New tools for production without cobalt and tungsten (FairTools)

Focus topic: Resource efficiency
Type of funding: Project funding programmes
Programme: CZS Breakthroughs
Funded institution:
  • Rheinland-Pfälzische Technische Universität Kaiserslautern-Landau

Production tools are often made from tungsten carbide and cobalt. Both minerals are scarce materials and highly critical from a social point of view. The "FairTools" project is researching how these minerals can be replaced or saved in production.

Goals

The majority of all industrially used tools are made of carbide. Tungsten carbide is made from tungsten carbide and cobalt. Both minerals are scarce raw materials and highly critical in terms of ecology and social responsibility. Cobalt mining often takes place under unsustainable social and health conditions.

The public debate has so far focused primarily on the use of cobalt in lithium-ion batteries for electric vehicles. The use of tungsten carbide and cobalt in production tools, on the other hand, is not yet the focus of public attention.

The aim of Prof. Aurich's project team is to replace these two minerals in industrially used tools as far as possible. Where this is not technically possible, the aim is to achieve a closed material cycle. Existing approaches to carbide recycling are being further developed both technically and logistically. The amount of material required is to be reduced by at least 50 %. The project team at the Rhineland-Palatinate Technical University of Kaiserslautern-Landau is pursuing an interdisciplinary approach with scientists from production engineering, materials science and engineering, technical mechanics and materials physics.

 

Involved persons:

Matthias Stolzenburg

Program Manager, Legal Affairs

Phone: +49 (0)711 - 162213 - 13

E-mail: matthias.stolzenburg@carl-zeiss-stiftung.de

Prof. Dr. Jan Aurich

Rheinland-Pfälzische Technische Universität Kaiserslautern-Landau

Detailed information:

Focus topic: Resource efficiency
Programme: CZS Breakthroughs
Type of funding: Project funding programmes
Target group: Professors
Funding budget: 4.900.000 €
Period of time: September 2024 - August 2030

Funded institution: