Objectives

The main objective of the project FASTRAM is the up-scaling of FAST sintering techniques for the production of sustainable hard materials, for the substitution of existing hard metals (WC-Co) in the targeted applications (mining sector).

Tungsten W and cobalt Co are listed as critical metals by the EU.

• Tungsten: the most important critical metal with a high supply risk within the EU.
• Cobalt: supply risk and health risk (possible carcinogenic by the International Agency for Research on Cancer)

Tungsten carbide cobalt hard metals (WC-Co) are dominating in applications where high wear resistance is needed. The research challenge is to achieve the same or even better functionality with substituting materials.

Target market is the mining and construction sector (drilling and crushing wear resistant components are critical for this sector)

Technologies

FAST Proccessing:

• Very fast sintering process  (energy efficiency)
• Very small grain size and improved properties than conventional sintering

TECNALIA and VTT have developed FAST technologies at lab scale with very promising results. Alternative hard metals with high hardness and high toughness have been obtained. Technologies:

TECNALIA - AMES > ERS (Electric Sintering)

VTT - EXOTE > RCHP (Reactive Hot Pressing)

The scale up of these processes is being performed with AMES and EXOTE.

COMMON CHALLENGES IN THE SCALE UP NEED TO BE ACHIEVED