Project description
Sustainable use of refractories
Refractory materials are an essential part of high-temperature industries including iron and steelmaking. They are made specifically to endure severe stress from production processes as well as various combinations of thermos-mechano-chemical damage mechanisms. Yet, the onset of a European move to net-zero emissions and digitalised processes is pushing them to adapt. The EU-funded CESAREF project, led by a team of steel, refractory and raw material producers and specialists, aims to make this a comfortable transition. To do this they will study and implement methods to improve energy efficiency and durability, efficiently utilise raw materials and enforce improved recycling, research microstructure designs for improved sustainability and prepare for the arrival of hydrogen steelmaking.
Objective
Refractory materials are key enablers for high temperature industries such as Iron & Steelmaking (I&S). Refractories are sophisticated materials designed and optimized to sustain severe operation conditions inducing complex combinations of thermo-mechano-chemical damage mechanisms. Nevertheless, refractory material consumption has been reduced over the last 50 years from more than 35 kg of refractories per ton of steel to about 10 kg/t in the European steel industry, while keeping safety of the utmost importance.
The movement of the I&S industry towards Net-Zero emissions and digitalized processes through disruptive, breakthrough technologies will be achieved through the use of Hydrogen. The biggest challenge for the refractory industry is to continue to meet the performance expectations while, at the same time, moving to a more sustainable production direction.
The complexity and urgency of these technology changes, highlighted by the European Green Deal, requires a Concerted European Action on Sustainable Applications of REFractories (CESAREF). A consorted and coordinated European network with steel, refractory, raw material producers and key academic poles will tackle the following key topics:
• Efficient use of raw materials and recycling,
• Microstructure design for increased sustainability,
• Anticipation of hydrogen steelmaking,
• Energy efficiency and durability.
While creating new developments in the I&S and refractory industries, the network will train highly skilled doctoral candidates capable of communicating and disseminating their acquired knowledge. CESAREF will create a core team across the European refractory value chain, accelerating the drive towards the European refractory industries push towards sustainable materials and processes, as well as Net-Zero emission Steel production. This will help to create and secure sustainable employment in the European refractory and I&S industries.
Fields of science
Keywords
Programme(s)
- HORIZON.1.2 - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) Main Programme
Coordinator
75794 Paris
France
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Participants (14)
4000 Liege
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8700 Leoben
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52062 Aachen
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1040 Wien
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12205 Berlin
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4621 Kristiansand
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75015 Paris
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56564 Neuwied
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1120 Wien
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7011 Ghlin
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92400 Courbevoie
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1951 JZ Velsen Noord
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93200 SAINT DENIS
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75015 Paris
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Partners (10)
87032 Limoges
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75013 Paris
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14469 Potsdam
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Montréal (Québec)
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60528 Frankfurt Am Main
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668 21 Ed
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999077 Hongkong
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56427 Siershahn
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56075 Koblenz
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151742 SEOUL
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