New challenges are arising due to supply chain issues and geopolitical issues. Active elements for foundry additives might become difficult to find or source and the recipes might need to evolve on relatively short notice. The active elements in the foundry additives affect the graphite nucleation that determines the final properties of the cast iron and are of crucial importance for the iron foundries in order to produce good quality castings. Elkem and Mandal Castings are joining forces with their partners SINTEF and NTNU to gain fundamental understanding at the atomic level of the role the active elements and their possible substitution using state-of-the-art instrumentation and modelling tools.
Elkem’s state-of-the-art products and technical support ensure that foundries worldwide can achieve prime quality and consistency in their steel production and iron castings.
New challenges are arising due to supply chain issues and geopolitical tensions. Active elements in Elkem products might become difficult to find and foundry additives' recipes might need to evolve on relatively short notice.
Elkem aims at a fundamental understanding at atomic level of the graphite nucleation that determines the final properties of the cast iron, systematize that knowledge, and offer scientifically-based recommendations for internal product development and client foundries.
This project will rely on in depth knowledge about the graphite seeding and nucleation obtained with state-of-the-art instrumentation and modelling tools to improve inoculation practices and replace critical elements.
Mandal Castings AS will study the impact of these changes, and how to manage varying supplies in order to demonstrate the feasibility at industrial scale, as well as test new inoculation procedures.
To achieve that goal, the team of experts from Elkem and Mandal Castings supported by the resources from the Catapult Center Future Materials will work closely with research scientists from NTNU and SINTEF providing access to top level experimental facilities, advanced characterization and numerical modelling.