Metallic and Ceramic Materials

New technology for the generation of green hydrogen. The H-LEAF project develops a PEM (Proton Exchange Membrane) electrolyser based on a new national patented technology. H-LEAF focuses on the research of new scalable and sustainable components, coatings, materials and processes to overcome current limitations in the provision of materials for hydrogen production, vital to the energy transition in Spain. The project promotes scientific research to obtain new electrode and membrane designs using scalable industrial printing techniques free of perfluorinated chemicals. H-LEAF develops new bipolar plates using technologies such as stamped stainless steel substrate and 3D printing [...]

Zero emission electric vehicles enabled by harmonised circularity. The ZEvRA project improves the circularity of light-duty electric vehicles (EVs) throughout their entire value chain, from materials supply and manufacturing to end-of-life (EoL) processes. To do so, ZEvRA develops a Design for Circularity (DfC) methodology and a holistic circularity assessment aimed at improving the production of electric vehicles based on the 9Rs concept. This methodology is validated by developing zero emission solutions for the most important automotive materials, covering over 84% of material mix. These solutions are supported by a set of digital tools to support the [...]

Research, study and demonstration of strategies to obtain profitable metal spare parts in additive manufacturing processes for the automotive industry. The SPAR3D project focuses on additive manufacturing (AM) or 3D printing, a disruptive technology that is increasingly used in the manufacturing and repair of metal parts. SPAR3D proposes an integrated process route that covers the additive manufacturing process itself and the subsequent treatments coupled to metallic materials (steel and aluminum). In the project, steels and aluminum alloys are designed and manufactured using L-PBF technology and MEX-HP techniques, generating fundamental knowledge about metallurgy and the evolution of [...]

Development of advanced surface treatment equipment for functional enhancement of dental implant components. The main objective of the EQUIDENTAL project is the development of low cost, simple, flexible and modular surface treatment equipment addressed to manufacturers of dental implants and surgical tools. The technological innovation of the project is based on: Development of specific and optimized coatings obtained by means of magnetron sputtering PVD deposition technique on different components and dental implants. Development and optimization of bactericidal treatments on dental implants based on silver and copper ion implantation. Validation of the functionality of the developed surface [...]

NewAIMS in brief Conceptualization, study and demonstration of strategies to obtain cost-effective high-performance steel in metal 3D printing processes ABOUT THE PROJECT Additive Manufacturing (AM), and 3D Printing in particular, offer attractive possibilities for design optimization and production of limited series of components. These aspects fit perfectly some industrial and economical sectors: a clear match is that of hot forming tools. Tooling for hot stamping, die casting, plastic injection moulding benefit enormously from free-form refrigeration channels, that cannot currently be obtained by conventional (substractive) [...]

SuPreAM in a nutshell Boosting the implementation of Additive Manufacturing with optimal surface integrity ABOUT THE PROJECT The SuPreAM project is developing and improving the performance and capabilities of a predictive simulation model of finishing operations in steel Additive Manufacturing (AM).  SuPreAM has the objective to optimise the surface integrity of Additive Manufactured and Machined steel components and to reduce manufacturing expenditures at the steel industrial sector by minimising the material scrap and reducing the number of re-processing loops during finishing operations.   The excellence of [...]

Sup3rForm at a quick glance Optimizing 3rd Generation Quenching and Partitioning (Q&P) and medium-Mn steels to attain improved in-use properties and foster their widespread deployment in the automotive industry ABOUT THE PROJECT Generating a comprehensive understanding on the relationship between microstructure and mechanical performance of Q&P and M-Mn steels. The Sup3rForm project is implementing a multiscale material testing and modelling approach to identify the main damage and deformation mechanisms of these new generation steels and comprehensively understand the intrinsic relationship between their complex microstructures [...]

About the project | Project phases  | Expected results | Progress beyond state of the art | Consortium | News & Events | Resources | Contact us COOPHS in a nutshell Enhancing low CO2 steel production for the automotive sector through the development of more sustainable processing methodologies ABOUT THE PROJECT The COOPHS project focuses on evaluating how eco-friendly steel processing affects the performance of ultrahigh strength Press Hardened Steels (PHS). By delving into the influence of residual elements in press hardening [...]

Recovery of Critical Raw Materials, manufacturing of products with Secondary Raw Materials and traceability of their composition. The SENECA project, focused on the growing demand for mineral resources and strategic materials worldwide, investigates the potential of secondary sources of mining and industry through recovery and recovery processes of Critical Materials. The project seeks to develop the manufacture of products with Secondary Raw Materials for the manufacture of components for the battery and hydrogen industries, crucial for the energy transition. SENECA also boosts new innovative elements of traceability in these strategies through industrial research for new solutions. [...]

The new panot of the XXI century. In 1906, Barcelona City Council ran a tender, which Escofet won, to standardise the designs of its “panots”, the paving stones that have fundamentally shaped the image of Barcelona's streets. One hundred and fifteen years later, through the BIT Habitat Foundation, it is launching a new challenge: “Rethinking the panot for the 21st century” to make it more sustainable while keeping its iconic design intact. The R3PANOT proposal, one of the three finalist projects presented by Escofet and Promsa, both companies from the Cementos Molins Group, and Eurecat, is [...]

High-performance sensor for an industry 4.0 with zero manufacturing defects. The VISIRIA4.0 project develops vision technology to establish a constant line of information that allows any industry to improve its production processes, thus reaching manufacturing with zero defects. VISIRIA4.0 develops a new high-performance sensor that works in the spectrum range 400 – 1700 nm. In this sense, the application of photonic technology will facilitate the automation of error detection in a non-intrusive and continuous way. This technology will be validated in two relevant industries such as textile knitting and plastic injection by silicone moulds. VISIRIA 4.0 [...]

More sustainable furnace components through advanced design and continuous component monitoring for material and coating development. The HIPERMAT project promotes strategies and tools for the efficient development of new alloys and components that operate in high temperatures and corrosive environments. HIPERMAT includes the integration and validation of these materials through advanced manufacturing technologies in high-performance final components. These components will have an extended useful life with greater efficiency, which allows reducing the consumption of energy and raw materials. Hot stamping is a key transformation process in the transition to emission-neutral mobility, as it enables lighter automotive [...]

Development of aluminum alloys with more than 90% recycled content. The ICARFA project, to obtain these aluminum alloys, establishes a methodology to obtain a constant quality from scrap metal, which results in a predictable casting process that reduces the need for primary material to balance out tramp elements. On the other hand, the project explores the limits of the alloy to comprehensively understand how chemical composition and tramp elements affect allow formability and service properties, being able to tailor the composition to requirements and applications. In addition, ICARFA explores technologies to increase formability of aluminium sheet, applying surface [...]

Boosting the implementation of 5G technology. The NNDTC project implements radio frequency (RF) devices that allow the tuning of the radio frequency heads of mobile terminals, responding to the 5G technology implementation challenges by means of electromechanical microstructure manufacturing technology (MEMS). NNDTC proves, for the very first time, the feasibility of RF-MEMS in complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) substrate with the appropriate performance to undertake the antenna tunning function. The technological challenge is to provide solutions to the problems of reliability, encapsulation and electrical performance in standard manufacturing processes of conventional integrated circuits. A key aspect of NNDTC is the [...]

Design, manufacture and experimental validation of a tank to store hydrogen at high pressure. The HIDROGENIA project develops and validates to TRL 5 a type IV tank to safely store hydrogen at high pressure (700 bars). These types of tanks are already manufactured today, but they present permeability problems because the materials used do not have a sufficient barrier effect against hydrogen passage. Eurecat participates in the HIDROGENIA project through different Technological Units: The Product Development & Multiphysics Simulation Unit designs the interior liner and calculates the tank based on the numerical simulation of the different elements of [...]