Praxair and GE Aviation form joint venture to develop advanced aircraft engine coatings
October 19, 2016
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Praxair Surface Technologies Inc., Danbury, Conn., and GE Aviation, Cincinnati, announce the formal creation of PG Technologies LLC, a joint venture that will focus on development, support, and application of specialized coatings tailored for GE Aviation's and CFM International's current and future engine models, including the GE9X and LEAP engines. CFM International is a 50/50 joint venture company between GE and Safran Aircraft Engines of France. Praxair Surface Technologies and its subsidiary will hold the majority interest in the venture with GE Aviation and its subsidiary holding the remainder.
According to PG Technologies Board Member and Praxair Surface Technologies President Pierre Lüthi, "The formation of PG Technologies builds upon decades of collaboration between Praxair Surface Technologies and GE Aviation. This joint venture will take the leadership role in the next generation of coating technology applications, and will invest in new coating production capacity to meet the needs of the burgeoning aviation sector."
"PG Technologies will play an important role in GE Aviation's engine manufacturing system," said Colleen Athans, vice president and general manager of GE Aviation's Supply Chain. "With engine production volume levels growing, GE's need for specialized coatings will also increase, and this joint venture will ensure we meet our commitments on the performance and durability of our engines."
Coating operations for PG Technologies will be based in Ellisville, Mississippi; Indianapolis, Indiana; and the Republic of Singapore. PG Technologies services will also be supported by the global facility network of Praxair Surface Technologies.
PG Technologies, LLC focuses on the development, support and application of specialized coatings tailored for GE Aviation's current and future engine platforms including GE9X and LEAP engines. PG Technologies is headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana, with other coating operations in Ellisville, Mississippi, and the Republic of Singapore.
www.praxairsurfacetechnologies.com.
www.ge.com/aviation
Praxair Surface Technologies Inc., Danbury, Conn., and GE Aviation, Cincinnati, announce the formal creation of PG Technologies LLC, a joint venture that will focus on development, support, and application of specialized coatings tailored for GE Aviation’s and CFM International’s current and future engine models, including the GE9X and LEAP engines.
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One Minute Mentor: Tempering Martensitic Stainless Steels
October 17, 2016
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This graph shows AISI Type 410: Effect of tempering temperature on tensile properties. Heated to and held at 1800°F for 30 minutes; oil quenched; tempered 1 to 4 hours. Impact energy test used Izod specimens. Elongation was measured in 2 in.; yield at 0.2% offset.
The nickel-bearing alloys have a restricted upper tempering temperature because of the danger of re-forming austenite, which would then transform to untempered martensite during cooling, requiring a second tempering operation. Intermediate temperatures can lead to temper embrittlement, which is caused by the precipitation of phosphorus and other species, including but not limited to carbides, at prior austenitic grain boundaries. Temper embrittlement is distinct from the precipitation of α', which causes the well-known 890°F embrittlement, which occurs more severely in alloys with higher chromium levels.
Volume 4D, Heat Treating of Irons and Steels ⇒ Heat Treated High-Alloy Steels ⇒ Heat Treating of Martensitic Stainless Steels ⇒ Tempering
This graph shows AISI Type 410: Effect of tempering temperature on tensile properties. Heated to and held at 1800°F for 30 minutes; oil quenched; tempered 1 to 4 hours. Impact energy test used Izod specimens. Elongation was measured in 2 in.; yield at 0.2% offset.
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Powder metallurgy systems combine reactive metals with inert gas atomization
October 13, 2016
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Seco Warwick, Meadville, Pa., announces that its subsidiary Retech Systems LLC, Ukiah, Calif., has developed metal gas atomization systems that combine melting of reactive metals and alloys with inert gas atomization to meet a variety of powder specifications. Designed in a range of capacities, from laboratory and pilot to large-scale production, Retech's systems are tailored to achieve specific customer demands .
Products include powder metallurgy technologies that utilize gas atomization to produce powders that meet specific quality requirements. For example, vacuum induction melting (VIM) and casting systems are designed to easily handle a wide range of materials for automotive and consumer products, as well as critical, high-value equiax, directionally solidified, or single-crystal aerospace parts.
Cold wall induction (CWI) melting systems enable casting of titanium parts for demanding applications. Vacuum arc remelt (VAR) and consumable casting (skull melting) systems are designed for the manufacture of aerospace, consumer, and commercial products. Plasma arc melting (PAM) and electron beam (EB) melting systems are engineered for production of ingots and electrodes.
www.secowarwick.com
Seco Warwick, Meadville, Pa., announces that its subsidiary Retech Systems LLC, Ukiah, Calif., has developed metal gas atomization systems that combine melting of reactive metals and alloys with inert gas atomization to meet a variety of powder specifications.
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Texas university receives grant to develop stronger concrete rebar
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The University of Texas at San Antonio announces that its researchers have received a $248,083 grant to support R&D to increase the strength of concrete rebar. The grant comes from a consortium of construction-oriented agencies: the Charles Pankow Foundation, the Concrete Reinforcing Steel Institute, and the American Concrete Institute.
"The bulk of all construction in the world is concrete-based," says Wassim Ghannoum, director of the research and associate professor of civil and environmental engineering. "Concrete is very strong in compression, but very weak in tension. You can easily just crack it. The steel rebar takes the tension loads."
Rebar in use today first became common in the 1940s, and the most widely used type had a tensile strength of 40 ksi. In the 1960s, American construction moved to 60 ksi bars, which have been the standard ever since. Now, Prof. Ghannoum is testing new rebar with tensile strength up to 100 ksi , to determine if it could become the new standard.
"We're going to hone in on exact properties," he said. "Above all, we want to know the exact strengths of the steels we develop, as well as their ability to resist breakage, and their functional lifetimes." He also noted that in Texas, where a large portion of the rebar used in U.S. construction projects is forged, switching to a stronger steel could have positive environmental effects. Since sturdier rebar means less of it will be needed in construction, the energy saved could be considerable
Prof. Ghannoum is set to begin the two-year project this fall, with a small group of UTSA graduate students to aid him. He's working with the five largest steel mills in the United States to establish specifications for 80 and 100-grade bars, which will entail a good deal of testing. Ann ultrasonic testing machine to help simulate a host of conditions, including earthquakes, will soon be on the way to Ghannoum's laboratory.
www.utsa.edu
The University of Texas at San Antonio announces that its researchers have received a $248,083 grant to support R&D to increase the strength of concrete rebar.
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Texas university receives grant to develop high-strength concrete rebar
Source:
The University of Texas at San Antonio announces that its researchers have received a $248,083 grant to support R&D to increase the strength of concrete rebar. The grant comes from a consortium of construction-oriented agencies: the Charles Pankow Foundation, the Concrete Reinforcing Steel Institute, and the American Concrete Institute.
"The bulk of all construction in the world is concrete-based," says Wassim Ghannoum, director of the research and associate professor of civil and environmental engineering. "Concrete is very strong in compression, but very weak in tension. You can easily just crack it. The steel rebar takes the tension loads."
Rebar in use today first became common in the 1940s, and the most widely used type had a tensile strength of 40 ksi. In the 1960s, American construction moved to 60 ksi bars, which have been the standard ever since. Now, Prof. Ghannoum is testing new rebar with tensile strength up to 100 ksi , to determine if it could become the new standard.
"We're going to hone in on exact properties," he said. "Above all, we want to know the exact strengths of the steels we develop, as well as their ability to resist breakage, and their functional lifetimes." He also noted that in Texas, where a large portion of the rebar used in U.S. construction projects is forged, switching to a stronger steel could have positive environmental effects. Since sturdier rebar means less of it will be needed in construction, the energy saved could be considerable
Prof. Ghannoum is set to begin the two-year project this fall, with a small group of UTSA graduate students to aid him. He's working with the five largest steel mills in the United States to establish specifications for 80 and 100-grade bars, which will entail a good deal of testing. Ann ultrasonic testing machine to help simulate a host of conditions, including earthquakes, will soon be on the way to Ghannoum's laboratory.
www.utsa.edu
The University of Texas at San Antonio announces that its researchers have received a $248,083 grant to support R&D to increase the strength of concrete reinforcing bar.
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Sandvik opens ultrasonic testing facility for pipes in the oil and gas industry
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Sandvik Materials Technology, Sweden, has inaugurated a new state-of-the-art, fully automated ultrasonic testing facility for pipes in the oil and gas industry. "The new facility puts Sandvik in a world-leading position as a manufacturer of OCTG (Oil Country Tubular Goods)," said Per Olsson Artberger, Sandvik Global Product Manager for OCTG.
"This major investment is a substantial achievement for all involved, and a milestone in Sandvik's enhanced strategic focus on demanding applications within oil and gas such as OCTG (Oil Country Tubular Goods)," said Per Olsson Artberger, Sandvik Global Product Manager for OCTG.
"This ultrasonic testing facility will increase our capabilities and capacity significantly. Despite the downturn in the oil and gas market, we see continued good business opportunities for Sandvik material grades, especially in the Middle East and Caspian Sea regions.
"The new, automated facility provides us with much speedier throughput and greatly enhanced testing capabilities, and puts Sandvik in a world leading position as a manufacturer of OCTG."
The energy sector, including oil and gas, is a key strategic focus for Sandvik. Ultrasonic testing was the limiting factor in achieving maximum output with the existing facility. To solve this, Sandvik invested in both capacity and state-of-the-art technology to meet the industry's toughest requirements for defect detection.
Per Olsson Artberger added: "It also builds on the strategic alliance between Sandvik and Tenaris on the exclusive joint supply of corrosion resistant alloy OCTG materials and technology to the oil and gas sector. We now meet the industry's most exacting standards, and can exceed customer requirements."
Work commenced on the test facility in August 2015, with commissioning and site acceptance testing prior to the inauguration.
www.smt.sandvik.com
Sandvik Materials Technology, Sweden, has inaugurated a new state-of-the-art, fully automated ultrasonic testing facility for pipes in the oil and gas industry
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Materion supplies beryllium for retrofit of Belgium’s nuclear test reactor
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Materion Corp., Mayfield Heights, Ohio, reports that beryllium components supplied by Materion Performance Alloys and Composites are helping Belgium's BR2 nuclear test reactor to continue operation and contribute to the world's supply of radiopharmaceuticals. The BR2 reactor plays an important role in producing materials for nuclear medicine and accounts for nearly one quarter of the world's production of radiopharmaceuticals used for medical nuclear imaging.
Materion's beryllium rods and reflectors were needed to refurbish critical components in Belgium's BR2 nuclear test reactor. These components are used in many test reactors because beryllium, with its low atomic number and weight, is the most efficient neutron donor of any metallic element. In order to function, nuclear reactors need a concentration of neutrons in the core. These neutrons are created by the uranium in the nuclear fuel, but at an energy not useful for the reactor. Beryllium is capable of reducing the neutron energy and multiplying the neutrons so the compact reactor core keeps running. These unique properties make beryllium the material of choice for nuclear test components at the heart of research reactors.
In 2013, operators of Belgium's nuclear research center (SCK-CEN), asked Materion to facilitate the production and fabrication of beryllium irradiation channels required for the 55-year-old reactor's retrofit project. Launched in 2014, the successful two-year project was completed on June 1, 2016, as the reactor became fully operational once again.
"BR2 is a major supplier of radioisotopes, and the global medical community relies heavily on its production to diagnose and treat cancer as well as many other medical conditions," said W. Glenn Maxwell, President, Materion Performance Alloys and Composites. "It was essential for us to produce high quality materials and deliver them on time to SCK-CEN so they could keep supply available to meet demand."
The photo shows beryllium reflector rods made by Materion shining through the center of the partly assembled mock-up for the BR2 matrix refurbishment.
Beyond SCK-CEN, Materion supplies a number of nuclear test reactors, for both materials research and medical isotope production. New applications, refurbishments, and upgrades to other reactors are scheduled over this year and into 2017, including the RP-10 Reactor in Peru.
http://www.Materion.com
Materion Corp., Mayfield Heights, Ohio, reports that beryllium components supplied by Materion Performance Alloys and Composites are helping Belgium’s BR2 nuclear test reactor to continue operation and contribute to the world’s supply of radiopharmaceuticals.
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One Minute Mentor: Heat Treating of Martensitic Stainless Steels
October 10, 2016
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The effect of tempering temperature on hardness and tensile properties of high-alloy steels appears to have the same general form as those of low-alloy steel. A serious decrease in notch toughness occurs when tempering between about 750 and 950°F, as illustrated in the graph for Type 410.
The graph shows the effect of tempering temperature on impact properties of AISI Type 410. Impact energy tests used Izod, Charpy V-notch, or Charpy keyhole as indicated. Heat treatment of test specimens: heated to and held at 1750°C for one hour; oil quenched, temperad for four hours at temperature given; air cooled.
Volume 4D, Heat Treating of Irons and Steels ⇒ Heat Treated High-Alloy Steels ⇒ Heat Treating of Martensitic Stainless Steels ⇒ Tempering
The effect of tempering temperature on hardness and tensile properties of high-alloy steels appears to have the same general form as those of low-alloy steel.
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Soft magnetic steel combines low coercivity with high permeability and resistivity
October 6, 2016
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Carpenter Technology Corp., Wyomissing, Pa., has developed Cartech Hypocore, a new soft magnetic steel that offers performance benefits between those found in Carpenter's high-performance Hipercore family of high-cobalt magnetic alloys, and those of commercial silicon-based alloys.
This new electrical steel can provide lower core loss and higher induction than the Hiperco alloys, even at a low applied magnetic field. Hypocore can also be used at higher frequencies with less heat generation. It exhibits a unique combination of properties, such as low coercivity, high permeability, and high electrical resistivity, which makes motors and generators operate more efficiently. This new material offers potential benefits to next-generation electrical machines, as well as to electromagnetic devices such as laminations or assembled cores for small machines where higher efficiency and smaller size are important.
Initial manufacturing is already underway, and material is available upon request at different sheet thicknesses (from 0.005 to 0.025 in.) for testing and prototyping purposes. Carpenter can also support commercial orders. Please call 610-208-2000 for additional information.
www.cartech.com
Carpenter Technology Corp., Wyomissing, Pa., has developed Cartech Hypocore, a new soft magnetic steel that offers performance benefits between those found in Carpenter’s high-performance Hipercore family of high-cobalt magnetic alloys, and those of commercial silicon-based alloys.
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Linde convection technology boosts heat treating productivity without fans
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Linde LLC, Bridgewater, N.J., reports that the quality of heat treated metal parts can be improved by increasing the circulation of furnace atmospheres with technology that does not require fans, which can cause uneven convection. Specific advantages of advanced mixing and control technology apply, depending on the type of furnace.
Overall, Linde's atmosphere control systems yield benefits across a variety of heat treatment furnaces, including better atmosphere mixing and control, reduced soot formation, and greater unit productivity.
Continuous furnaces: Potential of 10% higher productivity coinciding with increased heat transfer when the gas injector is placed at the unit inlet. Up to 3% increased productivity in the cooling zone. Better burn-off of oil and lubricant residue at the front of the furnace. Quicker conditioning when atmospheres are switched.
Pit furnaces: More uniform heating and carburizing, resulting in up to 20% more efficient use of furnace space and potential gains in productivity. Up to three times longer furnace-lid life due to reduced corrosion levels.
Rotary retort furnaces: Up to 20% higher output when working with bulk materials due to deeper gas penetration. Longer retort life, increased throughput, and minimal formation of soft spots.
www.lindeus.com
Linde LLC, Bridgewater, N.J., reports that the quality of metal parts can be improved by increasing the circulation of heat treatment atmospheres with technology that does not require fans, which can cause uneven convection.
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