In order to compete in the market, the Norwegian Aluminium industry is continuously seeking new profitable product segments which require superior competence levels and excellent quality of base metal. The focus on recycling also brings new challenges in terms of impurities and trace elements. The industry is also continuously improving melt distributor systems, mold technology, casting equipment and addressing several casting processes (DC casting, twin-roll casting, belt & wheel casting). In order to be in position to efficiently bring new holistic aluminium solutions to the market, a good understanding of the relation between alloy composition, casting process, casting defects and properties is crucial for further processing and final product performance. The goal of the project is to develop new knowledge systematised in the form of modelling tools describing phenomena, mechanisms and alloy aspects that are critical for the development of Aluminium alloys with targeted properties based on continuous and semi-continuous aluminium casting processes. The final aim is to provide the basis for innovative (alloys and products) and robust current and novel casting processes (rapid prototyping, productivity, cast product soundness).
SINTEF contributes with the development of the microstructure model Alstruc as well as the process model Alsim. The project is a KPN (Competence project for the industrial sector) supported by the Research Council through the BIA-program. Partners in PRIMAL are Alcoa Norway ANS, Aleris Rolled Products Germany GmbH, Hydro Aluminium ASA, Stiftelsen SINTEF and Institute for Energy Technology (IFE).