Sustainable production of refractory materials (2021-2025, funded by RHI Magnesita)
In their Energy 2020 agenda the EU defined several ambitious goals including the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions by 20%. Furthermore, the EU is committed that moving to a competitive low-carbon economy should be completed by 2050. In order to fulfill these requirements many industry branches in- and outside Europe currently undergo enormous transformation processes of their production lines to reduce (i) their carbon dioxide emissions and/or (ii) their overall energy consumption. Since the production of refractories usually requires extremely high-temperatures which can reach more than 2800°C there is a definite need for novel ideas beyond the classical and well-established approaches for the manufacturing of these materials which are of utmost importance for glass, cement, steel and non-ferrous metal industry – just to mention a few. Within a comprehensive feasibility study, funded by RHI Magnesita, we will try to chart new ways of production for selected refractory materials. The whole project can be considered as an active scientific contribution to fight against climate crisis, a phenomenon that poses a mounting threat to our modern societies.
Fig. Electro-fused smelting of a refractory material (Photo courtesy of RHI Magnesita)