Boeing, Chicago, and Alcoa, Pittsburgh, announce that they have formed a closed-loop program to significantly increase the recycling of internal aluminum aerospace alloys. The program calls for recycling of 2XXX and 7XXX-series aluminum alloys used in the production of wing and fuselage components of Boeing airplanes. The forms will include aluminum extrusions, sheet, and plate products. At the outset, approximately eight million pounds of aluminum is expected to be recycled annually.

Royal DSM, the Netherlands, is reducing the weight of the Peugeot 508 with the use of oil sumps injection molded in Akulon Ultraflow polyamide 6. The grade used for the application is Akulon Ultraflow K-FHG7, a 35% glass reinforced, heat stabilized polyamide 6 with good flow properties. It offers significant processing advantages compared to standard polyamide 6 products, while maintaining the required mechanical properties.

Kennametal Stellite, Goshen, Ind., offers  UltraFlex hardfacing technology for parts with complex geometries, inner diameters, and other non-line-of-sight features.  The UltraFlex treatment deposits a high-quality superalloy or tungsten carbide composite onto substrates with complex geometries without the problems common with welding. The coating easily conforms to intricate shapes and reaches remote locations.

Alcoa, Pittsburgh, and Rusnano, Russia, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to  produce oil and gas aluminum drill pipe finished with a nanotechnology-based antiwear coating. The coating is expected to extend the life of the aluminum pipe by approximately 30% to 40% in aggressive and corrosive drilling environments compared to uncoated aluminum pipe.

FEI Company, Hillsboro, Ore., introduced in July 2013, two new DualBeam systems that feature innovative detection suites that provide high-quality imaging and fast analysis over the broadest range of samples. The new Scios DualBeam is specifically positioned for fast two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) characterization. The Helios NanoLab 660 DualBeam adds capabilities for specialized applications, such as the fabrication of prototypes for nanometer-scale devices.

Alloy Heat Treatment Limited, UK, which says that it is the largest subcontractor for aluminum heat treatments in the country, announces that it has received its first order from South Korea. The order is one of several export orders within the past six months, from new customers in France, Germany, Italy, and Poland.

Outokumpu Oy, Finland, is expanding its product range with two new high-chromium stainless steel grades, ferritic grade EN 1.4622 and austenitic grade EN 1.4420. The ferritic grade Outokumpu 4622 is its first high-chromium ferritic grade, while the new austenitic Outokumpu 4420 grade is completely new in the market. Both grades are said to offer benefits in corrosion resistance, strength, and formability.

Air Products, Lehigh Valley, Pa., announces that Tom Philips, senior metallurgical engineer at Air Products, will present “Atmosphere Troubleshooting and Solutions to Common Heat Treating Problems” at the Heat Treating Solutions Center on Tuesday, September 17, at 11:00 a.m. This troubleshooting guide will review years of field experience with nitrogen- and hydrogen-based atmosphere systems.

XEI Scientific Inc., Redwood City, Calif., manufacturer of the popular Evactron De-Contaminator Plasma Cleaning System for electron microscopes and other vacuum chambers, was awarded U.S. patent #US8507879B2 on August 13, 2013, for an improved method and instrumentation for the production of oxygen radicals to be used in the cleaning of high vacuum instruments such as electron microscopes.

Scientists have 3D printed giant titanium bugs in a first for additive manufacturing this week.   Minute insects, from the Australian National Insect Collection, were super-sized by up to forty times using a novel 3D scanning system and printed using a state of the art 3D printer.   The 3D bugs show new potential for entomologists studying the anatomy of miniscule creatures by enabling them to physically handle the insects and study their features up close.

Alcoa, Cleveland, rolled out the most advanced aluminum wheel alloy in 45 years. The new material opens the door for lighter weight wheels at increased strength with the same corrosion-resistant characteristics as the industry standard, also made by Alcoa. They expect to introduce a new, state-of-the-art wheel featuring the alloy in early 2014.   Unveiled at the American Trucking Association Management Conference & Exhibition in Orlando, Fla.

Novelis, Atlanta, announces the opening of its expanded aluminum rolling operations in Sao Paulo, Brazil. The expansion increases production capacity at the plant by more than 50% to greater than 600,000 metric tons of aluminum sheet per year. The $340 million investment represents the largest capital expansion by Novelis in South America in the past decade.

Autumn is usually not such a great time for big special effects movies as the summer blockbusters have faded and those for the holiday season have not yet opened. Fall is more often the time for thoughtful films about small subjects, which makes it perfect for the unveiling of a new movie produced by researchers at the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)’s Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab).