The Max Planck Institute for Sustainable Materials in Düsseldorf, Germany, plays a key role in the fundamental research underpinning the Horizon Europe HAlMan project. With strong expertise in materials science, thermodynamics, and microstructural analysis, the institute contributes essential knowledge to support the development of next-generation, low-carbon metallurgical and processing technologies.

Within the HAlMan project, the institute focuses on two core areas of fundamental investigation. The first concerns the hydrogen-based pre-reduction of ferromanganese ores/oxides, a critical raw material in many metallurgical processes. By applying different heating rates, researchers study the resulting microstructural evolution of the pre-reduced products, gaining insights into phase transformation mechanisms, stability, and reaction behavior under hydrogen-rich conditions. These findings help refine processing strategies that are central to enabling greener pathways for material production.

The second key research area involves evaluating the ferromanganese produced within the HAlMan framework for medium/high Mn steel production. Through detailed microstructure characterization and mechanical performance assessments, the institute has found that the steels developed in the project show strong potential as promising candidates for future automotive industry—particularly in processes aligned with achieving net-zero CO₂ emissions.

Through its contributions to fundamental science, the Max Planck Institute for Sustainable Materials strengthens the scientific foundation of HAlMan and supports the broader ambition of enabling sustainable, hydrogen-based and resource-efficient material production for a carbon-neutral future.