CLiMRI
What is CLiMRI?
The Canadian Lightweight
Materials Research Initiative (CLiMRI) coordinates research and development
of materials and processes for weight reduction in transportation
applications. Its main goals are to:
- reduce greenhouse
gas emissions through improved vehicle efficiency,
- improve
the competitive position of Canadian operations involved in the
vehicle manufacturing chain.
Background
The Canadian
Lightweight Materials Research Initiative (CLiMRI) is a partnership
between industry and the federal government. Industry guidance is
provided by the Industry Steering Committee, whereas the interests
of the federal government, and coordination functions, are provided
by a federal secretariat.
CLiMRI
Long-Term Goals
The technical
focus of CLiMRI will be on mass reduction, while addressing barriers
that include:
- manufacturability
- affordability
- environmental
impact
- economic
impact for Canada
- total life
cycle energy use
CLiMRI came
into being when the CANMET Materials Technology Laboratory (CANMET-MTL)
was tasked to bring forward a research program on advanced transportation
materials as part of the Program on Energy Research and Development
(PERD). Technical review of research proposals to CLiMRI is provided
by an arm's length Technical Advisory Committee comprised of members
of industry, academia and government.
On March 11,
1999, representatives from industry and government held a strategic
planning workshop to discuss the parameters of CLiMRI and to develop
an action plan aimed at expanding the initiative.
CLiMRI's
Contribution to Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions
Emissions from
transportation vehicles of all types constitute the largest single
contribution to greenhouse gases in Canada and are expected to have
the highest growth rate over the next two decades. Reductions in
vehicle mass, in order to minimize greenhouse gas emissions to Kyoto
Protocol levels, can only be accomplished through innovative design.
To achieve the challenging mass reductions needed, it will be necessary
to substitute lightweight materials in components while optimizing
design for those materials to suit their properties and fabrication
characteristics.
Areas proposed
for research include technologies for the design of lightweight
materials, and manufacturing processes to produce parts from these
materials, to be used in transportation applications. It would include,
for example, development of material compositions for high-strength
steels, magnesium, aluminum, metal-matrix composites, plastics and
ceramics where applicable. The manufacturing technologies addressed
could include smelting and purification, advanced casting and metal
forming technologies, joining technologies, coatings and corrosion
resistance treatments, other fabrication technologies such as semi-solid
forming and specialized heat treatments, and recycling technologies.
These technologies span the life cycle of lightweight materials
production from the treatment of primary metal to recycling at the
end of product life. Technical objectives would be to improve material
performance, reduce costs and reduce the environmental burden associated
with their use.
Climate
Change
Who's
Involved?
CLiMRI is run
by an Industry Steering Committee and a federal secretariat. Institutions
participating to date in R&D performance include three federal
laboratories, four universities and nine private sector industrial
firms.
Participants
Federal laboratory
participants
- CANMET
Materials Technology Laboratory, in Ottawa (casting, forming,
corrosion, alloy development, MMCs materials characterization)
- NRC
Industrial Materials Institute (NRC-IMI) in Boucherville (semi-solid
casting, continuous casting, computer modeling)
- NRC
Integrated Manufacturing Technologies Institute (NRC-IMTI) in
Vancouver (tribology, coatings evaluation)
University
researchers
- Windsor
University (Ford Light Metals Chair)
- University
of Waterloo
- McGill
University
- University
of British Columbia
Industry
participants
- Alcan
International
- Noranda
- Long
Manufacturing
- Norax
- JME
Incorporated
- Grenville
Castings
- Timminco
Metals
- Powercast
Manufacturing Inc.
- The
Industrial Research and Development Institute
in Midland, Ontario, is also a participant and, through its consortium
project on steel hydroforming, involves many more industrial players
How
to Get Involved
To indicate
your interest in becoming involved with CLiMRI, please contact the
chair of the federal secretariat:
CLiMRI
Secretariat
Dr.
Jennifer Jackman
CANMET Materials Technology Laboratory
Minerals and Metals Sector
Natural Resources Canada
568 Booth Street, Ottawa, Canada
K1A 0G1
Telephone:
(613) 995-8248
Facsimile: (613) 992-8735
E-mail: jjackman@nrcan.gc.ca
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