Project Details
Projekt
Single particle analysis for predictive EnAM processing
Applicant
Dr.-Ing. Thomas Leißner
Subject Area
Mechanical Process Engineering
Term
since 2021
Project identifier
Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 470202518
The research project "Single particle analysis for predictive EnAM processing (SPA-4-EnAM)" deals with multidimensional particle analysis with the aim of predicting and optimizing the processing of EnAM using robust and generally applicable modeling approaches. To this end, three key areas of research are crucial, which only together will enable successful prediction of the processing. These are firstly the multidimensional, physical and morphological analysis of the particles of comminuted slag systems, secondly the basic laboratory investigations into the separation processes individually and in combination and thirdly the modeling itself. Characterization is a fundamental building block here, which on the one hand includes the three-dimensional morphological and chemical analysis of the complex slags themselves, but also the development of methods for this analysis. The challenges lie in determining the physical properties, particularly the magnetic properties. These are not tabulated but must be calculated from compositional data and magnetic properties using a new research approach. Furthermore, the complex composition and structure of EnAM requires the further development of existing methods of three-dimensional, imaging particle analysis. Two points, in particular should be emphasized here: the fine-scale, complex microstructure within the slag, which can only be mapped using very high-resolution measurement methods, and the variation in the chemical composition of the phases, which in some cases form solid solutions and therefore do not produce a clear contrast in the imaging analysis. In the case of insufficient resolution, a super-resolution approach is pursued, which makes it possible to analyze significantly large volumes (FOV) with sufficient resolution. Here, the resolution of a high-resolution measurement of a small FOV is transferred to a large volume of lower resolution. In the case of a lack of contrast for phase differentiation, a two-dimensional analysis of the composition is correlated with the three-dimensional analysis of the structure. The mechanical processing of comminuted slags presents a significant challenge due to their fine-scale structures comprising various phases, which means that they have to be extensively comminuted before mechanical liberation is achieved. The size of the particle systems is therefore at the limit of what can still be processed conventionally. Design and optimization can therefore only be carried out efficiently on the basis of correct analysis and precise modeling of the processes, taking into account the multidimensional particle property distributions. For this purpose, the corresponding models for the individual processes and their combination into flow diagrams must be developed. Recommendations for the upstream metallurgy of the EnAM can then be derived from the models.
DFG Programme
Priority Programmes
