Ceramics

In the European research project ReSoURCE, experts from nine different companies and institutes are working together to develop sustainable solutions for the recycling of refractory materials. The German project partners are primarily providing laser know-how.

At the Rath plant in Lower Austria, two new vacuum nitriding furnaces, used to produce silicon carbide plates and bricks, are now being operated with electricity. The result: CO₂ emissions are around 70 % lower.

The production of silicon carbide is energy-intensive and produces large amounts of by-products. Researchers at Fraunhofer IKTS have developed an environmentally friendly recycling process to turn these back into high-quality silicon carbide.