Project duration: 1 January 2020 – 30 June 2021
Objective
Nickel is a human carcinogen and is imported from extra-EU countries. It is hence necessary to reduce its use in powders for powder metallurgy processes. Until now only powders with Ni have been used for the production of parts with high performance. The project is focused on the use of new Ni-free powders to produce high performance components for the automotive industry, by means of PM. Their performance will be demonstrated by prototypes.
The solution (technology)
Powder Metallurgy technology is suitable for mechanical component production, and offers technical advantages (e.g. design freedom, energy saving, reduction of Raw Material consumption…) and cost savings. Up to now, high performance components have been produced using traditional sintering powders containing Nickel (Ni).
However, in the last few years, the cost of nickel-containing powders has increased. Nickel carcinogenicity, Ni price evolution and supply risks, in fact, have enhanced the costs for producing and managing these powders. Currently their price is about 50% higher with respect to Ni-free powders.
In order to overcome these drawbacks of Ni, Höganäs has developed innovative Ni-free powders (NFP), demonstrating, with internal tests, that they can replace powders with Ni for the production of high performance components.
Unfortunately, their use has not yet been validated at the industrial level, and consequently, for components in which high performance are required, designers and PM manufacturers prefer to use traditional powders with Ni.
Therefore, the goal of the project is to prove that NFP can be used for the large-scale production of high performance components according to the strict specifications of car manufacturers. The achievement of this target will make it possible to extend their use and stimulate their market growth.
Partnership
- Alma Mater Studiorum – Universita di Bologna (Lead Partner), Italy
- Centro Ricerche Fiat, Italy
- CRIT srl, Italy
- Ghent University, Belgium
- Höganäs AB, Sweden
- HÖGANÄS ITALIA S.R.L, Italy
- Sinteris Spa Sintered Products Industry, Italy
- Vici & C S.p.A., Italy