Thermodynamic simulations for the development of low carbon emission scrap based aluminium alloys

Purpose and goal

1) Education to the aluminium industry in phase diagrams and computational thermodynamics. 2) Define state-of-the-art for commercial aluminium thermodynamic databases and identify which improvements need to be done to make simulations of complex multi-component systems possible. 3) Design effective experimental methods to extract information on scrap based aluminium alloys. 4) Build demonstrator cases that show the strength of thermodynamic simulations. 5) Project description for large project.

Expected effects and result

A review of how existing tools for computational thermodynamic simulations (TDS) fit to future industrial needs. Also, a review of the competences, skills and tools in the aluminium industry in context of TDS. 3) Education material for seminars aiming at educating engineers in using CDS in their work. 4) Increased competence in simulation in industry. A consortium and a plan for an application of a full-scale large research project on TDS as a tool for process and alloy development.

Planned approach and implementation

To make the aluminium industry understand and employ the benefits of these digital tools “good examples” need to be developed and education in the field is necessary. The project aims at giving seminars and education on basic metallurgy and phase diagrams and how this information is used for alloy development. Demonstration cases will be prepared to exemplify how higher contents of alloying elements and impurities will affect the processing parameters and properties of the final products.