The University of New South Wales SMaRT Centre and its industry partner Molycop, has been awarded a federal government grant to help further commercialise UNSW@SMaRT green steel technology.
Waste rubber is used as an alternative to coking coal in steel making.
The announcement was made by Acting Minister for Industry, Science and Technology Angus Taylor on behalf of the Government's Advanced Manufacturing Growth Centre (AMGC).
Newcastle-based mining consumables producer and steel maker, Molycop, is one step closer to implementing UNSW’s patented Polymer Injection Technology (PIT) following the award of a commercialisation grant from the Australian Government’s Advanced Manufacturing Growth Centre (AMGC).
The $750,000 grant was announced by the Acting Minister for Industry, Science and Technology Angus Taylor and will be utilised to implement this technology at Molycop’s Waratah Electric Arc Furnace (EAF) steelmaking facility and support research to further develop the technology.
The technology, known as SMaRT@UNSW green steel, provides a responsible and sustainable recycling solution for end-of-life polymer materials such as tyres, conveyors belts and other rubber products.
Industrial rubber boot manufacturer, Crawford Boots, will also partner with Molycop and UNSW to further enhance the recycling capability.
The technology enables the recovery and reuse of the carbon and hydrogen from end-of-life rubber products in the EAF steelmaking process.
Total investment in the project is $2.6 million, which includes the AMGC grant, Molycop’s capital investment and the funding of ongoing R&D activities and trials to further increase capability.
Molycop is also licensed to commercialise the technology internationally and is currently in discussions with international steelmaking companies.