The project seeks to minimize carbon dioxide emissions from the automotive industry, in line with the objectives of the Research Fund for Coal and Steel Research Programme and the European Green Deal Roadmap.
The European consortium COOPHS works to improve the production of low carbon dioxide steel for the automotive sector. Indeed, this objective will be addressed through the development of more sustainable processing methodologies that will contribute to its decarbonization.
“The production of high-performance steel through recycling will make it possible to minimize carbon dioxide emissions from the automotive industry, as well as advance in the sustainability and competitiveness of the European steel market, in line with the objectives of the Research Fund for Coal and Steel (RFCS) Research Programme and the European Green Deal Roadmap”, points out the project coordinator and head of the Line of New Processes for Advanced Materials of the Metallic and Ceramic Materials Unit of Eurecat, Jaume Pujante.
The project focuses on evaluating the implications of implementing the Electric Arc Furnace (EAF) replacing the blast furnace as the main production route for Press-Hardened Steels (PHS). PHS is a light and resistant structural material, essential in the safety components of today’s cars.
Therefore, COOPHS aims to investigate the effects of residual elements, common in EAF production routes, on material microstructure and properties. Unfortunately, these trace elements significantly influence the surface treatments and coatings required for component longevity. Indeed, as a key project objective, the consortium seek to establish acceptable levels of these residual elements for industrial implementation.
On the other hand, the consortium will design a tool to ensure a compromise between emissions and product. This will make it easier to promote the adoption of low emission steels in the PHS automotive market.
Furthermore, COOPHS research will also compare various existing solutions and propose optimized low-emission steel processing routes.
Consequently, the COOPHS project will contribute to advance the state of the art in optimising PHS and Advanced High-Strength Steels (AHSS), in general.
The consortium, coordinated by Eurecat technology centre, is participated by seven entities, including actors from the steel industry, the automotive safety sector as ArcelorMittal, Gestamp HardTech AB and Letomec; and research organizations as Aix-Marseille University, the French National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS) and ALBA Synchrotron (ALBA-CELLS
Project key facts
Full Project Title: Low CO2 footprint on Press-Hardened Seels for a more sustainable automotive sector
Project Acronym: COOPHS
Start – end date: 1 July 2023 – 31 December 2026
Budget: € 3.764.689,07
Coordinator: Eurecat Technology Centre
This project has received funding from the European Union’s Research Fund for Coal and Steel (RFCS): project num. 101112485.
Project coordination
Jaume Pujante – Eurecat Technology Centre
Email: coophs.project@gmail.com