Constellium produces aluminum slab using hydrogen combustion

Constellium reports it has produced its first industrial-scale hydrogen casting at C-TEC, Constellium's primary R&D center in Voreppe, France, using a 12-ton furnace and following strict internal procedures. Quality monitoring, including using Batscan technology, an inclusion detection tool for molten aluminum, was conducted, and no quality impact from hydrogen combustion on the metal was observed, the company notes.

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"We are thrilled to announce the successful completion of our first industrial-scale hydrogen casting,” says Ludovic Piquier, senior vice president, manufacturing excellence, and chief technical officer of Constellium. “This achievement marks a pivotal step in Constellium's journey towards decarbonizing our industrial activities. Utilizing hydrogen as a substitute for natural gas not only demonstrates our commitment to sustainability but also paves the way for future innovations in green technologies.”

The 12-ton aluminum slab produced using hydrogen will be further processed at Constellium’s Neuf-Brisach site in France for use in electric vehicles. Constellium says this milestone is significant in its road map toward decarbonizing its industrial activities as the company has begun exploring the performance of hydrogen as a substitute for natural gas at industrial scale, provided that hydrogen is green, more accessible and cost-effective for industrial applications.

Constellium says it is actively involved in various multistakeholder projects aimed at advancing hydrogen technologies for industrial decarbonization.

One notable initiative is HyInHeat (Hydrogen technologies for decarbonization of industrial heating processes), a European Union-funded project exploring the substitution of natural gas with hydrogen in aluminum and steel transformation processes. In addition to its focus on hydrogen, Constellium is exploring alternative decarbonization technologies, including direct electrification solutions compatible with existing furnaces.