Projet ATHOR (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2017)
Action : Doctoral Networks
Panel : Information Science and Engineering
Statut du projet : CLOSED

Refractories are heat-resistant materials used as inner linings of high temperature furnaces, reactors and processing units. ATHOR (Advanced THermomechanical multiscale mOdelling of Refractory linings) is an innovative, collaborative and interdisciplinary project that brings together 6 academic beneficiaries and 8 private partners. The main objective is to develop high-end engineering technologies in material engineering and numerical simulations thanks to an intensive cooperation between academia, raw materials suppliers, refractory producers and end-users. Starting from material characterization, all significant properties will be investigated, including fracture behaviour, tension and compression creep behaviour, corrosion and thermal shock resistance. The interdisciplinary aspects will be addressed thanks to a multiscale approach looking at the influences of micro-, meso- and macro-characteristics on each other. To conduct their research and interlink the different topics, the 15 recruited researchers will take advantage of the most sophisticated numerical tools to model, design and predict the life of different lining configurations in critical operation conditions. The current financial situation of the European steel industry urges the producers to dramatically reduce their production costs. This project is expected to substantially contribute to find solutions through the design of more robust and more reliable refractory linings. Not only the total cost of refractory materials is then reduced, but the equipment’s availability and the process control are improved. In addition to the large energy savings that meet the industrial partner’s interests, the project will help to reduce the environmental impact of high temperature processes. The ATHOR network is deeply committed to provide a combination of research and training activities which will support and enlarge the initiative of the Federation for International Refractory Research and Education (FIRE).

Mots clés : refractory and steelmaking industry, material characterization, thermo mechanical properties, refractory materials modelling applied at high temperature, steel ladle, training, job creation

Participants :
- Université de Limoges (France) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 788626.8 €
- RHI Magnesita (Austria) (Autriche) — Partner, organization partner, Organismes privés (hors enseignement), subvention : 0.0 €
- Alteo gardanne (France) — Partner, organization partner, Organismes privés (hors enseignement), subvention : 0.0 €
- Saint-gobain centre de recherches et d'etudes europeen (France) — Partner, organization partner, Organismes privés (hors enseignement), subvention : 0.0 €
- Federation for international refractory research and education (Canada) — Partner, organization partner, Organismes publics (hors enseignement & recherche), subvention : 0.0 €
- AGH University of Krakow (Pologne) — Partner, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 448274.88 €
- University of Minho (Portugal) — Partner, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 715069.08 €
- Montanuniversität Leoben (Autriche) — Partner, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 511868.16 €
- Magnesita refractories gmbh (Allemagne) — Partner, organization partner, Organismes privés (hors enseignement), subvention : 0.0 €
- Edilians (France) — Partner, organization partner, Organismes privés (hors enseignement), subvention : 0.0 €
- Tata Steel (Netherlands) (Pays-Bas) — Partner, organization partner, Organismes privés (hors enseignement), subvention : 0.0 €
- RWTH Aachen University (Allemagne) — Partner, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 747649.44 €
- Pyrotek scandinavia ab (Suède) — Partner, organization partner, Organismes privés (hors enseignement), subvention : 0.0 €
- Université d'Orléans (France) — Partner, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 525751.2 €