P. Chris Pistorius
Associate Department Head and POSCO Professor, Materials Science and Engineering
Co-Director, Center for Iron and Steelmaking Research
P. Chris Pistorius is a metallurgical engineer whose research focuses on production of metals and alloys, mainly steel, and corrosion. A native South African, he received bachelor's and master's degrees in metallurgical engineering from the University of Pretoria, and completed a Ph.D. in corrosion at the University of Cambridge. He was an associate professor and then professor in the Department of Materials Science and Metallurgical Engineering, University of Pretoria, South Africa, from 1991 to 2008. He served as head of that department from May 2002 to June 2008. He has been professor of Materials Science and Engineering at Carnegie Mellon since July 2008, working closely with Richard Fruehan and then Bryan Webler in the Center for Iron and Steelmaking Research. In 2024, Pistorius was named a Distinguished Member and Fellow of the Association for Iron & Steel Technology (AIST) for his significant contributions to the technical advancement of corrosion research, ironmaking and clean steel processing.
Creating Models and Molds for Use in Metal Casting
Metals Production: Iron & Steelmaking
Education
1991 Ph.D., Corrosion, University of Cambridge
1989 Master of Engineering, Metallurgical Engineering, University of Pretoria
1988 Bachelor of Engineering, Metallurgical Engineering, University of Pretoria
Media mentions
Materials Science and Engineering
Faculty, students, and alumni highlighted at AISTech
Several faculty, students, and alumni of the materials science and engineering (MSE) department at Carnegie Mellon were recognized for their accomplishments and shared their research at this year's AISTech meeting.
Wilton E. Scott Institute for Energy Innovation
decarbSTEEL: From classroom to conference debut
decarbSTEEL is a CISR-Scott Institute joint initiative to support decarbonization in the iron and steelmaking industry.
CMU Engineering
CISR forges on after 40 years
The Center for Iron and Steelmaking Research has made significant contributions to iron and steel production through collaborative efforts between industry partners and CMU faculty and students.
Engineering and Public Policy
INDABA partnership convenes industry stakeholders in Beijing, tours decarbonized iron production
Researchers from Carnegie Mellon and Tsinghua Universities met in July with academic and industry partners in Beijing, where they examined ways to accelerate the decarbonization of the iron and steel industry, focusing on China.
Canary Media
Pistorius weighs in on a new, green method of producing steel
MSE’s Chris Pistorius spoke about a new method of making clean iron from steel that is currently in development.
Materials Science and Engineering
Pistorius named AIST Fellow
Chris Pistorius has been named as a 2024 Association for Iron & Steel Technology (AIST) Distinguished Member and Fellow for his significant contributions to the technical advancement of corrosion research, ironmaking and clean steel processing.
CMU Engineering
These defects are not to be mistaken as scratches
Shrinkage porosity, a common defect in metal castings, has been identified in laser powder bed fusion additive manufacturing.
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Pistorius comments on U.S. Steel sale
MSE’s Chris Pistorius said he hopes the new owners of U.S. Steel will continue to support the region's universities.
Wilton E. Scott Institute for Energy Innovation News
Engineering faculty engage in industrial decarbonization research partnership
MSE’s Chris Pistorius and EPP’s Valerie Karplus and Paulina Jaramillo, alongside Assistant Professor of Economics and Public Policy Edson Severnini, joined collaborators in Germany to begin an international research partnership.
Wilton E. Scott Institute for Energy Innovation
CMU Researchers and Collaborators Kick Off INDABA Partnership on Decarbonizing Industry
Valerie Karplus and Paulina Jaramillo, Scott Institute Energy Fellows, and Chris Pistorius and Edson Severnini, Scott Institute Faculty Affiliates, joined international collaborators in Heidelberg, Germany, in early May to kick off a research partnership focused on industrial decarbonization.
Wilton E. Scott Institute for Energy Innovation
Scott Institute Seed Grants Support CMU Energy Projects in Eleventh Annual Round
The Wilton E. Scott Institute for Energy Innovation’s Seed Grants for Energy Research program will support three research projects in the 2023 cycle.
Scott Institute
Pistorius helps create industrial decarbonzation partnership with a $1.5 million NSF grant
MSE’s Chris Pistorius and colleagues create the Industrial Decarbonization Analysis, Benchmarking, and Action (INDABA) partnership with a $1.5 million grant awarded by the National Science Foundation.