International Projects
Upgrading of low-quality iron ores and mill scale with low carbon
Title: Upgrading of low-quality iron ores and mill scale with low carbon
Acronym: MITHRIL
Start: 01.10.2025 End: 31.03.2029
Co-financing for Łukasiewicz – GIT: EUR 499 864,50
Total project budget: EUR 3 936 357,54
Executive Agency: European Commission (REA)
Programme Name: Research Fund for Coal and Steel
Consortium:
- RINA CONSULTING – CENTRO SVILUPPO MATERIALI S.p.A. (IT) – Coordinator
- FLAME SPRAY HUNGARY Kft. (HU)
- UNIVERSITEIT GENT (BE)
- IL SENTIERO INTERNATIONAL CAMPUS SRL (IT)
- SIEĆ BADAWCZA ŁUKASIEWICZ – GÓRNOŚLĄSKI INSTYTUT TECHNOLOGICZNY (PL)
- CORINTH PIPEWORKS PIPE INDUSTRY S.A. (EL)
- FUNDACIÓN TEKNIKER (ES)
- UNIVERSITÀ DEGLI STUDI DI CAGLIARI (IT)
Project Manager:
Krzysztof Radwański, BEng, PhD, DSc
Tel.: 32 2345 234
E-mail: krzysztof.radwanski@git.lukasiewicz.gov.pl
Objective:
The MITHRIL project focuses on the development, validation and dissemination of barrier coatings for steel used in hydrogen environments. These include, among others, diamond-like carbon (DLC) coatings, nickel–phosphorus (Ni–P) coatings and aluminium oxide (Al₂O₃) coatings intended for use in hydrogen infrastructure. The developed solutions are designed to ensure the resistance of steel to hydrogen embrittlement, extend the service life of materials, and guarantee their safe utilisation within the hydrogen industry.
Furthermore, the methodology developed under the project for creating industrially feasible barrier coatings with suitable mechanical properties for the hydrogen pipeline sector will enable an assessment of their potential adaptation to other areas of the hydrogen economy, such as nuclear energy, hydrogen storage and the automotive industry.
The MITHRIL project aims to conduct research that will contribute to the development of the steel sector in the context of the rapidly expanding hydrogen economy. Its main objective is to develop an economical, efficient and durable steel infrastructure designed for hydrogen-related applications. The realisation of this goal is based on the development, validation and dissemination – together with the relevant guidelines – of innovative barrier coatings for steels operated in hydrogen environments.
The project foresees the achievement of Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 5 during its implementation, as well as the preparation of an action plan to enable further development of the technology up to TRL 9 (commercialisation) within five years following the project’s completion.
In the first phase, the project will focus on the transport sector as the primary case study. Subsequently, the potential for adapting the developed solutions to other hydrogen utilisation areas – such as domestic storage, automotive applications and nuclear energy – will be analysed, where high pressures and temperatures play a crucial role.