The International
Conference of Metallurgy
Abstract Submission Deadline
Notification of Acceptance
Early Registration
Conference Dates
About the Conference
International Conference of Metallurgy (ICM 2026) is an international event dedicated to advancing research and innovation in the field of metallurgy. It brings together scientists, engineers, academics, and industry professionals from around the world to exchange knowledge, present recent developments, and explore the future of metallurgical science and technology.
ICM 2026 will take place at Mohammed VI Polytechnic University (University Mohammed VI Polytechnic (UM6P)) in Morocco, one of the leading research institutions on the African continent. This edition represents a significant moment for the region, as it is among the first major international metallurgy events to be hosted in Morocco.
The Conference will place a strong emphasis on sustainable metallurgy and the latest advances in metallurgical processes and materials, covering four main thematic areas:
- Sustainable steel industry
- Design, processing, and characterization of ferrous and non-ferrous alloys
- Computational metallurgy
- Green steel
ICM 2026 aims to address both global and regional priorities in metallurgical development. By fostering open exchange and interdisciplinary collaboration, the event seeks to support the development of more sustainable and forward-looking practices across the international metallurgy community.
We invite participants from academia, industry, and public institutions to join us and contribute to shaping the future of the field.
Conference Topics
Toward a Sustainable Steel Industry: Progress and Challenges
This thematic session explores the progress of steelmaking and the major challenges and opportunities that lie ahead nationally and internationally with a focus on African market, along with the challenges facing its decarbonization. It also highlights the importance of collaboration between academia, R&D centers and industry along with the crucial role of policies and standards in supporting sustainable transformation.
- Sustainable steel production: innovations in steel processing and performance
- Raw material base (ores, scrap, pig iron, ferroalloys) for steel, cast iron, and green metallurgy
- Innovative steel grades for sustainability (HSLA, AHSS, ...)
- Secondary Metallurgy: Modern Alloying, refining, and clean steel solution
- Advanced Thermo-Mechanical Processing: Enhancing efficiency and product quality (Continuous casting, Batch annealing, ...)
- Steel Surface Engineering: Coatings, Corrosion Resistance, and Wear Protection (Galvanization, Nitriding, etc....)
- Advancing circularity in steel: optimizing scrap use, material efficiency, and environmental impact
- Intelligent scrap sorting and classification
- Design strategies for circularity: Alloy design compatible with recycling
- Process innovations for high-quality recycling (EAF, VIM, ..) and refining challenges of scrap
- Policy, standards, and industry collaboration for decarbonization
- Alignment of national and international climate policies
- Carbon pricing and Emission Trading System (ETS)
- Standardization and certification schemes
Ferrous and Non-Ferrous Alloys for Advanced Applications
This thematic session focuses on innovative approaches to alloy design, microstructure engineering, and additive manufacturing, addressing key metallurgical challenges for advanced applications. It also highlights the selection and development of steel grades suited to the specific needs of Moroccan and broader African industry, focusing on emerging sectors and regional industrial demands.
- Alloy design strategies for targeted performances
- Alloying strategies for tailored properties (corrosion and abrasion resistance, oxidation resistance, hydrogen embrittlement, etc.)
- Influence of alloying elements on microstructural formation and evolution
- New design strategies for novel alloys (e.g., HEA/MEA), and for advanced manufacturing processes such as AM
- Microstructure Engineering for high performance alloys
- Microstructural evolution and degradation in extreme conditions (Offshore, Energy applications, Aerospace, Nuclear, etc.)
- Phase Transformations during heat treatments and joining processes (welding, brazing, etc.)
- Advanced microstructural and mechanical characterization techniques
- Metallurgical challenges in additive manufacturing (AM)
- Microstructure evolution and phase transformation in additive processes
- Defects, porosity, and residual stresses: origins and control strategies
- Printability challenges in AM: Process control and alloy adaptation
- Steel grades for advanced applications
- Steel for energy (GOES, NOES, ...)
- Steel for Defense (Ballistic and Armor steel)
- Steel for Automobile and Aeronautic industry
- Steel for Piping and Infrastructure
Computational Metallurgy
This session explores the growing role of computational tools in advancing metallurgical research and innovation. It covers data-driven approaches, including artificial intelligence for materials discovery and process optimization, as well as thermodynamic and kinetic simulations essential for understanding phase transformations. Emphasis is also placed on Multiphysics modeling of complex metallurgical processes and the multiscale simulation of microstructure evolution, enabling predictive insights across scales from atoms to components.
- Thermodynamic and kinetic simulations
- Kinetic Modeling of Phase Transformations and Diffusion
- Atomic-scale simulations (DFT, MD, …) for thermodynamic modeling of alloys
- Development and validation of thermodynamic databases for emerging or complex alloys.
- Modelling microstructure evolution across multiple length scales
- Microstructure modeling of crystalline materials at all length and time scales
- Bridging of models across length and time scales
- Modeling of crystal plasticity and dislocation microstructures of materials
- Multiphysics Modeling of metallurgical processes
- Numerical Simulation of Heat and Mass Transfer in Steelmaking and Casting
- Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) in Ladle and Converter Metallurgy
- Process Digital Twins for Real-Time Monitoring and Control
- Artificial Intelligence (AI) for Metallurgy: Data-Driven Approaches
- Artificial intelligence for materials design and discovery
- AI-Based Microstructure Recognition and Analysis
- AI for accelerating computational metallurgy
Green Steel and decarbonization: Current Innovations and Future Directions
This thematic session focuses on green steel industry through the integration of renewable energy sources, valorization of by-products for gas capture, and of green energy strategies. It aims to explore how green hydrogen, and biomass can replace fossil fuels, how emitted gases can be captured and reused, and how novel materials and process improvements can enhance energy efficiency. The goal is to provide a comprehensive overview of technologies and approaches that reduce the carbon footprint and improve the overall sustainability of steel production while aligning with global climate objectives.
- Green Energy Strategies for Sustainable Steelmaking
- Advancements in CO2 capture materials
- Materials for CO2 conversion processes
- Shaft furnace process integration
- Integration of Green Hydrogen in Direct Reduction Processes (DRI)
- Use of Biomass and Biogenic Carbon Sources
- Valorization of Steelmaking by-products for Gas Capture
- Slag valorization for sustainable infrastructure and Environmental Remediation (in cement and concrete, in seawater treatment, ...)
- Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) and techno-economic analysis of slag valorization
- Recycling and Valorization of Metallurgical Dust
- Strategies for waste heat recovery and value addition
Keynote & Plenary Speakers
Prof. Yunzhi Wang
Prof. Sébastien Allain
Dr. Alphonse Finel
Prof. Vladimir Esin
Prof. Abdellah Kharicha
Prof. Sylvain Dancette
Prof. Damien Fabrègue
Prof. Niels Skat Tiedje
Prof. Souad Elhajjaji
Prof. Marc Bernacki
Dr. Antoine Ruffini
Dr. Maik Punke
Conference Program
Ibn Rochd Conference Room
🎯 Main venue for Day 1 sessions
Day 1: Sustainable Metallurgy, Green Steel, and Corrosion
MorningLaunch of ICM (opening)
Interventions of industriel and stakeholder guests
☕ Pause café
Discussion Pannel (Industrials and stakeholders)
Lunch Break
12:30 – 14:00Afternoon
Session1: Sustainable Metallurgy and Green Steel🎙️ Opening - Stanislav Zinchenko
CEO GMK Center
Global Green Steel Progress Overview
🎙️ Damien Fabrègue
INSA Lyon, France
Development of High Entropy Alloys taking into consideration environmental and societal impacts
🎙️ Chaima Boujrouf
IM2NP / Aix-Marseille Univ, France
Investigation of segregation in steels produced through low-carbon routes
🎙️ Mohammed Doudouh
MAScIR, UM6P, Morocco
Development of a Sustainable Sensible Thermal Energy Storage Material from Steelmaking and Power Plant Waste for Waste Heat Recovery
🎙️ Odey Alshboul
Yarmouk Univ, Jordan
Grid-Aware Hydrogen DRI–EAF Pathways for Green Steel in North Africa: Techno-Economic, Policy, and Circularity Integration
☕ Pause café
Session2: Advancing circularity in steel: optimizing scrap use, material efficiency, and Corrosion
🎙️ Niels Skat Teidje
DTU technical Univ, Denmark
Establishing local ecosystems for recycling of steel, opportunities and challenges
🎙️ Ghassan Almasabha
Yarmouk Univ, Jordan
AI-Orchestrated Scrap-to-Product Digital Twin for Low-Carbon EAF Steelmaking in the MENA Region
🎙️ Souad Elhajjaji
Univ Mohammed 5, Morocco
Green and Functional Materials for Corrosion Inhibition and Environmental Protection
🎙️ Abdelhak Barbouchi
Cadi Ayyad University, Morocco
An Innovative Approach for Refractory Gold Ores Processing: Efficient Single-Stage Roasting for FeS2/FeAsS Oxidation and Gold Liberation Optimized Through: Experimental Design
Day2- Poster Session / Visits and activities
All DayEcosystem Visits
University Mohammed VI Polytechnic (UM6P) Ecosystem
Visit of University Mohammed VI Polytechnic (UM6P) facilities, laboratories, and innovation ecosystem
Maghreb Steel Plant
Industrial visit – to be confirmed
Poster Session
Ananya Tripathi
DTU technical Univ, Denmark
Advancing Circular Stainless-Steel Production: Oxidation and Melt Cleanliness during Scrap Remelting
khawla el khammassi
université ibn tofail, Morocco
Improved Corrosion Protection of AA6060 Aluminum Alloy with Electropolymerized PANI-TiO₂ Composite Coatings in Saline Environments
rabeb ben hassine
Institut Jean Lamour, FRance
Reducibility of Iron Ore Pellets under Direct Reduction Conditions in a Hydrogen-Rich Gas Atmosphere
MOHAMED EL AYOUBI
Polydisciplinary faculty of Khouribga, Morocco
Short and medium range order of Mg25Al75 binary metallic glasses under cyclic loading
Smail MANYANI
Faculty of Science and Technology Mohammedia, Morocco
Degradation of Rhodamine B Dye Using Zeolite/TiO2 under UV Irradiation
Maouia AFOUCHAL
Univ Mohammed 5, Morocco
Poster presentation
Hafsa Moumni
Faculty of Educational Sciences of Rabat, Morocco
Sustainable Corrosion Mitigation in Metallurgy: Green Inhibitors and Spectroscopic Insights into Metal Surface Protection: A review
Hamza ESSOUSSI
ENSAM-Morocco
The influence of microstructure on the mechanical properties of a newly developed 3% Mn steel
Zouhir Mansouri
College of Computing
From theory to the lab: guiding experiments in Zn-ion battery materials development
Hamza LADIB
University Mohammed VI Polytechnic (UM6P) MSN department
A Hybrid Physics-Informed Machine Learning Framework for Reconstructing Thermal Processing History in Low-Alloy Steels
Muhammad Muaz Suhaib
University Mohammed VI Polytechnic (UM6P) MSN department
Auto-tempered Martensitic Transformation Pathways and Continuous Cooling Behaviour in a Newly Engineered Armour Steel
zakaria sahir
University Mohammed VI Polytechnic (UM6P) MSN department
Development and Optimization of Zn–Al–Mg Hot-Dip Galvanization Coatings Using CALPHAD and CFD Approaches
Salma Hmadoch
University Mohammed VI Polytechnic (UM6P) MSN department
Microstructural Evolution Modeling with an Added Grain Size Distribution Option after Transformation as a Function of Process Parameters
Louise Burot
Naval group, France
Determination of ferrite content in super-duplex stainless steels welds
Day 3: Computational Metallurgy
Morning🎙️ Alphonse Finel
ONERA-CNRS, France
Recent Advances on the Phase-Field Modeling
Session1: Atomic-scale simulations
🎙️ Maik Punke
Technische Univ of Dresden
Grain boundaries are Brownian Ratchets
🎙️ Soukaina Zouaoui
Sultan Moulay Slimane Univ, Morocco
Tuning Mechanical Response in Nanograined FeNiCrCoCux High Entropy Alloys by Melt-Quenching: Linking Cu Segregation and Stacking Fault Energy
☕ Pause café
Session2: Modelling microstructure evolution across multiple length scales
🎙️ Antoine Ruffini
ONERA-CNRS, France
Variational model describing the evolution of dislocations and cracks
🎙️ Muhammad Umar
Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Germany
CALPHAD-Informed Phase-Field Study of Dendritic Solidification in Stainless Steel
🎙️ Niels Becker
Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Germany
Multiphase-field simulation studies on thin film dewetting
🎙️ Bowen Liu
CEMEF - Mines Paris PSL, France
Full-field level-set modeling of diffusive solid-state phase transformations in α+β Ti-6Al-4V alloy
Lunch Break
12:30 – 14:00Afternoon
14h00 - 18h10🎙️ FP5: Yann Lebouar
ONERA-CNRS, France
Variational phase field model for hydrogen-assisted cracking
🎙️ FP6: Lahcen Abarray
CEMEF - Mines Paris PSL, France
Characterization and modeling of continuous dynamic recrystallization (CDRX): Application to 2139 aluminum alloy
🎙️ FP7: Benoit Appolaire
Institut Jean Lamour, France
Phase Field Study of Acicular Growth at Grain Boundaries: Influence of Interface Coherency
🎙️ FP8: Kimiya Nourani
Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Germany
Asymmetric Interfacial Energies in Tilted Lamellar Mo-Si-Ti Structures: A Multi-Phase-Field Study Analysis of Material Characteristics
🎙️ FP9: Tianchi Li
CEMEF - Mines Paris PSL, France
High-Fidelity Level-Set Modeling of Heterogeneous Grain Growth
Session3: Multiphysics Modeling of metallurgical processes
🎙️ K3: Abdellah Kharicha
Leoben Univ, Austria
Multiphysics Simulation of Metallurgical Processes: From Plasma Melting to Macrosegregation
🎙️ FP13: Ibrahim Karimi Sibaki
Montanuniversitaet Leoben, Austria
Multiphysics Modeling of Electroslag Remelting (ESR) Process
☕ Pause café
🎙️ FP14: Mohammed Amine El Mrabti
ARC Metallurgy, UM6P
Multi-physics Modeling and Simulation of Continuous Casting Machine for Slab Product: A Heat Transfer and CFD Study
🎙️ FP10: Mohammed Alnasser
Montanuniversitaet Leoben, Austria
Influence of Slag Composition and Arc Current on Flow and Heat transfer in Industrial TiO₂ Smelters
🎙️ FP12: Reda Archa
ARC Metallurgy, UM6P
Microstructure Control of Hot Rolling Processing of P265NB 2 Steels through Thermo-Mechanical numerical simulation via FEM
🎙️ FP9: Khaled Al-Shboul
University of Science and Technology, Jordan
Computational Modeling of Transient Laser–Surface Interactions in Plasma-Facing Metallic Materials
Day4: Computational Metallurgy
MorningSession4: Artificial Intelligence (AI) for Metallurgy
🎙️ Marc Bernacki
CEMEF - Mines Paris PSL, France
Leveraging Machine Learning in Computational Materials Science to Accelerate High-Fidelity Simulations involving Microstructure Prediction
🎙️ Armand Barbot
ONERA, France
Multi-scale modeling of plasticity with machine learning algorithms
🎙️ Imed-eddine Benrabeh
Institut Jean Lamour, France
Real-Time Phase Fraction Quantification in Dual-Phase Steels Using Deep Learning on Experimental XRD Data
🎙️ Hadrien Padovani
ONERA, France
Reduced order model for microstructure evolution at the solid state
☕ Pause café
Day4: Ferrous and Non-Ferrous Alloys
Morning🎙️ Sébastien Allain
Institut Jean Lamour, France
Contribution of high-energy X-Ray diffraction to the in-situ characterization of phase transformations of Medium Mn steels
Session1: Recent Developments in Welding of Metallic Alloys
🎙️ Sylvain Dancette
INSA Lyon
Recent insights into the heterogeneous arc welding of aluminum with steel
🎙️ Francois Moser / Louise Burot
Naval group, France
Determination of ferrite content in super-duplex stainless steels welds
Lunch Break
12:30 – 14:00Afternoon
Session2: Alloy design strategies for targeted performances🎙️ Yunzhi Wang
OHIO University, USA
Design of compositionally and structurally modulated materials for exceptional functional and mechanical properties
🎙️ Mohammed Elkot
Max Planck Institute for Sustainable Materials, Germany
Boron Alloying of Austenitic Lightweight Steel for Improved Performance in Hydrogen and Cryogenic Environments
🎙️ Jihane Elhamzaoui
ENIM, Morocco
Enhancing the Seismic Performance of Moroccan Reinforcing Steels Through Vanadium Microalloying
Session3: Microstructure Engineering and advanced caracterization of alloys
🎙️ Idriss Azhari
Mascir, UM6P
Advanced Characterization Techniques for Microstructural and Micro-mechanical Evaluation of a Zirconium Carbonitride Alloy
☕ Pause café
🎙️ Mohammed El-Kouifat
ENIM, Morocco
The influence of heat treatments on the Microstructure and the mechanical properties of the X210 CrW 1.2-1 steel
🎙️ Ayyoub Barchid
ARC Metallurgy, UM6P
Effect of Heating Rate and Temperature on Austenite Formation During Intercritical and Full Annealing of cooled rolled low carbon steel: In-Situ and Ex-Situ Study
🎙️ Imed-eddine Benrabeh
Institut Jean Lamour, France
High-Throughput Mapping of Phase Transformations Using In Situ X-ray Diffraction
🎙️ Louisi Pisani
GNR, Italy
Stress assessment of prestressing steels using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and magnetic Barkhausen (MBN) measurements: correlation and synerg
🎙️ Khaoula Id Ghaddour
ARC Metallurgy, UM6P
Phase Transformation Behavior and Mechanical Properties of Cr–Mo–Ni Alloyed Steels for Ballistic Applications
🏆 Ceremony awards
Scientific Committee
Pr. Benoît Appolaire
Pr. Yann Le Bouar
Pr. Jonathan Cormier
Pr. Marco Salvalaglio
Pr. Vladimir Esin
Pr. Sébastien Allain
Pr. Mustafa Benyoucef
Pr. Johan Jacquemin
Pr. Brahim Boubeker
Pr. Youssef Samih
Dr-Ing. Outhmane Siar
Organizing Committee
Prof. Johan Jacquemin
Dr. Ahmed Dimokrati
Aziz Mokhless
Maha Hitmi
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Assia Mediana
Dr. Youssef Samih
Dr. Outhmane Siar
Pr. Brahim Boubeker
Dr. Majdouline Maher
Dr. Khalid Aziz
Salma Hmadoch
Reda Archa
Mohammed Amine El Mrabti
Zakaria Sahir
Suhaib M. Muaz
Hamza Ladib
Mouad Aabkari
Hicham Akaya
Oussama Kharroufi
Venue
Mohammed VI Polytechnic University (University Mohammed VI Polytechnic (UM6P))
Mohammed VI Polytechnic University (University Mohammed VI Polytechnic (UM6P)) is dedicated to applied research and innovation, with a strong focus on Africa. Its founding campus in Benguerir, near Marrakech, is at the heart of the Mohammed VI Green City, enabling the university to shine nationally, continentally, and internationally. More than a traditional academic institution, University Mohammed VI Polytechnic (UM6P) is a platform for experimentation and a vibrant community that students call "the school of life."
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Materials Science & Nanotechnology (MSN) Department
The Department of Materials Science, Energy and Nano-Engineering (MSN) at University Mohammed VI Polytechnic (UM6P) brings together multidisciplinary expertise to accelerate innovation in advanced materials and sustainable process engineering. Its research portfolio spans the entire value chain, from green metallurgy, circular materials design, and advanced manufacturing, to functional nanomaterials, and energy conversion and storage systems. Through strong integration of research, education, and industry partnerships, MSN drives the development of innovative, sustainable, and high-impact technologies. Its mission is fully aligned with University Mohammed VI Polytechnic (UM6P)'s strategic vision to advance industrial sovereignty, sustainability, and technological excellence across Africa.
Accommodation
Experience comfortable and modern accommodation during the ICM 2026 at the University Mohammed VI Polytechnic (UM6P) Campus. Our housing facilities offer a perfect blend of comfort and convenience for all attendees.
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Sponsors & Partners
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Support from Thermo (MDPI)
We are pleased to announce the support provided by Thermo (MDPI), an international, peer-reviewed, open-access journal, through the Special Issue on Thermal Science and Metallurgy.
This Special Issue aims to gather high-quality original contributions and foster the exchange of ideas among academics from metallurgical science and related fields, as well as researchers and engineers from industry involved in metallurgical processes such as steelmaking and energy production.
The support of the Thermo (MDPI) journal is reflected in the following contributions:
FIVE FULL APC WAIVERS
Five selected high-quality submissions for interested participants will receive a full waiver of the Article Processing Charges (APCs) for publication in this special issue.
50% APC REDUCTION
All other accepted contributions will receive a 50% reduction in Article Processing Charges.
PRESENTATION AWARDS
Students and academic researchers are eligible for the Best Oral Presentation Award of 300 CHF prize.
Register for ICM 2026
Important Dates
Abstract Submission Deadline
Deadline for submitting abstracts.
Early Registration
Discounted registration closes.
Notification of Acceptance
Results of abstract review.
Conference Dates
University Mohammed VI Polytechnic (UM6P), Benguerir, Morocco.
Note: Optional industrial visit to Maghreb Steel. Limited places; an additional fee applies.
Registration Has Finished
Thank you for your interest in ICM 2026. The registration period has now closed.
For any inquiries about late registration or conference attendance, please contact the organizing committee.
Payment Instructions
After receiving your acceptance notification, please proceed with the bank transfer using the details below.
Important: After making the payment, please email your payment receipt to icm@um6p.ma to confirm your registration.
Discover Morocco
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