SENİZ TÜRKÜZ

Sustainability Approaches in Welding Engineering: Process Optimization and Innovative Applications towards Green Transition 2050

Abstract

Accelerating global decarbonization and energy security mandates necessitate a strategic re-evaluation of welding engineering through the lens of life-cycle performance and resource efficiency. This study provides a literature-based analysis of sustainability in joining technologies, focusing on process optimization, consumable management, and circular manufacturing. The findings suggest that environmental impact is dictated by a multifaceted matrix including heat input, spatter formation, and the embodied carbon of filler materials, rather than operational electricity consumption alone. While solid-state methods like friction stir welding offer significant mitigation potential, pulsed-arc technologies and power-factor-corrected sources provide immediate industrial efficiency gains. A distinctive contribution of this review is the correlation established between welding sustainability and high-temperature flow-control equipment, specifically industrial thermo valves in concentrated solar and geothermal plants. Ultimately, welding engineering drives the green transition by both minimizing its operational footprint and ensuring the structural integrity of critical renewable energy infrastructure.

Biography

Dr. Seniz Türküz holds B.Sc., M.Sc., and Ph.D. degrees in Metallurgical and Materials Engineering from Istanbul Technical University. She specializes in magnetron sputtering-based multilayer thin films and nano-coating technologies. At the R&D center of Şişecam, she has led the development, commercialization, and industrial implementation of advanced coating systems for architectural and automotive applications, with a strong focus on energy efficiency. She has played an active role in numerous innovative product developments and patent processes, and has served as a project coordinator, researcher, and reviewer in programs supported by TÜBİTAK. Her work continues to contribute to sustainable materials technologies and the green transition.