Reshoring European Scrap through Integrated Lifecycle Engineering of Titanium Alloys

Obiettivo

Titanium is strategic for European industry, yet the EU is import-dependent and exports high-quality machining scrap. RESILiEnT aims to reshore titanium scrap by generating clean, low-oxidation chips via LCO2-assisted oil-free machining, tracing the scrap to recycled part route in a Digital Product Passport (DPP), and demonstrating a low-TRL solid-state recycling route from chips to wire suitable for additive manufacturing.

The action will: (i) establish quantified process windows that link machining parameters to chip morphology and cleanliness, with standard operating procedures for chip extraction, segregation, labelling and inline quality checks; (ii) prototype a continuous chip-to-wire solid-state recycling route and determine its sensitivity to chip attributes; (iii) define initial process windows for laser metal deposition with wire using recycled feedstock and compare coupons and demonstrators against builds made with virgin wire; and (iv) benchmark environmental and economic performance through life-cycle assessment and techno-economic analysis, providing a decision-support prototype to choose between machining and additive routes with virgin or recycled feedstock.

RESILiEnT is deliberately positioned at low TRL (1–3). It uses design-of-experiments and response-surface modelling to derive parameter maps, develops innovative processes and methods (oil-free chip extraction; inline chip-quality assessment), and releases FAIR datasets, DPP schemas and analysis code. A four-month secondment at COMTES FHT strengthens forming science and materials testing, key for the action. The project aligns with the MSCA work programme by combining excellent research with advanced training, intersectoral exposure, open science and outreach. It contributes to the EU Green Deal and Circular Economy Action Plan by retaining value in-EU, lowering energy and emissions versus remelt-based recycling, and de-risking future pilots for a more resilient, circular titanium supply chain.