Materials selection in a critical raw materials perspective

Critical Raw Materials (CRMs) are those raw materials that are economically and strategically important for the European economy but have a high-risk associated with their supply. Used in environmental technologies, consumer electronics, health, steel-making, defence, space exploration, and aviation, these materials are not only ‘critical’ for key industry sectors and future applications, but also for the sustainable functioning of the European economy. In this scenario, ‘mitigating actions’ need to be developed to reduce criticalities linked to the use of those raw materials. Recycling and substitution, when possible, are strategic solutions but a more efficient use of such CRMs in design, obtained by a correct alloy selection, is become nowadays mandatory. A method for metallic alloys selection in a CRMs perspective, based on the definition of the alloy critical index, is described. The proposed method allows selecting the alloy for the current application that minimizes its criticality associated to CRMs. The method is illustrated with examples