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Euro PM2021: A view to CO2 reduction across the Powder Metallurgy workflow Within the programme of the Euro PM2021 Virtual Congress, October 18–22, 2021, organised by the European Powder Metallurgy Association (EPMA), a double-session Special Interest Seminar (SIS) addressed the opportunities for the reduction of CO2 emissions across the press and sinter PM workflow through developments in processes and equipment. Here, Dr David Whittaker provides a summary of each presentation given during the SIS, highlighting key points and findings.
As the starting point of the PM process chain, a presentation from Hilmar Vidarsson (Höganäs AB, Sweden) described ‘The road towards climate neutrality for the PM industry from a powder production perspective’ [1]. Vidarsson explained that Höganäs has defined a climate roadmap, with the goal of becoming carbon neutral by 2045 at the latest. This roadmap is driven by the ambition to make PM a fully sustainable industry and poses challenges throughout the value chain, particularly in the sourcing of raw materials, energy and process gases. The ultimate goal is also to become part of the circular economy. In terms of raw materials, a significant objective is to replace primary materials with secondary materials wherever possible. Emissions can be lowered considerably if recycled scrap can be used. As an
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example, if recycled scrap is used in the production of 304 stainless steel powder, this can reduce CO2 emissions per tonne by 3.7–4.7 tonnes. Where primary raw materials must be used, these should be sourced, where possible, from a process with a low CO2 burden. In
this context, Fig. 1 demonstrates the often substantial contributions that the production of pure metals and ferroalloys can make to CO2 emissions and the benefits that processing of ferrous materials in an electric arc furnace, rather than a blast furnace, can offer.
ton CO2/ton* ton CO2/ton*
40 40 30 30
arb. arb.units units
Climate neutrality in powder production for PM
20 20 10 10
0 0
Steel Steel (BF) (BF)
Cu Cu
Ni Ni
FeMo FeMo
Co Co
Steel Steel (EAF) (EAF)
*Steel (BF) approx. 2 ton CO2/ton *Steel (BF) approx. 2 ton CO2/ton
Fig.1 Embedded carbon levels in a range of primary metals and ferroalloys [1]
Spring 2022
Powder Metallurgy Review
67
F PD
CO2 reduction in Powder Metallurgy
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