Thermodynamic from nanoscale to operational scale

Asia is producing more than 80% of the metals produced in the world, where China is the main producer. Japan is also an important metal producer and is also known as having very high quality in their production methods. It can be mentioned that Kashima Work is the only Mn-ferroalloy producer in the world that is using external pre-reduction and preheating units. South Africa and Norway both have strong industries focusing on metal production: South Africa has major raw material reserves utilized in the production of ferroalloys and Norway has a strong standing when it comes to renewable energy, and has subsequently developed a related metal production industry which is globally at the forefront technologically. Presently, these countries are at the forefront of research and development related to the before-mentioned research areas. Closer cooperation in research and education would benefit all countries significantly. The project Thanos will bring strengthen the knowledge within the fundamental disciplines important for producing end developing materials needed for a sustainable future. This will be done through workshops, networking and exchange of personnel between the partners. It is also a goal to make this knowledge more accessible towards the new generations of engineers and scientists through improved education methods. The partners are the Norwegian University of Science and Technology and SINTEF in Norway, MINTEK and North West University in South Africa, University of Science and Technology Beijing in China and Tokyo University in Japan. Covid stopped the exchange of researchers and students. The project has hence focused on other cooperation platforms. Infacon16, the International Ferroalloy Conference, was arranged digitally in September 2021 by NTNU/SINTEF. The partners in Thanos cooperated on several publications, and they were alos both participants and Chairs in the conference, as well as memebers in the International Advisory Board. In the fall 2021 digital Si and Mn course was also arranged by NTNU where the partners participated. Jamey Davies started her MSc project within the use og H2 in FeCr production as a cooperation between NWU and NTNU/SINTEF. This is also leading to published papers where both NWU and NTNU is participating as authors. The plan is that she and other students will have a research stay in Trondheim post Covid. Also, cooperation with China (USTB) has been done through a common PhD project where they have been contributing with advanced laboratory work when it comes to high temperature confucal microscopy measurements. This has lead to a common conferenec publication at Molten 2021.

Asia is producing more than 80% of the metals produced in the world, where China is the main producer. Japan is also an important metal producer and is also known as having very high quality in their production methods. It can be mentioned that Kashima Work is the only Mn-ferroalloy producer in the world that is using external pre-reduction and preheating units. South Africa and Norway both have strong industries focusing on metal production. South Africa has major raw material reserves utilized in the production of ferrochromium (FeCr) and FeMn. Norway has a strong standing when it comes to renewable energy, and has subsequently developed a related metal production industry which is globally at the forefront technologically. Presently, these countries are at the forefront of research and development related to the before-mentioned research areas. Closer cooperation in research and education would benefit all countries significantly. The topics of research in the INTPART project will be: i. Enhanced use of thermodynamic data ii. Fundamental reaction mechanisms for material production. The educational parts of the INTPART project will be: iii. Developing educational methods to be used in the courses TMT4306 Metal production, TMT4326 Refining and Recycling; TMT 4275 Thermodynamics and TMT 4155 Heterogeneous Equilibrium and phase diagram, as well as courses at the partnership institutions. The main focus will be to enhance the interest and the availability of thermodynamic methods and data for the students.