Cermets and articles thereof

1. Scope and Applicability

This PCR covers gate-to-gate production of cermets and simple, unmounted cermet articles made by powder preparation, shaping, debinding, sintering or pressure-assisted sintering, and any finishing needed to reach the declared plant-gate state. A cermet is a microscopic heterogeneous combination of a metallic component and a ceramic component; sintered metal carbides bonded with metal are included. The foreground starts when composition-declared ceramic powders, metallic binder powders, additives, utilities, and any accepted secondary feedstock enter the reporting site and ends with dry saleable product and all wastes and direct emissions leaving that site.

The rule covers WC-Co cemented carbides and Ti(C,N)-based cermets as representative material systems while remaining formulation-neutral. It does not cover ceramic-only products, homogeneous metal alloys, mounted tools, interchangeable tool tips or inserts already classifiable as fabricated tools, machinery used to make or work cermets, nuclear-fuel cermets, downstream brazing or assembly, or coatings applied after the declared uncoated plant-gate product. Purchased upstream powder production and off-site recycling or treatment are represented by linked datasets, not reconstructed inside this foreground.

2. Product Category Identity

Field	Value
canonical_pcr_id	pcr.metal-products-machinery-and-equipment.basic-metals.cermets-and-articles-thereof
classification_refs	CPC 3.0:41605, exact mapping context
covered_products	Unwrought cermet feedstock and dry, unmounted, uncoated cermet bodies whose material contains a microscopic ceramic phase and metallic binder phase, including sintered metal carbides bonded with metal
excluded_products	Ceramic-only bodies; homogeneous metal alloys; nuclear-fuel cermets; mounted tools; tool inserts and tips already classified as fabricated tools; machinery; downstream brazed assemblies; post-gate coatings
representative_product	Sintered unmounted cermet blank with declared ceramic phase, metallic binder, composition, density, dimensions, and finishing state
production_route	Powder receipt and dosing; wet or dry mixing/milling; conditional granulation; pressing, extrusion, injection moulding, or another declared shaping route; debinding; vacuum or controlled-atmosphere sintering; conditional pressure-assisted densification and finishing
market_state	Dry saleable cermet feedstock or unmounted article at the manufacturing plant gate; the reference product is uncoated and not assembled into a tool or machine

3. Reference Flow

Field	Value
What	Provide a composition-declared cermet in the declared plant-gate product form
How much	1 kg net dry saleable product
How well	Meets the declared ceramic phase, metallic binder, composition, density or porosity, product form, dimensions or particle-size specification, and finishing state
How long or cycle	One production lot at the plant gate; no service-life claim is included for this mass-based material reference
reference_flow_link	cermet_reference_product

Field	Value
Reference amount	1 kg net dry saleable product
Reference product flow	Sintered unmounted cermet blank
Reference flow property	Mass 93a60a56-a3c8-11da-a746-0800200b9a66
Reference unit group	Units of mass 93a60a57-a4c8-11da-a746-0800200c9a66
Reference unit	kg
Required qualifiers	ceramic phase and grade; metallic binder and grade; mass fractions and assay basis; recycled-content accounting; powder or article form; density or porosity; dimensions or particle-size distribution; shaping route; sintering and pressure-assistance route; finishing state; coating state; site; geography; production period

When constructing a foreground data package, every item in Required qualifiers shall be declared in dataset metadata, the product description, the reference-flow comment, or an equivalent field. The reference-product UUID remains unresolved; the foreground data package shall not substitute a narrower tool-part flow or a composition-unspecified proxy.

4. Measurement and Unit Rules

rule_id	Applies to	Required property	Required unit	Rule
reference_dry_mass	Reference product and mass-normalized exchanges	Mass 93a60a56-a3c8-11da-a746-0800200b9a66	kg	Weigh net saleable product after removable process liquid and loose contamination are removed; report moisture or retained processing aid separately and normalize all exchanges to 1 kg net dry saleable product.
cobalt_content_basis	Cobalt powder input	Cobalt content b1192e5a-4a70-4fd7-89a2-6b798c7ed3a7	kg	Report contained cobalt as gross cobalt-powder mass multiplied by the measured or supplier-certified cobalt mass fraction; retain both gross mass and assay evidence.
electricity_energy_basis	Electricity input	Net calorific value 93a60a56-a3c8-11da-a746-0800200b9a66	MJ	Preserve the meter unit and conversion factor; when converting kWh to the Tiangong reference unit, use 1 kWh = 3.6 MJ and disclose voltage level, grid or on-site source, losses, and allocation of shared meters.
gas_volume_basis	Natural gas and unresolved gaseous nitrogen inputs	Volume 93a60a56-a3c8-22da-a746-0800200c9a66	m3	State the metering pressure, temperature, dry/wet basis, composition or purity, and conversion to reference volume; do not mix normal, standard, and operating cubic metres without conversion.
batch_to_reference_basis	All batch records	Mass or applicable metered property	per kg product	Divide the quantity attributable to the declared product by net dry conforming product mass; separately disclose work-in-progress change, internally returned material, and nonconforming product.

5. System Boundary

Boundary Abstraction

Field	Value
declared_starting_condition	Composition-declared ceramic powder, metallic binder powder, additives, accepted secondary feedstock, and utilities received at the reporting-site boundary
starting_condition_role	Foreground gate for powder processing, shaping, densification, and required finishing
product_classification_scope	Cermet material and simple unmounted cermet articles; classification references locate the category but do not redefine this semantic boundary
recursive_input_rule	Purchased cermet feedstock, cermet scrap, or a semi-finished cermet input is recorded once as an individual product input with its own upstream dataset; do not recursively rebuild it with this same PCR inside the receiving foreground
upstream_dataset_requirement	Link composition-, product-state-, geography-, technology-, and recycled-content-appropriate datasets for every purchased powder, binder, additive, fuel, electricity supply, process gas, water supply, and off-site treatment service
disclosure	Declare site, period, product formulation, product form, shaping and sintering routes, pressure assistance, finishing, internal-loop treatment, recycled-content method, abatement, cut-offs, and every excluded or outsourced operation

rule_id	Applies to	Rule	source_ids
boundary_foreground_gate	Foreground system	Include receipt and internal handling of powders and additives, dosing, mixing or milling, granulation when used, shaping, debinding, sintering, pressure-assisted densification when used, inspection, required finishing, internal material returns, waste handling, and on-site abatement through the plant gate.	furberg-arvidsson-molander-2019; wang-bai-wang-men-2024
boundary_upstream_links	Purchased inputs and off-site services	Represent production of powders, binders, additives, energy carriers, utilities, and off-site recovery, recycling, or disposal with linked upstream datasets; do not omit them from the downstream lifecycle model.	eu-pef-2021-2279
boundary_direct_releases	Foreground emissions	Record measured or mass-balance-derived direct releases after abatement by substance and receiving compartment; retain gross generation, capture, recovery, and final release records where available.	furberg-arvidsson-molander-2019; eu-pef-2021-2279
boundary_no_tool_substitution	Product identity	Do not substitute a mounted tool, a machine, or a narrower fabricated WC-Co tool-part flow for the unresolved CPC 41605 reference product.	eu-cn-cermet-definition-2020; eu-cermet-sticks-classification-2021

6. Process Inventory Structure

Process Map

process_id	process_name	inclusion	inclusion_condition	role	quantitative_reference
cermet_manufacture	Cermet powder processing, consolidation, and finishing	required	Always include operations controlled by the reporting site from received powders through dry saleable product; mark an individual flow not applicable only when records demonstrate it is absent from the declared route	Foreground production	1 kg net dry saleable cermet product

Process: Cermet powder processing, consolidation, and finishing (cermet_manufacture)

Inputs

Product flows

Tungsten carbide ceramic-phase powder (tungsten_carbide_powder)

Record tungsten carbide powder when the declared formulation contains WC. The amount is the dry received WC powder charged to attributable batches, net of documented material returned outside the batch boundary.

• Selected flow: Tungsten carbide powder e2c47d47-229c-44f3-9ed0-e74fbbf0176f
• Flow property / unit: Mass 93a60a56-a3c8-11da-a746-0800200b9a66 / kg
• Amount rule: Measured dry WC powder charged to attributable production batches
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Product-specific (product_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg net dry saleable cermet product
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_material_inputs
• Sources: furberg-arvidsson-molander-2019

Titanium carbonitride ceramic-phase powder (titanium_carbonitride_powder)

Record titanium carbonitride powder only when Ti(C,N) is charged as one declared ceramic constituent. Do not combine TiC, TiN, WC, Mo2C, or another separately purchased powder into this row.

• Selected flow: Titanium carbonitride powder
• Flow property / unit: Mass 93a60a56-a3c8-11da-a746-0800200b9a66 / kg
• Amount rule: Measured dry Ti(C,N) powder charged to attributable production batches
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Product-specific (product_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg net dry saleable cermet product
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_material_inputs
• Sources: wang-bai-wang-men-2024

Cobalt metallic-binder powder (cobalt_powder)

Record cobalt powder only when it is a separately purchased binder constituent. The inventory amount is contained cobalt; gross powder mass and cobalt assay are retained for reconciliation.

• Selected flow: Cobalt powder abe5e361-25a1-4258-a481-589bf66e3b13
• Flow property / unit: Cobalt content b1192e5a-4a70-4fd7-89a2-6b798c7ed3a7 / kg
• Amount rule: Gross cobalt-powder mass multiplied by batch-specific cobalt mass fraction
• Value mode: Calculated value (calculated_value)
• Specificity: Product-specific (product_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg net dry saleable cermet product
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Calculated from collection (calculated_from_collection)
• Collection protocol: cp_material_inputs
• Sources: furberg-arvidsson-molander-2019; wang-bai-wang-men-2024

Nickel metallic-binder powder (nickel_powder)

Record nickel powder only when it is charged as one declared metallic binder constituent. Do not use nickel concentrate or a composition-unspecified metal powder as a proxy.

• Selected flow: Nickel powder
• Flow property / unit: Mass 93a60a56-a3c8-11da-a746-0800200b9a66 / kg
• Amount rule: Measured dry nickel powder charged to attributable production batches
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Product-specific (product_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg net dry saleable cermet product
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_material_inputs
• Sources: wang-bai-wang-men-2024

Paraffin wax pressing or granulation binder (paraffin_wax)

Record paraffin wax when it is charged as the binder or pressing aid. Other binders remain distinct atomic product inputs and are not represented by this row.

• Selected flow: Paraffin wax 25a8346c-d726-4428-9a25-1a9584293ec5
• Flow property / unit: Mass 93a60a56-a3c8-11da-a746-0800200b9a66 / kg
• Amount rule: Measured paraffin wax charged, net of separately metered recovered wax returned to the same batch
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Route-specific (route_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg net dry saleable cermet product
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_material_inputs
• Sources: furberg-arvidsson-molander-2019

Heptane milling solvent (heptane)

Record heptane when n-heptane is charged to wet milling. Hexane, ethanol, water, or another solvent is a separate physical input and is not included in this row.

• Selected flow: Heptane f3026a5f-e4ce-4bb3-b015-92d56ebb0091
• Flow property / unit: Mass 93a60a56-a3c8-11da-a746-0800200b9a66 / kg
• Amount rule: Gross fresh n-heptane make-up crossing the site boundary, excluding internally recovered solvent
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Route-specific (route_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg net dry saleable cermet product
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_material_inputs
• Sources: furberg-arvidsson-molander-2019

Process water for aqueous milling or wet finishing (process_water)

Record process water that crosses the site boundary and is consumed in aqueous milling or wet finishing. Closed-loop recirculation is not repeatedly counted as a fresh input.

• Selected flow: Process Water 94a04f7e-2d5c-41f0-b182-d54a3b373a02
• Flow property / unit: Mass 93a60a56-a3c8-11da-a746-0800200b9a66 / kg
• Amount rule: Metered or tank-balance fresh process-water input attributable to the product
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Site-specific (site_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg net dry saleable cermet product
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_water_and_gas_inputs
• Sources:

Gaseous industrial nitrogen (nitrogen_gas)

Record gaseous nitrogen supplied to spray drying, inert handling, or controlled-atmosphere thermal treatment. Liquid nitrogen delivered to the site requires a distinct liquid-product flow and a documented vaporisation boundary.

• Selected flow: Gaseous industrial nitrogen
• Flow property / unit: Volume 93a60a56-a3c8-22da-a746-0800200c9a66 / m3
• Amount rule: Reference-condition volume of gaseous nitrogen consumed, net of metered closed-loop recovery
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Technology-specific (technology_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg net dry saleable cermet product
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_water_and_gas_inputs
• Sources: furberg-arvidsson-molander-2019

Electricity supplied to foreground equipment (electricity)

Record electricity used by handling, milling, granulation, shaping, debinding, sintering, pressure assistance, ventilation, abatement, inspection, and attributable finishing.

• Selected flow: Electricity 890a70b7-b677-4e2a-8a1b-7d017e0a10ae
• Flow property / unit: Net calorific value 93a60a56-a3c8-11da-a746-0800200b9a66 / MJ
• Amount rule: Metered electricity attributable to the foreground process, including allocated shared auxiliary loads
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Site-specific (site_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg net dry saleable cermet product
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_energy_inputs
• Sources: furberg-arvidsson-molander-2019

Natural gas for on-site thermal equipment (natural_gas)

Record gaseous natural gas only when it crosses the site boundary and is combusted in attributable dryers, furnaces, or thermal oxidisers. Do not combine it with other fuels.

• Selected flow: natural gas in the gaseous state 4f19ca0e-7b3b-11dd-ad8b-0800200c9a66
• Flow property / unit: Volume 93a60a56-a3c8-22da-a746-0800200c9a66 / m3
• Amount rule: Reference-condition metered natural-gas volume attributable to the foreground process
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Site-specific (site_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg net dry saleable cermet product
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_energy_inputs
• Sources:

Waste flows

Elementary flows

Outputs

Product flows

Net dry saleable sintered cermet blank (cermet_reference_product)

This row is the quantitative reference output. Record conforming product after debinding, sintering, inspection, and any finishing inside the declared boundary; exclude mounted components and downstream assemblies.

• Selected flow: Sintered unmounted cermet blank
• Flow property / unit: Mass 93a60a56-a3c8-11da-a746-0800200b9a66 / kg
• Amount rule: Measured net dry conforming product mass; equals 1 kg on the normalized reference basis
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Product-specific (product_specific)
• Normalization basis: 1 kg net dry saleable cermet product
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_product_output
• Sources: eu-cn-cermet-definition-2020; eu-cermet-sticks-classification-2021; furberg-arvidsson-molander-2019

Waste flows

Off-spec cermet powder blend leaving the site (off_spec_cermet_powder)

Record composition-declared powder blend that leaves the foreground as waste. Powder returned internally to the same or another attributable batch is an internal loop, not a waste output.

• Selected flow: Off-spec cermet powder blend
• Flow property / unit: Mass 93a60a56-a3c8-11da-a746-0800200b9a66 / kg
• Amount rule: Weighed powder blend sent off-site as waste, net of documented internal return
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Site-specific (site_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg net dry saleable cermet product
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_waste_outputs
• Sources: furberg-arvidsson-molander-2019

Sintered cermet reject leaving the site (sintered_cermet_reject)

Record a nonconforming sintered cermet body that leaves the foreground for off-site recovery, recycling, treatment, or disposal. Keep destination and composition separate from this waste identity.

• Selected flow: Sintered cermet reject
• Flow property / unit: Mass 93a60a56-a3c8-11da-a746-0800200b9a66 / kg
• Amount rule: Weighed sintered reject mass crossing the site boundary
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Site-specific (site_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg net dry saleable cermet product
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_waste_outputs
• Sources: furberg-arvidsson-molander-2019

Cermet grinding sludge leaving the site (cermet_grinding_sludge)

Record wet sludge generated by grinding the declared cermet composition when it leaves the site. Dry captured grinding dust is a different waste state and shall not be entered in this row.

• Selected flow: Cermet grinding sludge
• Flow property / unit: Mass 93a60a56-a3c8-11da-a746-0800200b9a66 / kg
• Amount rule: Weighed wet sludge crossing the site boundary, with dry-solids fraction and retained liquid reported separately
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Site-specific (site_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg net dry saleable cermet product
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_waste_outputs
• Sources:

Elementary flows

Unrecovered n-heptane emitted to air (heptane_air)

Record measured or solvent-balance n-heptane released after recovery and abatement. Do not substitute a different heptane isomer or aggregate volatile-organic-compound flow.

• Selected flow: Heptane, emission to air
• Flow property / unit: Mass 93a60a56-a3c8-11da-a746-0800200b9a66 / kg
• Amount rule: Fresh n-heptane input minus recovered inventory, waste transfers, product retention, and closing-stock change, reconciled to monitored release
• Value mode: Calculated value (calculated_value)
• Specificity: Site-specific (site_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg net dry saleable cermet product
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Calculated from collection (calculated_from_collection)
• Collection protocol: cp_air_emissions
• Sources: furberg-arvidsson-molander-2019

Paraffin-wax vapour emitted to air (paraffin_air)

Record paraffin-wax vapour released during debinding or sintering after recovery and abatement. Do not use an indoor-air paraffins flow for a controlled external outlet.

• Selected flow: Paraffin wax vapour, emission to air
• Flow property / unit: Mass 93a60a56-a3c8-11da-a746-0800200b9a66 / kg
• Amount rule: Paraffin charged minus recovered material, waste transfers, retained carbon or product, and closing-stock change, reconciled to monitored release
• Value mode: Calculated value (calculated_value)
• Specificity: Technology-specific (technology_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg net dry saleable cermet product
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Calculated from collection (calculated_from_collection)
• Collection protocol: cp_air_emissions
• Sources: furberg-arvidsson-molander-2019

Particulate matter emitted to air (particulate_matter_air)

Record particulate matter released after capture and abatement from powder handling, milling, shaping, finishing, and waste handling. Report measured size fractions and cermet composition as qualifiers when available.

• Selected flow: Particulate matter, particle size unspecified 0ce3dedb-caca-407b-a856-a90470eb8ec0
• Flow property / unit: Mass 93a60a56-a3c8-11da-a746-0800200b9a66 / kg
• Amount rule: Stack and fugitive particulate release attributable to the product after abatement
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Site-specific (site_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg net dry saleable cermet product
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_air_emissions
• Sources:

Fossil carbon dioxide from on-site natural-gas combustion (fossil_co2_air)

Record direct fossil carbon dioxide only when natural gas is combusted inside the foreground. Upstream electricity emissions are not entered as direct foreground emissions.

• Selected flow: carbon dioxide (fossil) 08a91e70-3ddc-11dd-923d-0050c2490048
• Flow property / unit: Mass 93a60a56-a3c8-11da-a746-0800200b9a66 / kg
• Amount rule: Site-specific monitored or fuel-carbon-balance fossil CO2 attributable to the foreground natural-gas input
• Value mode: Calculated value (calculated_value)
• Specificity: Site-specific (site_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg net dry saleable cermet product
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Calculated from collection (calculated_from_collection)
• Collection protocol: cp_air_emissions
• Sources:

7. Allocation and Co-product Handling

rule_id	Applies to	Rule	source_ids
allocation_avoid	Shared operations and internal loops	First subdivide processes or use direct meters and batch records so burdens follow the product that caused them; do not allocate internally recirculated powder or solvent as a co-product.	eu-pef-2021-2279
allocation_physical	Unavoidable shared production	If subdivision is not possible, allocate shared electricity, fuel, water, process gas, and abatement by a documented causal physical driver such as equipment time, metered load, treated gas volume, or processed mass.	eu-pef-2021-2279
allocation_economic_last_resort	Multiple saleable outputs without a defensible physical relation	Use economic allocation only after documenting why subdivision and a causal physical relation are infeasible; disclose prices, currency, reference period, and sensitivity.	eu-pef-2021-2279
allocation_recycling	Cermet scrap and recovered powders	Report internal closed-loop returns as inventory reconciliation; for material crossing the site boundary, report its waste or product status, composition, destination, and the recycled-content and end-of-life convention used by the downstream study without double credit.	eu-pef-2021-2279; furberg-arvidsson-molander-2019

8. Foreground Data Collection, Calculation, and Quality Rules

Data Collection Protocols

protocol_id	process_id	flow_role	record_type	raw_fields	collection_method	unit	frequency	temporal_coverage	site_scope	aggregation_rule	quality_evidence
cp_material_inputs	cermet_manufacture	Each separately purchased ceramic powder, metallic binder powder, paraffin wax, and heptane input	weigh ticket, batch recipe, issue/return record, supplier certificate	material identity; lot; gross mass; dry mass; assay; recycled content; issue; return; opening and closing inventory; batch id	Calibrated scale plus batch and inventory reconciliation	kg and mass fraction	Every receipt and batch	At least 12 consecutive representative months or all batches for a shorter campaign	All reporting-site lines producing the declared product	Sum net site-boundary input by atomic material, then divide by net dry conforming product mass	Calibration records; supplier certificate; batch genealogy; inventory reconciliation
cp_water_and_gas_inputs	cermet_manufacture	Process water and gaseous nitrogen	meter, tank balance, purchase and inventory record	flow identity; meter reading; pressure; temperature; wet/dry basis; purity; recovery; opening and closing stock; batch or line	Calibrated meter or documented tank balance	kg for water; m3 for gas	Continuous or each batch	Same period as product output	All attributable process and abatement uses	Convert gas to declared reference conditions, subtract documented closed-loop recovery, and allocate shared use by causal driver	Meter calibration; condition-conversion record; balance closure
cp_energy_inputs	cermet_manufacture	Electricity and natural gas	utility meter, submeter, invoice, equipment log	carrier; meter start/end; unit; voltage or gas reference conditions; equipment time; shared-load driver; batch	Prefer direct submetering; reconcile to site utility records	MJ and m3	Continuous or each production campaign	Same period as product output	All production, ventilation, abatement, inspection, and finishing inside the boundary	Sum direct meters and allocate shared loads using documented causal drivers	Meter calibration; invoice reconciliation; allocation worksheet
cp_product_output	cermet_manufacture	Reference product	calibrated scale, release record, inspection and laboratory record	product id; formulation; lot; gross mass; dry mass; moisture or retained aid; density or porosity; dimensions or particle size; coating and assembly state; disposition	Weigh conforming product after final in-boundary operation and link to release inspection	kg	Every lot	Same period as inputs	All conforming product leaving the reporting site	Sum net dry conforming product; exclude work in progress and nonconforming output	Scale calibration; release certificate; batch genealogy; test results
cp_waste_outputs	cermet_manufacture	Each powder, sintered-reject, and wet-grinding-sludge waste	weigh ticket, container log, manifest, treatment receipt	waste identity; composition; physical state; gross and dry mass; moisture; origin; destination; treatment; internal return; date	Weigh each outgoing waste and reconcile storage change and internal return	kg	Each shipment and monthly stocktake	Same period as product output	All waste crossing the reporting-site boundary	Sum outgoing mass by atomic waste identity; do not count internally returned material	Calibrated scale; waste manifest; storage inventory; treatment receipt
cp_air_emissions	cermet_manufacture	Each n-heptane, paraffin-wax vapour, particulate, and fossil-CO2 release	stack test, continuous monitor, solvent balance, fuel-carbon balance, capture and abatement log	substance; compartment; concentration; flow; duration; input; recovered mass; waste transfer; stock change; abatement efficiency; uncertainty	Direct monitoring where available; otherwise close a substance-specific balance and reconcile to monitoring	kg	Continuous, campaign, or representative test under declared operating state	Same period as product output and representative of all declared routes	All point and fugitive releases after abatement	Integrate concentration and flow or apply a closed substance balance; normalize to net dry product	Accredited test report; monitor calibration; balance closure; operating-state record

Calculation Rules

rule_id	Applies to	Formula or rule	Inputs	Output	source_ids
calc_reference_normalization	All inventory rows	normalized amount = attributable period amount / net dry conforming product mass	Atomic input or output amount; net dry conforming product mass	Amount per kg reference product	eu-pef-2021-2279
calc_cobalt_content	cobalt_powder	contained cobalt = gross cobalt-powder mass × cobalt assay mass fraction	Gross powder mass; batch or supplier assay	kg cobalt content	furberg-arvidsson-molander-2019
calc_gas_reference_volume	natural_gas; nitrogen_gas	Convert metered volume to the declared reference pressure, temperature, and wet/dry basis using the documented gas law and composition; preserve the original meter record	Metered volume; pressure; temperature; humidity; composition	m3 at declared reference conditions
calc_material_balance	Product, material, waste, and direct-release reconciliation	accepted external inputs + opening attributable inventory = product + external wastes + direct releases + closing attributable inventory; investigate imbalance outside stated measurement uncertainty	Dry material inputs; recovered loops; product; wastes; releases; inventory change	Closed period material balance and unexplained difference	furberg-arvidsson-molander-2019

Data Quality Requirements

requirement_id	Applies to	Requirement	Evidence
dq_identity	Product and every exchange	Preserve one atomic flow identity, physical state, composition or purity, direction, flow type, and Tiangong UUID where confirmed; never use a material, fuel, utility, waste, or emission collection label as a flow.	Batch genealogy, supplier certificate, flow mapping, and UUID audit
dq_representativeness	Foreground dataset	Cover all declared products, lines, shifts, and normal operating states for at least 12 consecutive representative months, or disclose and justify a shorter complete campaign.	Production calendar, coverage calculation, and exclusion log
dq_completeness	Material and energy balance	Account for at least 99% of measured dry powder and binder input mass and 99% of metered electricity and fuel by mass or energy before any cut-off; list every excluded exchange separately.	Reconciliation worksheets and cut-off register
dq_measurement	Meters, scales, assays, and emissions	Use calibration-current instruments and retain sampling, detection-limit, conversion, and uncertainty records. Values below detection limits shall not be silently set to zero.	Calibration certificates, laboratory reports, and monitor QA records
dq_secondary_data	Linked upstream and treatment datasets	Match composition, product state, technology, geography, period, and recycled-content convention; document every mismatch and proxy separately.	Dataset-selection log and data-quality assessment consistent with eu-pef-2021-2279

9. Validation Rules

rule_id	Applies to	Rule	source_ids
validation_identity	Reference product	Confirm the output is a microscopic ceramic-metal composite or sintered metal carbide with metallic binder, in the declared unmounted plant-gate state, and not a ceramic-only body, homogeneous alloy, mounted tool, fabricated tool insert, or machine.	eu-cn-cermet-definition-2020; eu-cermet-sticks-classification-2021
validation_reference_mass	Reference flow	Require exactly 1 kg net dry conforming product after normalization and complete required qualifiers; fail if a narrower tool-part UUID or other proxy is used for the unresolved reference product.	eu-pef-2021-2279
validation_atomic_inventory	Inventory	Require every exchange to be atomic and conditionally absent rows to be supported by route records; reject combined powders, fuels, utilities, wastes, or emissions.
validation_balance	Foreground period	Require material, energy, solvent, waste, and direct-emission reconciliation within documented measurement uncertainty; unexplained imbalance is a finding, not an allocated loss.	furberg-arvidsson-molander-2019
validation_uuid_semantics	UUID-bearing rows	Recheck state 100, English and Chinese baseName, flow type, classification, property, unit group, product state, and generalComment; fail any semantic, compartment, or state mismatch.
validation_boundary_and_allocation	Dataset and downstream model	Confirm all controlled operations, shared auxiliaries, abatement, direct releases, and off-site links are represented and that subdivision or causal physical allocation precedes any economic allocation.	eu-pef-2021-2279

10. Published Dataset Profile

Field	Value
dataset_role	Foreground production dataset for one declared cermet formulation and plant-gate product state
downstream_use	secondary_dataset; background_dataset after review and resolution of product and inventory identity gaps
allowed_use	Product-specific cradle-to-gate or cradle-to-grave studies when composition, product state, technology, geography, period, recycled-content convention, allocation, and upstream links match the study
excluded_use	Comparative assertions across unlike cermet systems or product states; mounted-tool or machinery modelling; use of unresolved UUIDs as if confirmed; omission of upstream powder production or off-site waste treatment
required_metadata	PCR id and version; site and geography; reporting period; ceramic and metal phases; formulation and assays; recycled content; powder or article form; density or porosity; dimensions or particle size; shaping, sintering, pressure-assistance, and finishing route; coating and assembly state; allocation; cut-offs; data sources; unresolved identities
required_quality_disclosure	Temporal and production coverage; meter and scale coverage; assay basis; material, solvent, and energy balance closure; emission monitoring; data-quality assessment; uncertainty; proxy mismatches; outsourced steps; range-evidence gaps
update_trigger	Change in formulation, product form, recycled-content route, powder supplier technology, shaping or sintering technology, pressure assistance, finishing, energy supply, abatement, allocation basis, site, or representative production period

11. Data Sources

Source id	Type	Reference	Used for
un-cpc-3-0-2025	official_guidance	United Nations Statistics Division, CPC Version 3.0 Structure, 30 June 2025, https://unstats.un.org/unsd/classifications/Econ/Download/In%20Text/CPC_Ver_3.0_Structure_30Jun2025.csv (retrieved 2026-09-04)	Official CPC 41605 product-classification identity
eu-cn-cermet-definition-2020	standard	European Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/1577, Combined Nomenclature Section XV Note 4, https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg_impl/2020/1577/oj/eng/pdf (retrieved 2026-09-04)	Official cermet material definition, including sintered metal carbides bonded with metal
eu-cermet-sticks-classification-2021	official_guidance	European Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/910, https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg_impl/2021/910/oj/eng (retrieved 2026-09-04)	Boundary between general cermet articles and narrower tool products
furberg-arvidsson-molander-2019	literature	Furberg, A.; Arvidsson, R.; Molander, S. (2019), Environmental life cycle assessment of cemented carbide (WC-Co) production, Journal of Cleaner Production 209, 1126-1138, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2018.10.272	WC-Co powder-milling, granulation, compaction, sintering, inputs, wastes, solvent recovery, and cradle-to-gate inventory structure
wang-bai-wang-men-2024	literature	Wang, L.; Bai, J.; Wang, Y.; Men, Z. (2024), A Review of Research Progress on Ti(C,N)-Based Cermet Binder by Intermetallic Compounds and High-Entropy Alloys, Materials 17(3), 675, https://doi.org/10.3390/ma17030675	Ti(C,N) hard-phase and Fe-Co-Ni binder identity and powder-metallurgy route
eu-pef-2021-2279	official_guidance	European Commission Recommendation (EU) 2021/2279, Annex I Product Environmental Footprint Method, https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reco/2021/2279/2021-12-30/eng (retrieved 2026-09-04)	Functional unit, reference flow, boundary, company-specific data, data quality, allocation hierarchy, reporting, and verification rules