2025 | December | Start of the DFG project "UHPC as a molding material"

On December 17, 2025, the kick-off meeting for the DFG project “Mineral-Bound and Reusable Molding Materials for the Casting Production of Aluminum Components” (WE 5978/8-1) took place. The project is a collaboration with the Chair of Foundry Engineering (Prof. Dr. Sebastian Müller) at Friedrich-Alexander University in Erlangen (FAU).

The project focuses on the use of ultra-high-performance concretes (UHPC) made from alkali-activated binders. The goal is to produce reusable molds for light metal casting. The aim is to reduce reactivity and thermal conductivity compared to metallic molds. Research is being conducted to determine how the long-term durability of the mineral mold materials can be improved. To this end, various aggregate sizes and fiber additives, among other things, are being tested. Experimental studies and computer simulations will demonstrate how the mold fills, how stress is distributed, and how long the concrete molds last. The study will also demonstrate how the microstructure and mechanical properties of specific aluminum alloys change.