Recycled Rock Drill Tools for Sustainable and Circular Mining (ReRoD)

Purpose and goal

Rock drilling efficiency affects a mine´s overall economy. The lifespan of the WC-Co button on the drill bit affects the efficiency of the drilling. The purpose of the feasibility study is to create knowledge about the lifetime and performance of recycled WC-Co for rock drilling applications. The project will result in experimental data and thermodynamic simulations to investigate interactions between WC-Co and rocks and produce a project plan for a full-scale research project.

Expected effects and result

The project will result in the following deliverables: - A state-of-the-art of the wear of WC-Co in rock drilling focusing on operating environment and recycled carbide grades. - Experimental data of wear rate and mechanisms for recycled and regular WC-Co during sliding against rock. - Initial predicted phase transformations during interactions between cemented carbide and rock. - A project plan describing the activities, partners, and resources for a full-scale research project.

Planned approach and implementation

The work is divided into the following four work packages: WP1–Literature review Map wear mechanisms for cemented carbide against rock. WP2–Tribological characterization of cemented carbide Study the effect of temperature on wear of primary and recycled WC-Co. WP3–Tribo-chemical reactions and phase transformations Simulate reactions and phase transformations between WC-Co and minerals. WP4–Develop project plan Summarize the results and describe the next steps in the form of a full-scale project.