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RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME IN THE RAW MATERIALS SECTOR

( 1982 - 1985 )

COMMISSION COMMUNICATION CONCERNING A MULTIANNUAL RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME OF THE EUROPEAN ECONOMIC COMMUNITY IN THE RAW MATERIALS SECTOR ADOPTED ON 17 MAY 1982 BY THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES ( 1 )

INVITATION TO SUBMIT PROPOSALS FOR PARTICIPATION IN THE SUB-PROGRAMME ON

SUBSTITUTION AND MATERIALS TECHNOLOGIES

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES IS ENTRUSTED WITH THE TASK OF CARRYING OUT DURING THE PERIOD 1982-1985 A RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME IN THE RAW MATERIALS SECTOR .

THE FUNDAMENTAL OBJECTIVE OF THIS PROGRAMME IS TO REDUCE THE EXTERNAL DEPENDENCE OF THE COMMUNITY FOR ITS SUPPLIES OF RAW MATERIALS BY INCREASING ITS SELFSUPPLY POTENTIAL AND DEVELOPING MATERIALS TECHNOLOGIES .

THIS SECTORAL PROGRAMME INCLUDES FOUR SUBPROGRAMMES : METALS AND MINERALS SUBSTANCES , WOOD AS A RENEWABLE RAW MATERIAL , RECYCLING OF NON-FERROUS METALS , SUBSTITUTION AND MATERIALS TECHNOLOGIES ( TECHNICAL CERAMICS ) .

THE SUB-PROGRAMME " SUBSTITUTION AND MATERIALS TECHNOLOGIES " COVERS SIX RESEARCH AREAS :

RESEARCH AREA 1 : RESEARCH INTO THE SUBSTITUTION OF MATERIALS USED IN THE ELECTRICAL AND ELECTRONICS INDUSTRY ;

RESEARCH AREA 2 : RESEARCH INTO THE SUBSTITUTION OF MATERIALS USED IN SURFACE TREATMENT AND COATINGS ;

RESEARCH AREA 3 : RESEARCH INTO THE SUBSTITUTION OF MATERIALS USED IN CUTTING AND MACHINING TOOLS ;

RESEARCH AREA 4 : STAINLESS STEELS AND ALLOYS ;

RESEARCH AREA 5 : OTHER USES ( SOLDERING , BRAZING , TANNING ) ;

RESEARCH AREA 6 : TECHNICAL CERAMICS .

DETAILS ON THE FIRST FIVE RESEARCH AREAS ARE GIVEN IN ANNEX I .

A TOTAL OF 10,5 MILLION ECU IS ALLOCATED TO THE WHOLE SUB-PROGRAMME .

A CALL FOR PROPOSALS ON RESEARCH AREA 6 ( TECHNICAL CERAMICS ) WILL BE PUBLISHED SEPARATELY .

THE COMMISSION WISHES TO RECEIVE PROPOSALS FOR PARTICIPATION BY MEANS OF SHARED-COST CONTRACTS ( THE MAXIMUM CONTRIBUTION FROM THE CEC BEING 50 % ) .

PROPOSALS MAY BE SUBMITTED BY ANY NATURAL OR LEGAL PERSON , PUBLIC OR PRIVATE ORGANIZATION , ESTABLISHED WITHIN THE TERRITORY OF A MEMBER STATE .

REPLIES TO THIS " INVITATION TO SUBMIT PROPOSALS " SHOULD BE SENT BEFORE 15 OCTOBER 1982 .

CONTRACTS WILL COVER A PERIOD ENDING NOT LATER THAN 31 DECEMBER 1985 .

BEFORE SUBMITTING PROPOSALS , APPLICANTS ARE REOUESTED TO CONTACT THE COMMISSION AT THE ADDRESS GIVEN BELOW IN ORDER TO OBTAIN :

( A ) THE FORMS REQUIRED FOR PRESENTATION OF THE PROPOSALS ;

( B ) A DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE TOPICS AND SUB-TOPICS COVERED BY THE VARIOUS RESEARCH AREAS .

THE PROPOSALS WILL BE TREATED IN CONFIDENCE . THEY WILL BE EXAMINED AND SELECTED FOR FINANCIAL SUPPORT FROM THE COMMUNITY BY THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES , WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF AN ADVISORY COMMITTEE FOR PROGRAMME MANAGEMENT .

AS A GENERAL RULE THE COMMISSION , IN CONSIDERING THE PROPOSALS , WILL FAVOUR THOSE WHICH .

( I ) OFFER SCOPE FOR APPLICABILITY ;

( II ) ARE JOINT VENTURES INVOLVING UNIVERSITIES , INSTITUTES , INDUSTRY OR OTHER SPECIALIZED LABORATORIES ;

( III ) INVOLVE , OR OFFER PROSPECTS FOR THE INVOLVEMENT OF MORE THAN ONE MEMBER STATE .

ADDRESS :

COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES ,

DIRECTORATE-GENERAL XII - SCIENCE , RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT

ENVIRONMENT AND RAW MATERIALS RESEARCH PROGRAMMES ,

200 RUE DE LA LOI ,

B-1049 BRUSSELS .

TEL . : 235 70 62 AND 235 40 70 ,

TELEX : 21877 COMEU B .

( 1 ) OJ NO L 174 , 21 . 6 . 1982 , PP . 23 TO 29 .

ANNEX

DETAILS OF THE SUB-PROGRAMME

DETAILS OF THE TOPICS AND SUBTOPICS IN EACH RESEARCH AREA ARE GIVEN BELOW :

RESEARCH AREA 1

RESEARCH INTO THE SUBSTITUTION OF MATERIALS USED IN THE ELECTRICAL AND ELECTRONICS INDUSTRY

THE OBJECTIVE IS TO FIND POSSIBLE MEANS OF SUBSTITUTION OF RAW MATERIALS , IN PARTICULAR , SILVER , TUNGSTEN , TIN AND COBALT , FOR THE FOLLOWING APPLICATIONS :

1.1 . THE ELECTRICAL CONTACT FUNCTIONS

SILVER-BASED CONTACT MATERIALS ARE USED IN :

- CONTACTORS ( 50 % ) USING AG-CDO TYPE MATERIALS ( GENERALLY 10-15 % CDO ) ;

- LOW-VOLTAGE CIRCUIT-BREAKERS ( 25 % ) WHICH MUST WITHSTAND SOLDERING AND THEREFORE INCORPORATE REFRACTORY MATERIALS ( AG-W AND AG-WC ) ;

- RELAYS ( 25 % ) USING A WIDE VARIETY OF CONTACT MATERIALS RANGING FROM PURE SILVER TO ALLOYS ( AG-CU , AG-NI , AG , PD , AG-PT , AG-GRAPHITE ) .

THE CONTACT MATERIALS LISTED ABOVE OFFER WIDE OPPORTUNITIES FOR R AND D . THE FOLLOWING ITEMS MAY BE CONSIDERED :

- THE INFLUENCE ON CONTACT PROPERTIES OF ADDED MATERIALS SUCH AS CDO , W OR WC ;

- THE DETERIORATION PROCESS FO SILVER-BEARING CONTACT MATERIALS UNDER THE ARE EFFECT AND UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF TEMPERATURE ;

- THE SUBSTITUTION OF NEW CONTACT MATERIALS FOR SILVER BASED METALS ( COPPER ALLOYS , PB-SN ALLOYS , ETC . ) ;

- THE STUDY OF SURFACE TREATMENT PROCESSES APPLIED TO SILVER-BEARING CONTACTMATERIALS OR SUBSTITURE MATERIALS IN ORDER TO GIVE THE SPECIFIC PHYSICAL PROPERTIES ( DIFFUSION OR HARDENING TREATENT , FOR EXAMPLE ) ;

- THE DEVELOPMENT OF NEW CONTACT SYSTEMS , ESPECIALLY ELECTRONIC , NOT USING THE TRADITIONAL SYSTEMS ;

- THE DEVELOPMENT OD SILVER INFILTRATED TUNGSTEN CARBIDE INSTEAD OF TUNGSTEN SILVER , AND MOLYBDENUM INSTEAD OF TUNGSTEN ;

- DEVELOPMENT OF NEW MATERIALS FOR ELECTRICAL CONTACTS ( FOR EXAMPLE : MOLYBDENUM-COPPER AND COPPER INFILTRATED CARBIDE ) ;

- IMPROVEMENT OF THE USES OF CARBON IN ELECTRICAL CONTACTS , ANODES WELDING ELECTRODES .

- ETC .

1.2 . THE MAGNETIC FUNTION

COBALT IS USED TO MAKE PERMANENT MAGNETS . THE GROUP OF ALNICO ALLOYS ( CONTAINING IRON , ALUMINIUM , NICKEL AND COBALT ) IS OF PARTICULAR IMPORTANCE . THE COBALT CONTENT OF THESE ALLOYS VARIES BETWEEN 5 AND 50 % BUT IS FREQUENTLY AROUND 20-25 % .

AS A FIRST STEP , PRIORITY WILL BE GIVEN TO SEEKING SUBSTITUTES FOR COBALT OR MATERIALS HAVING MAGNETIC PROPERTIES CLOSE TO THOSE OF THE ALNICO ALLOYS .

THIS ACTIVITY WILL CENTRE ON THE FOLLOWING POINTS :

- DEVELOPMENT OF THE TECHNOLOGY OF NEW IMPROVED FERRITES AND THE PROPERTIES OF THESE PRODUCTS ;

- SUBSTITUTION OF THE COBALT OR REDUCTION OF THE COBALT CONTENT IN ALNICO ALLOYS WHILE RETAINING COMPARABLE MAGNETIC PROPERTIES .

IN THE FIELD OF MAGNETIC ALLOYS ( TECHNOLOGY AND NEW SUBSTITUTES ) THE FOLLOWING LINES OF DEVELOPMENT ARE SUGGESTED :

- STUDIES ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF MN , AL , C AND FE ALLOYS ;

- STUDIES ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF CO + RARE EARTH ALLOYS ( FOR EXAMPLE , CERIUM , YTRIUM AND OTHERS ) ;

- STUDIES ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF RARE EARTH AND CO/FE/CU ALLOYS .

IN THE FIELD OF POWDER METALLURGY THE STUDY OF THE USE OF MN AND BI TOGETHER WITH THE DEVELOPMENT OF NEW MANUFACTURING METHODS SUITABLE FOR THE MAGNETIC GRADE ALLOYS ALREADY ON THE MARKET MAY ALSO BE SUPPORTED .

RESEARCH AREA 2

RESEARCH INTO THE SUBSTITUTION OF MATERIALS MED IN SURFACE TREATMENT AND COATINGS

PRIORITY WILL BE ACCORDED TO RESEARCH ON WAYS OF USING RAW MATERIALS WHICH ARE LESS EXPENSIVE AND POSSIBLY MORE READILY AVAILABLE AND LESS POLLUTING THAN THOSE NORMALLY USED FOR SURFACE TREATMENT AND COATINGS ( CHROMIUM , TIN , CADMIUM ) .

2.1 . PACKAGING ( TIN PLATE ) :

- TIN-FREE STEEL , CHROMIUM TYPE ;

- TIN-FREE STEEL , NON-CHROMIUM TYPE ;

- TIN-PLATE , WITH REDUCED TIN-COATING WEIGHT .

2.2 . WEAR-RESISTANT AND CORROTION-RESISTANT COATINGS

MORE PRECISELY , THE RESEARCH MAY COVER THE FOLLOWING ASPECTS :

- DEVELOPMENT OF CONTINUOUS VACUUM DEPOSITION PROCESSES ( ION IMPLANTATION , CATHODE SPRAYING ) ;

- DEVELOPMENT OF OTHER TYPES OF PROCESSES SUCH AS COATING UNDER PLASMA OR BY LATER ENERGY ;

- DEVELOPMENT OF COMPOSITE PRODUCTS . CHARACTERIZATION OF THE PRODUCTS OBTAINED ( USE OF NON-DESTRUCTIVE METHODS OF EVALUATION ) ;

- DEVELOPMENT OF PROTECTIVE ORGANIC COATINGS USING METHODS WITH LOW ENERGY CONSUMPTION ;

- DEVELOPMENT OF INORGANIC COATINGS SUCH AS CERAMICS ( BORIDES , NITRIDES , CARBIDES ) WITH A HIGH MELTING POINT AND GOOD HEAT STABILITY . THE USE OF REFRACTORY METALS ( MOLYBDENUM AND TUNGSTEN ) CAN ALSO BE ENVISAGED WITH THE USE OF ORGANIC SOLUTIONS OR MOLTEN SALT BATHS ;

- DEVELOPMENT OF PROCESSES USING NICKEL TO REPLACE CHROMIUM ; RESEARCH ON NICKEL-BEARING COMPOUNDS ( NICKEL PHOSPHORUS OR BORON , FOR EXAMPLE ) , OR NICKEL HARDENED BY DOPING WITH SOLUTIONS SUCH AS AMMONIUM SALTS , ORGANIC ADDITIVES OR NICKEL SULPHAMATE . ANOTHER LINE OF RESEARCH IS THE STUDY OF NICKEL LAYERS IN WHICH CARBIDES OR ALUMINA ARE INCORPORATED BY A SUITABLE PROCESS ;

- TECHNOLOGICAL IMPROVEMENTS LEADING TO A BETTER USE OF MATERIALS IN THE ELECTROPLATING TECHNOLOGIES USING METALS IN SOLUTION ;

- IN THE FIELD OF ANTI-FRICTION COATINGS , DEVELOPMENT OF TECHNOLOGICAL PROCESSES ENABLING TINBEARING ALLOYS ( BRONZE ) TO BE REPLACED BY A NEW TYPE OF ALLOY ( BASED ON ALUMINIUM ) .

- ETC .

RESEARCH AREA 3

RESEARCH ON SUBSTITUTION IN CUTTING AND MACHINING TOOLS

THE OBJECTIVES ARE AS FOLLOWS : TOTAL OR PARTIAL SUBSTITUTION OF TUNGSTEN AND COBALT AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF MATERIALS WITH GREATER WEAR-RESISTANCE BUT WITH ADEQUATE FRACTURE STRENGTH . DEVELOPMENT OF NEW COATING TECHNOLOGIES .

THE RESEARCH SHOULD BE GUIDED BY TWO MAIN AIMS :

- TOTAL OR PARTIAL SUBSTITUTION OF TUNGSTEN AND COBALT , WHICH IS USED AS BINDER MATERIAL FOR CUTTING AND NON-CUTTING APPLICATIONS ;

- THE PRODUCTION OF HARDER MATERIALS THAT ARE MORE WEAR RESISTANT BUT STILL HAVE ADEQUATE FRACTURE STRENGTH .

IN PARTICULAR , FOR CUTTING APPLICATIONS RESEARCH MAY BE CONDUCTED ALONG THE FOLLOWING LINES :

- DEVELOPMENT OF MIXED CARBIDES WITH MINOR TUNGSTEN CONTENT AND COMBINATIONS WITH TITANIUM CARBIDE AND TANTALUM CARBIDE AND NITRIDE ;

- DEVELOPMENT OF VERY FINE-GRAINED HARD METALS ( 0,1 TO 0,5 MM ) BY SINTERING OR HOT COMPRESSION ;

- DEVELOPMENT OF CARBIDES OF THE TYPES TUNGSTEN CARBIDE-DIMOLYBDENUM CARBIDE-TITANIUM CARBIDE ( WC - MO2C - TIC ) BY REPLACING THE DIMOLYBDENUM CARBIDE AND THE TUNGSTEN CARBIDE BY MOLYBDENUM MONOCARBIDE ( MOC ) , MOLYBDENUM CARBONITRIDE ( MO , C , N ) AND MIXED CARBIDES AND CARBONITRIDES ( MO , W ) ( C , N ) INSTEAD OF MO2C .

- DEVELOPMENT OF TUNGSTEN-FREE CARBIDES BASED ON TITANIUM AND MOLYBDENUM CARBIDE AND OF NOVEL SPINODAL CEMENTED CARBONITRIDES ON THE BASIS OF ( TI , MO ) , ( C , N ) I-Z - ( NI , MO ) .

- DEVELOPMENT OF BORIDES OF TITANIUM , ZIRCONIUM AND CHROMIUM FOR CUTTING PURPOSES ;

- DEVELOPMENT OF GRADES BASED ON TITANIUM CARBO-NITRIDES WITH A NI/MO BINDER AND VERY FINE GRAIN ;

- ETC .

FOR NON-CUTTING APPLICATIONS , PRIORITY WILL BE GIVEN TO RESEARCH ON NEW MATERIALS LIKE CERAMIC OXIDES , SILICON NITRIDE , ZIRCONIUM OXIDES AND CERMOTHERMES ( CARBIDES + OXIDES ) .

FOR WEAR RESISTANCE , FACING AND SURFACE PROTECTION PURPOSES THE MATERIALS USED ARE STELLITES CONTAINING CO , CR , W AND C .

RESEARCH ON THE SUBSTITUTION OF COBALT COULD BE ALONG THE FOLLOWING LINES :

- NI FOR CO , NI HARD ALLOYS ( NI , CR , SI , B ) AND CERAMICS OF AL AND ZR OXIDES ;

- DEVELOPMENT OF WEAR-RESISTING PRODUCTS SUCH AS METALLIC AND NON-METALLIC BORIDES , METAL SILICIDES AND NEW SURFACE COATING TECHNOLOGIES , I.E . SUBMIERON POWDER DEPOSITION LIKE CVD ( CHEMICAL VAPOUR DEPOSITION ) ;

- ETC .

RESEARCH AREA 4

STAINLESS STEELS AND ALLOYS

THE OBJECTIVE IS TO REDUCE THE QUANTITY OF CHROMIUM , COBALT AND TUNGSTEN REQUIRED FOR THESE STEELS AND ALLOYS WITHOUT AFFECTING THE DESIRED SPECIFICATION AND TO DEVELOP NEW ALLOYS FOR HIGH-SPEED STEELS .

4.1 . STAINLESS STEELS AND ALLOYS

PRIORITY WILL BE GIVEN TO THE FOLLOWING AREAS :

- REDUCTION OF CHROMIUM FROM 18 % TO 12-14 % BY ADDING AL , SI AND RARE EARTHS ;

- BASIC RESEARCH ON THE STRUCTURE AND PROPERTIES OF THE PROTECTIVE FILM ( INFLUENCE OF SI , AL AND RARE EARTH ADDITION ) .

4.2 . IMPROVEMENT OF HIGH-SPEED STEELS

- IMPROVEMENT OF HIGH SPEED STEEL GRADES BY MOVING TOWARDS CHEMICAL COMPOSITIONS USING LESS COBALT AND TUNGSTEN ;

- DEVELOPMENT OF PROCESSING METHODS WITH LOW ENERGY AND RAW MATERIALS CONSUMPTION ( IN PARTICULAR FROM POWDERS ) ;

- STUDY OF THE POSSIBILITY OF ADDING GRAPHITE AND FINE CARBIDE POWDER ( TIC , VC , ETC ) TO HIGH SPEED STEEL POWDER OR THE PARENT ALLOY ( E.G . FE , CR , W ) SO AS TO PRODUCE NEW STEELS WITH A HIGH CARBIDE PHASE CONTENT ;

- DEVELOPMENT OF COATING PROCESSES THAT IMPROVE FRICTION PROPERTIES AND THUS THE CONDITIONS FOR TOOL USE ;

- DEVELOPMENT OF NEW ALLOYS WITH , FOR EXAMPLE , HIGH SI , AL AND N CONTENT ;

- ETC .

RESEARCH AREA 5

OTHER USES

5.1 . SOLDERING AND BRAXING TECHNOLOGIES

PRIORITY WILL BE GIVEN TO THE FOLLOWING FIELDS :

- NEW SOLDERING AND BRAZING ALLOYS ;

- IMPROVEMENT OF THE SURFACE-PREPARATION TECHNIQUES USED BEFORE BRAZING AND SOLDERING ;

- NEW MECHANICAL ASSEMBLY METHODS .

5.2 . LEATHER TANNING

THE MAIN OBJECTIVE IS TO STUDY SUBSTITUTES FOR CHROMIUM AND TO IMPROVE TECHNIQUES WITH A VIEW TO REDUCING CHROMIUM CONSUMPTION AND POLLUTION . PRIORITY WILL BE GIVEN TO RESEARCH ON :

- FUNDAMENTAL STUDIES ON THE TANNING PROCESS ;

- DEVELOPMENT OF TANNING SYSTEMS USING RAW MATERIALS OTHER THAN CR AND ITS DERIVATIVES , SUCH AS AL AND ZR FOR EXAMPLE ;

- IMPROVEMENT OF CURRENT TECHNOLOGY TO GIVE A LOWER CR CONSUMPTION AND BETTER RECOVERY .