The Experts Pushing the Envelope: Xin Zhang, PhD, Principal Refractory Engineer

Boston Metal is bringing specialists to the table to overcome challenges and pioneer innovation. Our team is made up of world-class scientists and metals industry veterans with deep technical expertise in metallurgy, electrochemistry, materials science, process engineering, systems modeling, thermodynamics and more. Get to know Xin Zhang, an innovator at Boston Metal who specializes in refractory engineering. 

Xin joined Boston Metal in 2024 with over 15 years of experience working for steel manufacturers such as ArcelorMittal, one of our investors, and Cleveland-Cliffs. Throughout her career, Xin has gained a wide range of experience in refractory development and is now pioneering the field to improve the production safety and efficiency of our Molten Oxide Electrolysis (MOE) technology.

While Xin was growing up in China, her father was an engineer for a large manufacturing company which fostered Xin’s initial interest in engineering. She worked for the same company as her father for 10 years where she gained a deep knowledge about refractory sciences. To further her expertise, Xin decided to go abroad and study at McGill University where she earned a master’s in metal-ceramic composites and a doctorate in magnesium alloy development for automobile applications, expanding her knowledge beyond her initial refractory background.

“When I came to Boston Metal and began working on this cutting-edge technology, I realized there is no end to what you can learn.”

Her extensive experience with refractories in traditional steelmaking has been an asset to Xin’s work at Boston Metal. Xin primarily works on refractory improvement for the pilot scale MOE cells, ensuring they are resilient enough to withstand the intense high temperature process. Xin’s innovations to the pilot scale MOE cells allow the company to test improvements which can then be implemented at the industrial scale. This learning process is a crucial step in realizing the design and process of our MOE technology.

Here’s how Xin views her work:

What motivates you to continue pushing the envelope in your field?

I stay curious and remain open to new opportunities. I worked in a steel mill for over 15 years and got to know every step of the process. There is always room for small improvements, but I could see the technology had a limit. When I came to Boston Metal and began working on this cutting-edge technology, I realized there is no end to what you can learn.

What do you enjoy most about your current role and the impact you have?

I really enjoy the teamwork and supportive work environment. I get to work with expert electrochemists and engineers and make my contributions to the work in order to realize their designs. It is rewarding to play a part in that process.

If you were to describe the importance of the work you do, what would you say?

In Chinese, there is a saying “众人拾柴火焰高” which translates to “The fire burns high when everyone adds wood to it.” This encapsulates the importance of our work. Everyone is able to contribute their own expertise, and together, we are able to build a new era of green technology. I am very proud to be a part of that mission.

Learn more about the historic commissioning run of our multi-inert anode industrial demonstrator MOE green steel cell, made possible by the hard work of committed team members like Xin.