We have a solid scientific foundation and deep experience in this field. With the support of the grant, we expect to obtain new knowledge and technologies that will be of interest to the global scientific and industrial community,” noted Professor Hailiang Yu.
Professor Yu also noted that at the Central South University, researchers produce thin strips about 5 microns thick on an asymmetric rolling mill, while in Magnitogorsk they work with materials of significantly greater thickness used in the automotive industry. The collaboration between the two universities with such a range of capabilities creates a synergistic effect.
“Combining resources and potential will allow the development of new technological schemes that do not yet exist in global practice. For example, when rolling low-carbon steel without adding expensive alloying elements such as vanadium, niobium, or titanium, it is possible without changing the chemical composition to increase the strength grade by about two times, for instance from 355 MPa to 700 MPa and above, while the material retains high plasticity and impact toughness. Asymmetry in rolling can be set, for example, by using rolls of different diameters or speeds. When it comes to processing materials under pressure, rolling is one of the most popular methods. The first rolling mill was built about 200 years ago. Today, more than 70% of metals used in industry are produced through rolling,” explained Professor Yu.
At the conclusion of the meeting, Professor Yu answered questions from the lecture participants. Dmitry Terentev, Rector of Nosov Magnitogorsk State Technical University, asked about Professor Yu’s impressions of his visit to Magnitogorsk and the university.
In his response, Hailiang Yu noted that both the city and the university made a very positive impression on him. The professor admitted that before the trip he had some concerns related to the weather and local cuisine; however, all his expectations proved unnecessary: he enjoyed the food, the living conditions, the organization of work, the university’s atmosphere, and the city itself. According to him, he had exclusively positive emotions about Magnitogorsk, and he looks forward to his next visit and to continuing collaborative work within the framework of the megagrant at Nosov Magnitogorsk State Technical University.
