Harper to supply Australia with thermal processing system for nuclear waste
February 2, 2016
Source:
Harper International, Buffalo, N.Y, has been awarded a contract to supply a hot cell Rotary thermal processing system to treat waste from nuclear medicine production at the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO). Synroc technology has been developed to provide a safe, secure matrix for the immobilization and final disposal of radioactive waste.
It will be utilized to encase radioactive wastes from the production of the radioisotope Molybdenum-99 (Mo-99), the isotope used for 80% of nuclear medicine procedures. This includes the diagnosis of cancers, heart disease, and muscular and skeletal conditions.
The Rotary thermal processing system includes an advanced heating element design for increased robustness and ease of remote operation, and an enhanced modular design of components for ease of remote maintenance in a hot cell.
"In addition to waste from nuclear medicine production, we foresee that this new technology can also benefit other applications in the future, such as processing spent fuel waste from other international power generating nuclear reactors," commented Dr. Prasad Apte, Director of Technology at Harper International.
Along with waste remediation, Harper offers technology solutions such as Pusher and Rotary furnaces for nuclear materials processing applications, including sintering UO2 pellets for reactor fuel rods, oxidation of UO2 pellets, swarf, and powder to U3O8, denitration of uranyl nitrate, and hydrofluorination of UO2 pellets.
ANSTO is one of Australia's largest public research organizations and is the center of Australia's nuclear science capabilities and expertise - operating the nation's only nuclear reactor, OPAL. Australian Mo-99 is produced with low enriched uranium (LEU) target plates in the LEU fueled OPAL reactor, leading the global push toward nuclear nonproliferation.
www.harperintl.com
Harper International, Buffalo, N.Y, has been awarded a contract to supply a hot cell Rotary thermal processing system to treat waste from nuclear medicine production at the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO).
Continue reading
One Minute Mentor: Quenching of Hot-Work Tool Steels
January 28, 2016
Source:
Hot-work steels range from high to extremely high in hardenability, so it is possible for them to achieve full hardness by cooling in still air. However, this is not recommended, because intense embrittlement occurs after slow cooling from hardening temperature.
Even with those types having the highest hardenability, sections of die blocks may be so large that insufficient hardening results. In such instances, pressurized nitrogen gas (in vacuum furnaces) or an oil quench is required to achieve full hardness. Hot-work steels are never water-quenched. The figure shows the Continuous Cooling Transformation (CCT) diagram for AISI 6F3.
Volume 4D, Heat Treating of Irons and Steels ⇒Tool Steels ⇒ Heat Treating of hot-Work Tool Steels ⇒ Heat Treatment of H Series and Low-Alloy Hot-Work Steels
Hot-work steels range from high to extremely high in hardenability, so it is possible for them to achieve full hardness by cooling in still air. However, this is not recommended, because intense embrittlement occurs after slow cooling from hardening temperature.
Continue reading
Harper awarded contract for nuclear material processing equipment
January 26, 2016
Source:
Harper International, Buffalo, N.Y., was recently awarded a contract for a pusher furnace line with Kepco Nuclear Fuel (KNF), which is currently producing nuclear fuel for its pressurized heavy water reactors.
Over the past two years, Harper's Applications, Engineering, & Technology Groups have carefully developed an advanced heating system for KNF's pressurized heavy water reactors.
With this sixth furnace for KNF and all furnace iterations, Harper continuously aims to advance equipment performance. In addition to the advanced heating element that allows for higher temperature operation, an enhanced furnace shell cooling design has been developed, and both yield longer uniform operational life cycles. Additionally, advances have been made in exit water cooling design, insulation designs that reduce ambient heat release, and energy usage.
Harper is compliant with nuclear-specific control systems for mandated upgrades for increased security and reliability.
"Harper's global leadership in nuclear fuel production system technology continues to be validated by clients, who place their trust in our staff to conceive and implement the world's most advanced, efficient and reliable sintering thermal processing systems," commented Tom O'Connor, Sales Manager at Harper International. "Further, Harper is pleased to partner with KNF on this project which will play a role in providing reliable energy without greenhouse gas emissions."
In addition to nuclear material processing, Harper is a market leader in advanced Pusher systems for a wide range of materials, including metal oxides, powders, technical ceramics and energy device materials. Learn more about Harper Pusher furnaces here.
KNF is a group company of Kepco (Korea Electric Power Corporation) founded in 1982. KNF provides nuclear fuel, equipment and related services to all nuclear power plants in Korea and customers in the global nuclear energy industry.
www.harperintl.com
Harper International, Buffalo, N.Y., was recently awarded a contract for a pusher furnace line with Kepco Nuclear Fuel, which is currently producing nuclear fuel for its pressurized heavy water reactors.
Continue reading
C.I. Hayes installs conveyor belt atmosphere furnace
January 25, 2016
Source:
C.I. Hayes, a Gasbarre Furnace Group Company, Cranston, R.I., reports the installation of a Model BAC-M Conveyor Belt Atmosphere Furnace designed for various processes such as brazing, hardening, and annealing of stainless steel materials. The multi-zoned electric furnace is equipped with a conveyor belt drive and silicon carbide heating elements, as well as a controlled hydrogen atmosphere.
The furnace includes an analyzer used to monitor dewpoint and oxygen levels for process and safety purposes. The brick-lined heating chamber, which includes a silicon carbide hearth that supports an Inconel muffle, is designed to operate to 2100°F. The 18-inch wide conveyor belt provides a six-inch work clearance and travels through a 60-inch effective heated length.
C.I. Hayes designs, manufactures and services industrial vacuum and atmosphere heat treating equipment and has been delivering custom solutions to the heat treating industry for 109 years.
www.cihayes.com
www.gasbarrefurnacegroup.com
C.I. Hayes, a Gasbarre Furnace Group Company, Cranston, R.I., reports the installation of a Model BAC-M Conveyor Belt Atmosphere Furnace designed for various processes such as brazing, hardening, and annealing of stainless steel materials.
Continue reading
Ipsen vacuum furnaces deployed for aerospace, automotive, and additive manufacturing
Source:
Ipsen, Cherry Valley, Ill., announces that over the past month, the company has shipped four furnaces and one upgrade for a variety of applications and industries. These shipments included three Titan vacuum furnaces that shipped within a span of two weeks; a horizontal MetalMaster vacuum furnace; and a custom furnace upgrade:
The Titan H6 with 2-bar absolute pressure was shipped to a U.S. manufacturer, where it will be used to process parts for the additive manufacturing industry.
Another Titan H6 with 2-bar absolute pressure was shipped to a company in the aerospace industry – a market where Ipsen and its equipment have a strong reputation and presence.
The Titan H4 with 2-bar absolute pressure was shipped to California, and will also be used to process parts for the Aerospace industry.
The horizontal MetalMaster with a 48 x 72 x 48-inch graphite work zone was shipped to Alabama, where it will be used to process automotive parts..
The custom furnace upgrade was shipped to Georgia for a company in the aerospace industry, and it will allow the the company to enhance its furnace performance and ensure continued high-quality results.
With custom-tailored hot zones, controls, and mechanical upgrades and retrofits for both vacuum and atmosphere furnaces, Ipsen is able to deliver solutions that expand capabilities, increase flexibility and extend the life of equipment. Ipsen's engineers can also help adjust, modify, and upgrade equipment and controls to achieve peak performance and minimize downtime.
www.IpsenUSA.com
Ipsen, Cherry Valley, Ill., announces that over the past month, the company has shipped four furnaces and one upgrade for a variety of applications and industries.
Continue reading
Tribogenics XRF analyzer is based on a cartridge system instead of glass X-ray tube
Source:
Tribogenics, Los Angeles, Calif., introduces the Watson XRF analyzer, in which the company says conventional glass X-ray tubes are replaced with an X-Change cartridge system that makes changing cartridges "as easy as changing the ink in an inkjet printer." It enables quick and accurate identification of 32 elements, and can reportedly identify most of the popular aluminum alloys in less than twenty seconds.
Watson software is said to be able to identify more than 436 metal alloys and provide identification and analysis of more than 32 of the most common elements used in tens of thousands of alloy grades.
Watson uses the Android operating system and supports the mobile user interface concepts and wireless communication interfaces. This permits a wide range of personnel, with varying levels of skill and knowledge, to quickly and accurately use the Watson for all types of applications that can use hand-held XRF technology. The software supports configuring the XRF instrument and performs automatic internal calibration without the need for a trained technician or carrying around bulky calibration discs.
It takes advantage of the latest in smartphone design and software, and costs $10,000. An intuitive interface means that it's easy for anyone to use without any special training. Watson is Wi-Fi enabled for automatic software updates, and comes with integrated market pricing, keeping users current on all local alloy market prices.
www.tribogenics.com
Tribogenics, Los Angeles, Calif., introduces the Watson XRF analyzer, in which the company says conventional glass X-ray tubes are replaced with an X-Change cartridge system that makes changing cartridges “as easy as changing the ink in an inkjet printer.”
Continue reading
One Minute Mentor: Secondary Hardening in Tool Steels
January 22, 2016
Source:
As shown schematically in the graph, high-temperature hardness is made possible only by a very important straightening mechanism: secondary hardening, promoted by the precipitation of fine alloy carbides. The stronger the secondary hardening (meaning more intense carbide precipitation), the higher the tempering resistance of hot-work tool steels. Such precipitation intensity depends on the amount of alloy elements in solid solution, which is related to the alloy composition and heat treating practice obtained by molybdenum, vanadium, or tungsten alloying.
The graph shows a schematic of hardness after tempering and the effect of secondary hardening in high-alloy steels. Observe that high-temperature hardness is only possible through precipitation hardening caused by alloy carbides (secondary hardening). At low temperatures, hardness is less than martensite due to the presence of retained austenite, which is eliminated after high-temperature tempering.
Volume 4D, Heat Treating of Irons and Steels ⇒ Tool Steels ⇒ Heat Treating of Hot-Work Tool Steels ⇒ Introduction
As shown schematically in the graph, high-temperature hardness is made possible only by a very important straightening mechanism: secondary hardening, promoted by the precipitation of fine alloy carbides.
Continue reading
Bruker introduces MultiMode 8-HR atomic force microscope for nanoscale research
January 20, 2016
Source:
Bruker Nano Surfaces, Santa Barbara, Calif., announces that it has significantly enhanced the capabilities of its MultiMode platform with the MultiMode 8-HR. Improvements include higher speeds, higher resolution imaging, new capabilities in nanomechanics with enhanced PeakForce QNM, and new FastForce Volume modes. These improvements are also available as upgrades to current MultiMode systems.
The high-resolution and data processing capabilities of the MultiMode 8-HR are the result of its combination of rigid mechanical design and extremely advanced control electronics. Utilizing Bruker's NanoScope V Controller and new Version 8.2 software, the system features unprecedented bandwidth and extremely low-noise data acquisition to enable such proprietary technology advances as ScanAsyst, Peak Force QNM and FastForce Volume. These features combine to reaffirm the MultiMode 8-HR as the most versatile, highest performance AFM in its class.
www.bruker.com
Bruker Nano Surfaces, Santa Barbara, Calif., announces that it has significantly enhanced the capabilities of its MultiMode platform with the MultiMode 8-HR.
Continue reading
Bodycote produces interactive History of Metallurgy from across time and continents
January 19, 2016
Source:
Bodycote, England, has produced an Interactive History of Metallurgy, a look back at the long history of metal processing and heat treatment. Containing over 200 high quality images and numerous videos, Bodycote pays homage to the artisans from thousands of years ago along with the scientists and inventors of more modern metallurgy and engineering.
Starting in 8700BC with the world's oldest known copper artifacts, all the way through to the modern processes that Bodycote undertakes daily, the resource charts the development of metal working from the mystical and utilitarian requirements of early mankind, through to the scientific and technical breakthroughs of the 20th century.
Bodycote, the leader in an industry that dates back thousands of years, developed the interactive resource to explore the evolution of metallurgy and heat treating and to acknowledge the collective work of scientists and engineers. Their hard work and discoveries have enhanced the properties of metals and alloys, making them deliver safer, more durable results for more and more applications.
Visit the Interactive History of Metallurgy at http://www.bodycote.com/history-of-metal.
Bodycote, England, has produced an Interactive History of Metallurgy, a look back at the long history of metal processing and heat treatment.
Continue reading
Worthington Industries acquires brazing manufacturer
Source:
Worthington Industries Inc., Columbus, Ohio, has acquired the business of NetBraze LLC, a manufacturer of brazing alloys, silver brazing filler metals, solders, and fluxes primarily used in plumbing, HVAC-R, industrial gas, and OEM markets.
"This acquisition expands our offering of alloys in the professional wholesale channel with innovative products that utilize patented technologies," said Worthington Industries' Pressure Cylinders President Andy Billman." The products that NetBraze has developed save an operator time, resources, and cost when brazing. We look forward to offering these new products in addition to our full complement of joining technologies products to our customers."
Worthington manufactures and distributes a full line of joining alloys including lead-free solders, brazing rods, fluxes, hand torches and hand-torch fuel under the Worthington Joining Technologies and Bernzomatic brands.
NetBraze products include standard BCuP brazing alloys, BAg silver solders and fluxes, and innovative technologies including QuickCoil, which offers up to 22-feet of non-stop brazing, eliminating leftover scrapped stubs produced by traditional brazing rods, and products with lower braze temperatures that make the brazing process more efficient. NetBraze is located in Mt. Orab, Ohio and has 23 employees.
www.worthingtonindustries.com
Worthington Industries Inc., Columbus, Ohio, has acquired the business of NetBraze LLC, a manufacturer of brazing alloys, silver brazing filler metals, solders, and fluxes primarily used in plumbing, HVAC-R, industrial gas, and OEM markets.
Continue reading 