Cerium-cobalt alloy added to NdFeB magnets raises Curie temperature, cuts cost
April 28, 2015
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The U.S. Department of Energy's Ames Laboratory, Ames, Iowa, reports that ASM Fellow Karl A. Gschneidner and a team of researchers have developed a low-cost cerium-cobalt alloy that can be added to neodymium-iron-boron to improve magnetic properties in rare-earth magnets. The new alloy eliminates the need for dysprosium, one of the scarcest and most costly rare earth elements.
The result, an alloy of neodymium, iron, and boron co-doped with cerium and cobalt, is a less expensive material with properties that are competitive with traditional sintered magnets containing dysprosium. The materials are at least 20 to 40% cheaper than the dysprosium-containing magnets.
Experiments demonstrate that the cerium-containing alloy's intrinsic coercivity — the ability of a magnetic material to resist demagnetization — far exceeds that of dysprosium-containing magnets at high temperatures.
"We found that this material works better than anything out there at temperatures above 150°C," says Dr. Gschneidner. "It's an important consideration for high-temperature applications."
Previous attempts to use cerium in rare-earth magnets failed because it reduced the Curie temperature, above which an alloy loses its permanent magnet properties. The research team discovered that co-doping with cobalt allowed cerium to substitute for dysprosium without losing magnetic properties.
Finding a comparable substitute material is key to reducing manufacturing reliance on dysprosium, because current demand far outpaces mining and recycling sources.
The research was supported by the U.S. Department of Energy's ARPA-E REACT program (Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy-Rare Earth Alternatives in Critical Technologies) which develops cost-effective alternatives to rare earths.
www.ameslab.gov
The U.S. Department of Energy’s Ames Laboratory, Ames, Iowa, reports that ASM Fellow Karl A. Gschneidner and a team of researchers have developed a low-cost cerium-cobalt alloy that can be added to neodymium-iron-boron to improve magnetic properties in rare-earth magnets.
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Ipsen ships more than 15 furnaces that can run several different heat-treating processes
April 15, 2015
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Ipsen, Cherry Valley, Ill., recently shipped more than 15 furnaces, including horizontal and vertical MetalMaster, Titan, TurboTreater, and VFS furnaces, as well as a vacuum aluminum-brazing furnace. Customers were in the United States, England, Canada, India, Indonesia, Mexico, and Singapore. The furnaces have a variety of hot zone sizes and materials, including two vertical 84 x 84-inch hot zones.
These furnaces offered a range of different features, from being capable of meeting AMS 2750E requirements, to providing improved temperature uniformity using individual, PID-controlled heating zones and ensuring ease of system maintenance with a hinged rear service door.
This selection of furnaces was designated for use in a range of applications and industries, including Aerospace, Commercial Heat Treating, Energy, Medical and Tool and Die.
Combined with the ability to run a number of different processes, including annealing, brazing, hardening, stress relief and tempering, these shipments represent Ipsen's ability to provide sophisticated and intuitive heat-treating solutions through all-inclusive product lines. In addition, every furnace shipped by Ipsen is fully tested at vacuum and at temperature to ensure fast commissioning once it arrives at the customer's site.
With the help of Ipsen's Global Support Team – which facilitates furnace installations, as well as provides expert training and startup assistance throughout the entire lifespan of the equipment – customers can rely on Ipsen to provide 360-degree support for all of their heat-treating needs.
www.IpsenUSA.com/Products
Ipsen, Cherry Valley, Ill., recently shipped more than 15 furnaces, including horizontal and vertical MetalMaster, Titan, TurboTreater, and VFS furnaces, as well as a vacuum aluminum-brazing furnace.
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IBC Engineered Materials to supply Beralcast imaging system components to Kaman
April 7, 2015
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IBC Advanced Alloys Corp., reports that its wholly owned U.S. subsidiary, IBC Engineered Materials Corp., Wilmington, Mass., has received a purchase order from Kaman Corp. to supply Beralcast beryllium-aluminum imaging system components for U.S. naval and foreign military tactical aircraft. Beralcast alloys are ideally suited for many ae rospace applications for which low density and high modulus are critical performance factors.
Production on the new contract has begun, with the first components scheduled for delivery in fiscal 2015.
Beralcast alloys are three times stiffer with 22% lower density than aluminum. Beralcast alloys can be an engineered substitute for aluminum, magnesium, titanium, metal matrix composites, pure beryllium, or powder-metallurgy beryllium-aluminum materials in the appropriate applications.
"IBC-EMC has extensive experience in high-performance optical targeting systems in which weight savings and high modulus are critical performance factors," said Ray White, IBC EMC President. "Our Beralcast castable alloys are ideally suited to these kinds of specialized precision applications and can uniquely offer defense and aerospace contractors cost-effective solutions compared to more traditional machined components."
Kaman Corporation was founded in 1945 and is headquartered in Bloomfield, Conn., where it conducts business in the aerospace sector and distribution markets. The company produces and distributes a wide range of proprietary aircraft bearings and components and complex metallic and composite aero-structures for commercial, military and general aviation fixed and rotary wing aircraft. Kaman Corp. operates globally through a network of more than 200 offices and has over 5000 employees.
www.ibcadvancedalloys.com
IBC Advanced Alloys Corp., reports that its wholly owned U.S. subsidiary, IBC Engineered Materials Corp., Wilmington, Mass., has received a purchase order from Kaman Corp. to supply Beralcast beryllium-aluminum imaging system components for U.S. naval and foreign military tactical aircraft.
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Proto Labs adds nickel steel and chrome-moly steel to its line of MIM materials
March 31, 2015
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Proto Labs, Maple Plain, Minn., has added two nickel-steel alloys and a chrome-moly steel that is the metal injection molding equivalent of 4140 steel to its portfolio of MIM materials. They expand potential applications for parts produced by its advanced MIM process. Low-alloy steels enable strong wear-resistant parts when heat-treated, and may also be coated in post-processing for further protection.
"We had tremendous customer demand for stainless steel with MIM last year, and expect the same response to our new low-alloy metals," says Becky Cater, product manager for MIM. "We offer many different hard and soft metals through our 3D printing and CNC machining services, but nickel steel parts are only produced through metal injection molding."
As for applications, the low-alloy steel materials will be used heavily by the firearms industry for various gun and archery components, as well as by automotive engineers for engine and transmission components. The industrial goods sector will use MIM during development of hand and power tools, and door and window lock hardware, for example.
In addition to rapid prototypes, Proto Labs can produce up to 5000+ metal-injection-molded end-use parts within 15 days.
www.protolabs.com
Proto Labs, Maple Plain, Minn., has added two nickel-steel alloys and a chrome-moly steel that is the metal injection molding equivalent of 4140 steel to its portfolio of MIM materials.
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Head of Mars Curiosity Rover Mission to speak at ASM’s Megashow
March 26, 2015
Source: ASM International
SM International, Materials Park, Ohio, announced that Dr. John Grotzinger, chief scientist and head of strategic science planning for NASA’s $2.5 billion Curiosity rover mission to Mars, was selected as the plenary speaker for their co-located show which takes place on May 11-14.
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Thermal Product Solutions acquires Wisconsin Oven
March 23, 2015
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Thermal Product Solutions (TPS), New Columbia, Pa., has acquired Wisconsin Oven Corp., East Troy, Wis. TPS is a global leader in thermal processing products and test solutions, with brands including BlueM, Gruenberg, Tenney, Lindberg, and MPH. Wisconsin Oven offers products for the aerospace, automotive, composites, energy, finishing, military, and pharmaceutical industries.
Wisconsin Oven has been designing, engineering, and manufacturing a broad range of industrial ovens and other heating equipment since 1973. The company strives for superior equipment quality and performance along with a commitment to customer service. Many of the industries served require specific temperature uniformity and equipment performance documentation. Its experienced design team is able to meet even the most stringent standards for its equipment.
"Wisconsin Oven has experienced incredible growth since selling to PLC group of France in 2012. This acquisition by TPS will provide great new opportunities and allow continued growth for the entire group. We are extremely excited about becoming part of the TPS family. The experience combined by all these great companies will provide expert solutions for applications in all temperature ranges," says David Strand, President/CEO, Wisconsin Oven.
www.thermalproductsolutions.com
Thermal Product Solutions (TPS), New Columbia, Pa., has acquired Wisconsin Oven Corp., East Troy, Wis.
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Seco-Warwick brands improved drop-bottom furnace as VertiQuench
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Seco-Warwick, Meadville, Pa., announces that after significant improvements to its drop-bottom furnace, the company has decided to register the furnace under a new brand name: VertiQuench. The name describes the process of very fast vertical quenching. The-heat treated material is dropped into the quenching tank, which is placed directly under the furnace.
The latest commissioning of a VertiQuench furnace for the aerospace industry confirms significant improvement of furnace parameters. The furnace has a compact design, and is said to be an affordable solution for demanding aerospace applications. It provides AMS2750-compliant quench transfer times, and extremely tight temperature uniformity because of its proprietary and proven airflow innovations. It allows fast and full load immersion even up to five seconds, and features low energy consumption.
www.secowarwick.com
Seco-Warwick, Meadville, Pa., announces that after significant improvements to its drop-bottom furnace, the company has decided to register the furnace under a new brand name: VertiQuench.
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Kay & Associates announces “Fundamentals of Brazing” seminar
March 12, 2015
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Kay & Associates, Simsbury, Conn., will hold two intensive brazing-training programs this spring, the first in the Hartford, Conn., area (April 14-16), and the second identical program in Los Angeles (May 12-14). These hands-on programs cover all the essentials of furnace, torch, induction, and dip-brazing, including all brazing fillers (nickel, silver, gold, copper, aluminum, and titanium).
Pre-braze and post-brazed components will be physically examined and discussed, as well as actual samples of brazing filler metal (BFM), fluxes, and brazing stop-off compounds. Many case-studies will be covered, including special problem-solving exercises the attendees work on in small groups.
These programs are unique in that all methods of brazing and types/forms of brazing filler metals (BFMs) are covered. Thus, the attendee will get a well-rounded, full education on the complete world of brazing, rather than just a limited exposure to one type of brazing process or one type of BFM.
Many topics are covered in the three-day program, and each topic is taught very clearly in a non-technical, easy-to-understand manner, so that both the shop person doing the brazing, and the senior engineer running the plant, will readily grasp all that it needed to understand the "why" and the "how" of brazing.
In addition, all attendees receive free life-time brazing consultations via phone, fax, e-mail, etc., so that they can effectively apply what they learned.
www.kaybrazing.com
Kay & Associates, Simsbury, Conn., will hold two intensive brazing-training programs this spring, the first in the Hartford, Conn., area (April 14-16), and the second identical program in Los Angeles (May 12-14).
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Kay & Associates announces “Fundamentals of Brazing” seminars.
Source:
Kay & Associates, Simsbury, Conn., will hold two intensive brazing-training programs this spring, the first in the Hartford, Conn., area (April 14-16), and the second identical program in Los Angeles (May 12-14). These hands-on programs cover all the essentials of furnace, torch, induction, and dip-brazing, including all brazing fillers (nickel, silver, gold, copper, aluminum, and titanium).
Pre-braze and post-brazed components will be physically examined and discussed, as well as actual samples of brazing filler metal (BFM), fluxes, and brazing stop-off compounds. Many case-studies will be covered, including special problem-solving exercises the attendees work on in small groups.
These programs are unique in that all methods of brazing and types/forms of brazing filler metals (BFMs) are covered. Thus, the attendee will get a well-rounded, full education on the complete world of brazing, rather than just a limited exposure to one type of brazing process or one type of BFM.
Many topics are covered in the three-day program, and each topic is taught very clearly in a non-technical, easy-to-understand manner, so that both the shop person doing the brazing, and the senior engineer running the plant, will readily grasp all that it needed to understand the "why" and the "how" of brazing.
In addition, all attendees receive free life-time brazing consultations via phone, fax, e-mail, etc., so that they can effectively apply what they learned.
www.kaybrazing.com
Kay & Associates, Simsbury, Conn., will hold two intensive brazing-training programs this spring, the first in the Hartford, Conn., area (April 14-16), and the second identical program in Los Angeles (May 12-14).
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California Brazing installs new Haas vertical machining center
March 11, 2015
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California Brazing, Newark, Calif., has installed a new Haas vertical machining center with an envelope of 64 by 40 by 30 in. This 15,000 RPM machining center includes a 1000-block look-ahead, high pressure through-the-spindle cooling, and expanded memory up to 15M. The company is is Nadcap, AS9100, and ISO9001:2008 accredited.
The company is a turnkey manufacturer of critical brazed components for the aerospace, semiconductor, photonics, and energy-management markets. Working with aluminum, copper, ceramic, and stainless steels, the company offers an array of brazing alloys, including copper, gold, and other precious and non-precious brazing filler metals. Nadcap-certified brazing services include vacuum furnace brazing, vacuum aluminum brazing, and hydrogen brazing.
www.californiabrazing.com
California Brazing, Newark, Calif., has installed a new Haas vertical machining center with an envelope of 64 by 40 by 30 in.
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