New processes call for corrosion resistant materials
New processes and upgrading the old ones in the pulp, paper and energy industry set high requirements for the materials. The need to increase the process efficiency leading to higher temperatures and higher solid contents in e.g. recovery boilers, and the use of a variety of biomaterials (previously called waste) for energy production in biorefineries changes the process environment and calls for more robust materials in terms of corrosion, temperature and wear resistance. Material development for these demanding applications has become of key importance to guarantee the safe and economic function of the big plants in the process industry. Fimecc’s DEMAPP program is developing new material solutions to overcome these challenges.
In the pulp industry the unit sizes must be big enough and the processes highly efficient. Operational reliability, safety, high quality of products, material and energy efficiency, low environmental impact combined with economic feasibility are important issues. This means that already today the process conditions are tough even for the best materials available, and the requirements will increase all the time.
DEMAPP program tackles these issues by developing next generation corrosion, wear and high temperature resistant materials and their processing solutions for the Finnish industry via a systematic long-term multidisciplinary R&D co-operation effort of key experts in the industry and academia. The work is highly driven by the tough needs of future industrial applications, but goes as well deep in the fundamental science and the critical phenomena involved. We have a unique set of scientific and technical expertise combining relevant experimental research, theoretical understanding and modeling – even for tricky topics like corrosion. Understanding the specific process environment, the different corrosion phenomena and the combined effects with temperature and mechanical stresses sets basis for the development of new materials and optimal process conditions. Our target-oriented pre-commercial R&D enables fast scale-up “from labs to fabs” and turn research to business, says DEMAPP Program Manager Dr. Markku Heino, Spinverse.