Steels and super alloys with considerable amounts of critical raw materials are widely used in many industrial applications, particularly under extreme conditions where corrosion and wear resistance are needed. It is generally accepted, that intermetallics in particular low cost Fe-Al offer outstanding material properties.

Unfortunately, it is difficult to transfer their properties to real products, as intermetallics suffer from low ductility at ambient temperature and poor machinability. The impact of Fe-Al intermetallics as a low cost Cr-free alternative for stainless steel would therefore be much higher if a cost effective industrial process would  be  available,  that  allows  manufacturing  complex
3-D geometries of almost unlimited shapes from small grain size (0.1-5 μm) high ductility material.

In 2016, Yuzhnoye SDO started works on the research EQUINOX Project, which is implemented under Horizon2020 of EU.

The main objective of EQUINOX is to develop a novel process that allows to substitute Critical Raw Materials (CRMs) based stainless steel parts used in high volume end consumer products such as in the lock industry, electronics, process industry and automotive industry with a novel near net shape production technology for a new class of highly advanced ductile Fe-Al based intermetallics.

It is estimated that successful industrial introduction of EQUINOX technology would allow to save at least 18.000 tons of CRM per year by substituting stainless steel through CRM free Fe-Al based intermetallics.

Under the Project Yuzhnoye SDO provides expert assessment of applicability of the obtained material in rocket-space products operating under harsh conditions such as cryogenic temperatures and aggressive environment. The main task of Yuzhnoye SDO in EQUINOX Project is adaptation of EQUINOX material to space rocketry structures.

 The main Yuzhnoye SDO activities under the Project are:

- production of porous iron matrixes as well as optimization of their characteristics for further infiltration with aluminum alloys.

- testing  of the EQUINOX material with a focus on its subsequent application for components, working under harsh conditions.

- manufacturing of prototype of rocket engine’s units from EQUINOX material to validate its applicability for rocket-space products.

The EQUINOX is supported by Horizon 2020, the EU Framework Programme for Research and Innovation.
Grant Agreement №685844.

Detailed information is available here: http://equinox-project.eu/

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