TU Dresden launches upcycling project
A second life for metal components
In the project "2nd Life Metal Components: A Pathfinding Project for Upcycling", researchers at the Technische Universität Dresden (TUD) are developing innovative production processes for the recycling and reuse of metal components.
The eight-year project is headed by Prof. Alexander Brosius and Prof. Andrés Fabián Lasagni from the Institute of Production Engineering. It is being funded by the Werner Siemens Foundation with 13 million euros. In future, the project will offer a 25-strong team a broad field of research.
As the demand for metals in industrialized nations continues to rise, so too do anthropogenic stocks. This means that more and more metals remain in infrastructures and buildings for long periods of time. Due to the scarcity of resources, conventional recycling methods - especially energy-intensive melting - are no longer justifiable. The "2nd Life Metal Components" project aims to avoid these processes by directly reusing existing metal parts through upcycling and manufacturing new products from them.
Secondary use saves considerable energy and resources
The secondary use of existing raw material stocks is known as urban mining. These processes can significantly reduce energy consumption and conserve valuable resources. "Our approach makes it possible to save 90 percent of the energy normally required," emphasizes Prof. Brosius. "This project will set new standards in urban mining through the sustainable reuse of metals." Laser-based technologies are used to improve the properties of the recycled metals and produce tailored blanks with specific properties for certain applications. This innovative approach is intended to improve ecological and economic efficiency in sectors such as the automotive industry, promote the circular economy and support sustainability goals.
"Laser-based functionalization is another key to the success of this project," explains Prof. Lasagni. "It allows us to characterize both the surface and bulk properties of the metals, to precisely adjust them to enable their reuse and to specifically improve their properties for new applications."
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