CESAREF — Concerted European action on Sustainable Applications of REFractories

Results in brief

Concerted European action on Sustainable Applications of REFractories

The CESAREF project addresses critical challenges in refractory materials within the context of the European Green Deal and the urgent need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in energy-intensive industries. Refractory materials play a crucial role in high-temperature industrial processes, particularly in steelmaking, which significantly contributes to global CO2 emissions. As the steel industry transitions towards more sustainable practices, including hydrogen-based technologies, there is a pressing need for innovative refractory solutions that can withstand new operational conditions while improving energy efficiency and reducing environmental impact. CESAREF brings together 8 academic partners, 9 industrial partners, and 9 associated partners to train 15 doctoral candidates in developing sustainable refractory solutions. The project aims to equip these researchers with the knowledge and skills necessary to contribute to the decarbonisation of energy-intensive industries, focusing on four key areas: efficient use of mineral resources and recycling, microstructure design for increased sustainability, anticipation of hydrogen steelmaking requirements, and enhancement of energy efficiency and durability. By addressing these challenges, CESAREF aims to make significant contributions to the European Research Area in refractory materials, strengthening its global competitiveness. Expected impacts include developing new methodologies for efficient resource use and recycling, enhanced design and characterisation routes for improved process and material sustainability, and innovative environmental assessment tools for eco-design of refractory materials. The project's interdisciplinary nature, combining materials science, engineering, and environmental assessment, positions it to contribute substantially to European Green Deal objectives. By training researchers with a holistic understanding of refractory materials and their applications in sustainable industrial processes, CESAREF aims to bridge the gap between academic research and industrial implementation, accelerating the adoption of innovative solutions for a low-carbon future in energy-intensive industries.

Data: CORDIS, © European Union

Project 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.

Original text from CORDIS.

Participants

CENTRE NATIONAL DE LA RECHERCHE SCIENTIFIQUE CNRS · ParisCoordinatorFrance
ARCELORMITTAL MAIZIERES RESEARCH · SAINT DENISFrance
Almatis GmbH · Frankfurt Am MainGermany
BUNDESANSTALT FUER MATERIALFORSCHUNG UND -PRUEFUNG · BerlinGermany
CALDERYS DEUTSCHLAND GMBH · NeuwiedGermany
ECOLE NATIONALE SUPERIEURE D'ARTS ET METIERS · ParisFrance
ELKEM SILICON PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT AS · KristiansandNorway
Federation for International Refractory Research and Education · MontrealCanada
Hochschule Koblenz · KoblenzGermany
IMERYS ALUMINATES · ParisFrance
MONTANUNIVERSITAET LEOBEN · LeobenAustria
Pyrotek Scandinavia AB · EdSweden
RHEINISCH-WESTFAELISCHE TECHNISCHE HOCHSCHULE AACHEN · AachenGermany
RHI MAGNESITA GMBH · WienAustria
Refratechnik Asia Limited · HongkongHong Kong SAR China
SAFRAN SA · ParisFrance
SAINT-GOBAIN CENTRE DE RECHERCHES ET D'ETUDES EUROPEEN · CourbevoieFrance
SEOUL NATIONAL UNIVERSITY · SeoulSouth Korea
Steuler-KCH GmbH · SiershahnGermany
TATA STEEL NEDERLAND TECHNOLOGY BV · Velsen NoordNetherlands
TECHNISCHE UNIVERSITAET WIEN · WienAustria
UNIVERSITAET POTSDAM · PotsdamGermany
UNIVERSITE DE LIEGE · LIEGEBelgium
UNIVERSITE DE LIMOGES · LimogesFrance
VESUVIUS GROUP SA · GhlinBelgium

CESAREF · Concerted European action on Sustainable Applications of REFractories

Results in brief

Concerted European action on Sustainable Applications of REFractories

Project objective

Participants

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