Hotspot analysis of a circular saw blade for cutting nickel-based alloys

Nickel-based alloys form the technological basis for many modern industrial processes and innovations due to their positive properties, such as corrosion and heat resistance, as well as high strength. They are generally considered a key material for applications under extreme conditions. This includes the conveyance of highly corrosive media under pressure through pipe systems. Due to the aforementioned material properties, the cutting of nickel-based alloy pipes is exceptionally demanding and resource-intensive. However, this circumstance also presents an opportunity for optimizing the cutting process leading to potential ecological savings. Cutting nickel-based alloy pipes is generally performed using industrial circular saw blades. In this paper, a life cycle assessment of an industrial circular saw blade for cutting nickel-based alloy pipes was conducted within the standards of ISO 14040/44, setting the stage for future improvements by defining the environmental status quo. The environmental impacts along the entire product life cycle - from raw material extraction to manufacturing and use to disposal - were systematically recorded and hotspots identified. The results are used to derive recommendations for more sustainable manufacturing, use and disposal of circular saw blades for cutting nickel-based alloy pipes, contributing to greater sustainability and transparency in the context of industrial cutting processes.