Welding With WAste: using Industrial by-products in filler METALs (WWW.AI.METAL)

Purpose and goal

The over-arching goal of this project is to replace virgin minerals in welding materials with components and metals from common by-products or wastes, such as ashes, mine tailings or slags. More specifically, the aim of the feasibility study is to use a combination of active learning models, materials sourcing and experiments to answer questions regarding what the possibilities and challenges are for designing new welding materials using by-products.

Expected effects and result

Successful implementation of the project idea will contribute to securing the domestic availability of critical and strategical raw materials, by recycling what is nowadays considered a waste. This will lead to reduced GHG emissions (mainly CO2) and resource use associated with metals production and mineral mining. In addition, it can contribute to decreasing the environmental impact throughout the value-chain, e.g. land filling and consequent leaching of potentially dangerous species.

Planned approach and implementation

Initially, we will study the correlations between by-product and welding material, for the purpose of finding the most promising application, before testing the performance experimentally. Efficient treatment strategies as well as the potential use of machine learning methods, for suggesting promising material compositions, will also be investigated. Finally, we will evaluate the impact on sustainability and gender equality as well as propose a strategy for a future and more extensive project.