02/12/2024

GeoWolf - Development and testing of an innovative cold-curing system made of raw and residual material from fireclay production for use in the construction of domestic fireplaces for solid fuels.

Development and material optimisation for the substitution of the products “Hafner panels”, “heavy fireclay” and “insulation panels” with cold-curing geopolymer systems that include recycling materials and/or residual materials.

Project details

Duration 1 Nov 2023 - 30 May 2026
Research theme Materials & Production Engineering
Project leader Prof. Barbara Hintz
Faculty of Materials Engineering
Project partners Wolfshöher Tonwerke GmbH & Co. KG
Funding provided by Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Protection (BMWK)

Description

The Wolfshöher clay works produce refractory materials that are used to build wood-burning stoves. The production of fireclay is an energy-intensive process. The firing of the panels in the tunnel kiln requires vast amounts of fossil energy sources, in this case, natural gas. The aim of the project is to reduce this use of energy and improve the CO2 balance of the Wolfshöhe works and to improve the final fireplace product. The raw materials used in fireclay production should continue to be used and any residual materials should be recycled.

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