2. Global metallurgy landscape Metallurgy in Europe? No primary resources in Europe Expensive labour Environmental restrictions Climate change laws still rather dormant “Peak metal”: some metal resources depleting fast ... and even speeding up as world material intensity is expected to triple by 2050 Primary production also leads to ecological rucksack in other continents However, metals are recyclable and huge amounts of waste are available in the West
3. Our vision on metallurgy Metallurgy is changing drastically, and ever faster Processes of the future use secondary resources produce zero waste are low energy and low CO2 This is the only sustainable approach, not only in Europe Metallurgy has a future in Europe Secondary resources available Technology and knowledge available Government push to cleantech To get there, process innovation & research are key! 3
4. Our vision for InsPyro Process improvement and innovation: what’s so new about that? Universities do it (but are only interested in the big stories) Equipment suppliers do it (but want to sell equipment) Optimization companies do it (but forget a metallurgical process is not a black box) Processing companies do it themselves (but often lack right tools and people) There is a need for flexible and focused help There is a need for more insight 4
5. Based on technology 5 Materials characterization SEM EPMA XRD ICP LOM Thermodynamic Modelling Liquidus Solidification Reactions Equilibrium Process modelling Scientific Literature Journals Proceeding Reports Patents High temperature experimental set-ups Tube furnaces Induction furnace CSLM DSC Solidification
6. The offering of InsPyro Covering all forms of needs using our specialties Case by case definition of optimal strategy 6
7. Current issues (1/2) Slag practice Looking for the optimal fluxing strategy Several issues need to be considered simultaneously: Metal yield Metal quality (impurities) Metal cleanliness (non-metallic inclusions) Refractory lifetime Furnace behaviour Slag valorization Refractory protection Determining cause of accelerated wear Steel, ferroalloys, cast iron... 7
8. Current issues (2/2) Process development Using thermodynamic calculations as a first estimation for new processes Continuous need in non-ferrous metals sector Product development Using calculations to predict phases and properties In ceramics, iron, steel... 8
12. New features in since 12/2010 Optimization of the equilibrium: Optimal situation for the process or material property e.g. Global minimum melting temperature e.g. Maximum amount of precipitates ... Viscosity calculations Oxide liquids (slags and glasses) Based on quasichemicalchain formation model 12
13. Conclusions Metallurgy has a future in Europe, but not without process innovation With InsPyro: Add professional metallurgists to your team Complement R&D with missing tools Have the state of the art at your fingertips Speed up innovation within your organisation 13
