ІННОВАЦІЇ У ПЕРЕРОБЦІ ВІДХОДІВ ТВЕРДИХ СПЛАВІВ ТА ЦИРКУЛЯРНА ЕКОНОМІКА ДЛЯ СТАЛОГО РОЗВИТКУ ПРОМИСЛОВОСТІ

• Datum: 2025
• Hauptverfasser: Швець, Василь, Папіж, Юлія, Ащеулова, Олександра, Пащенко, Олександр, Пащенко, Діана
• Format: Artikel
• Sprache: Englisch
• Veröffentlicht: Институт сверхтвердых материалов им. В. Н. Бакуля Национальной академии наук Украины 2025
• Schlagworte: тверді сплави; цементовані карбіди; карбід вольфраму; переробка; циркулярна економіка; гідрометалургія; електрохімічне вилучення; адитивне виробництво; аналіз життєвого циклу; сталий розвиток; критичні матеріали; промислові стандарти
• Online Zugang: http://altis-ism.org.ua/index.php/ALTIS/article/view/469
• Назва журналу: Tooling materials science

Hard alloys, particularly cemented carbides like tungsten carbide-cobalt (WC-Co), are critical for industries such as manufacturing, mining, and aerospace due to their exceptional hardness and wear resistance. However, the scarcity of tungsten and ethical concerns surrounding cobalt mining necessitate sustainable recycling to reduce reliance on virgin materials and mitigate environmental impacts. This article investigates advancements in recycling technologies for hard alloy waste, emphasizing hydrometallurgical and electrochemical methods to enhance recovery efficiency and align with circular economy principles. Experimental results demonstrate that hydrometallurgical leaching with eco-friendly citric acid achieves 92% WC and 85% cobalt recovery, while electrochemical anodic dissolution yields 88% WC and 95% cobalt, surpassing traditional zinc process efficiencies (85% WC, 70% Co). These methods reduce energy consumption by 29% (50 MJ/kg vs. 70 MJ/kg) and eliminate hazardous waste streams, offering environmental benefits. Recycled WC-Co powders, when integrated into additive manufacturing via laser powder bed fusion, produce components with Vickers hardness (1420 HV) comparable to virgin materials (1450 HV), enabling closed-loop production systems. Lifecycle analysis (LCA) quantifies a 30–40% reduction in global warming potential (3.5 kg CO₂ eq/kg vs. 5.2 kg CO₂ eq/kg) and resource depletion, aligning with UN Sustainable Development Goal 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production). Cost analyses indicate 20–25% savings ($9.5–10/kg vs. $12/kg for zinc), but scalability remains limited by high capital costs (e.g., $500,000 for electrochemical plants) and the absence of standardized quality metrics (e.g., hardness ≥1400 HV, purity ≥98%). Future directions include AI-driven process optimization using machine learning to enhance leaching parameters, nanotechnology for binder-free WC ceramics, and global standards for recycled material certification. By reducing dependency on critical raw materials and fostering resource efficiency, these advancements support sustainable industrial development. Interdisciplinary collaboration among materials scientists, environmental engineers, and policymakers is essential to overcome barriers and scale these technologies, ensuring hard alloy recycling contributes to a resilient, circular economy.