Glass infused with carbon nanotubes and tungsten powders resists impact, conducts electricity

March 17, 2015
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N1 Technologies Inc., Daytona Beach, Fla., reports that it has infused a borosilicate-based glass with tungsten and multilayered carbon nanotubes during the kiln melting process to produce Tungsten Glass. This innovation is said to enhance the protective qualities of the glass by providing improved resistance to impact and scratching. Electrical conductivity is greatly enhanced by the addition of tungsten and carbon nanotubes.

Multi layered nanotubes have great spring-like resistance, and can absorb impact and return to their original shape. This feature reduces various harmonic vibrations in mechanical movements, because of its ability to absorb impact and rebound.

www.tungstenglass.com

 

Glass infused with carbon nanotubes and tungsten powders resists impact, conducts electricity

N1 Technologies Inc., Daytona Beach, Fla., reports that it has infused a borosilicate-based glass with tungsten and multilayered carbon nanotubes during the kiln melting process to produce Tungsten Glass.

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Intermetallic nanoparticles increase strength and ductility in alloy steel

February 16, 2015
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Researchers at Pohang University of Science and Technology, South Korea, report that they have developed a lightweight steel by uniformly dispersing nanometer-size intermetallic compounds between and within the steel's grains. By adding nickel and heat treating an alloy of iron, aluminum, manganese, and carbon, they induced nanoparticles to form evenly throughout the steel. The photo shows that six specimens of the new steel weigh less than five specimens of conventional steel.

With this innovative approach, stronger and more ductile lightweight steels have been created, solving the longstanding problem of poor ductility caused by the formation of large brittle intermetallic compound particles. Besides being lightweight, this new steel possesses an excellent combination of strength and ductility.

The team plans to work with POSCO to produce its new product later this year, ushering in a new era of high-specific-strength steels that will be lightweight and strong enough to produce fuel-efficient vehicles and other transportation systems. 

In the 5 February issue of Nature, materials scientist Sang-Heon Kim and colleagues at Pohang describe improving lightweight steel by altering how metal compounds are arrayed in an alloy. They report that the microstructure of their material is stronger and more ductile than titanium alloys.

The researchers think that their work could be useful for industrial steel making. But "even if it takes a long time before this can become a part of production, the novelty of the microstructure that forms could be very useful for thinking about how to construct new alloys," says Suveen Mathaudhu, a materials engineer at the University of California, Riverside.

www.posco.com

www.postech.ac.kr

 

Intermetallic nanoparticles increase strength and ductility in alloy steel

Researchers at Pohang University of Science and Technology, South Korea, report that they have developed a lightweight steel by uniformly dispersing nanometer-sized intermetallic compounds between and within the steel’s grains.

Continue reading

Tungsten-chromium-iron PM alloy has hardness of 21 GPa

December 3, 2014
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The Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, announces that researchers have developed a tungsten-chromium-iron powder metallurgy alloy that could replace depleted uranium in armor-piercing projectiles. The W-7Cr-9Fe alloy is significantly stronger than commercial tungsten alloys. Tests show a nanoindentation hardness of 21 GPa, about double the nanoindentation hardness of nanocrystalline iron-based alloys or coarse-grained tungsten.

The material is made by a powder metallurgy process of high-energy ball milling. This process involves repeated shearing of the metal powders, with the shearing driving the alloying elements to intermix while competing thermally activated recovery processes allow the alloy to return to its equilibrium state.

 "So there is this competition between these two processes," says materials science and engineering graduate student Zachary C. Cordero. He reported results in a paper with senior author and Department of Materials Science and Engineering head Christopher A. Schuh and colleagues in the journal Metallurgical and Materials Transactions A.

His paper proposed a simple model to predict chemistries in a given alloy that will form a solid solution, and validated it with experiments. The improvement was achieved by compacting metal powders in a field-assisted sintering hot press, with the best result, measured by the fine grain structure and highest hardness, achieved at a processing time of one minute at 1200°C. Longer processing times and higher temperatures led to coarser grains and weaker mechanical performance.

"The way that I make my materials is with powder processing, where first we make nanocrystalline powder and then we consolidate it into a bulk object. But the challenge is that consolidation requires exposing the material to higher temperatures," Mr. Cordero says. Heating the alloys to high temperatures can cause the grains within the metal to enlarge, which weakens them. Cordero was able to achieve ultrafine grain structure of about 130 nanometers in the W-7Cr-9Fe compact, confirmed by electron micrographs.

"Using this powder processing route, we can make big samples up to 2 centimeters in diameter, or we could go bigger, with dynamic compressive strengths of 4 GPa. The fact that we can make these materials using a scalable process is maybe even more impressive," he says.

http://newsoffice.mit.edu/2014/alloying-tougher-tungsten-zack-cordero-1202#.VH5Abu6skNM.email

 

 

Tungsten-chromium-iron PM alloy has hardness of 21 GPa

The Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, announces that researchers have developed a tungsten-chromium-iron powder metallurgy alloy that could replace depleted uranium in armor-piercing projectiles.

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Lockheed Martin opens materials and thermal sciences R&D lab in Palo Alto

March 26, 2014
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The Lockheed Martin Space Systems Advanced Technology Center, Palo Alto, Calif., has opened an Advanced Materials & Thermal Sciences Center for research and development.  Engineers will focus on 3-D printing, thermal sciences, nanotechnology, and high temperature materials.

With 82,000 square feet of floor space, it will house 130 engineers, scientists and staff. Advanced materials include CuantumFuse nano-copper, which promises to make more reliable electrical connections in space and other applications. The new microcryocooler is said to be the smallest satellite cooler ever developed.

This building replaces two other buildings that are each 50 years old, and will save $1 million in annual maintenance costs and cut energy costs by more than 60% percent.

Headquartered in Bethesda, Md., Lockheed Martin is a global security and aerospace company that employs approximately 115,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration and sustainment of advanced technology systems, products and services. The Corporation's net sales for 2013 were $45.4 billion.

www.lockheedmartin.com

 

Lockheed Martin opens materials and thermal sciences R&D lab in Palo Alto

The Lockheed Martin Space Systems Advanced Technology Center, Palo Alto, has opened an Advanced Materials & Thermal Sciences Center for research and development.

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IHEA announces 2013-2014 board and officers

December 4, 2013
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The Industrial Heating Equipment Association, Taylor Mill, Ky., recently announced its 2013-14 Board of Directors and Officers. Serving as president (shown in the photo) is Tim Lee of Maxon, a division of Honeywell. Bob Green of Bloom Engineering was named IHEA Vice-President, and B.J. Bernard of Surface Combustion was elected Treasurer. Outgoing president Mike Shay of Elster Kromschröder, assumes the role of Past President. 

 

IHEA is very pleased to re-elect Jay Cherry, Wellman Furnaces, and Doug Glenn, BNP Media, each to serve another three-year term. Continuing their service on the Board of Directors for 2013-2014 are Keith Boeckenhauer, Seco/Warwick; David Bovenizer, Selas Heat Technology Co.; Mike Chapman, Vulcan Catalytic Systems; Daniel Llaguno, Nutec Bickley; John Podach, Fostoria Process Equip. - a Division of TPI; John Searle, Eclipse, Inc.; and John Stanley, Karl Dungs, Inc.

 

IHEA's new president Tim Lee states, "It is an honor and privilege to serve as President of the Industrial Heating Equipment Association's Board of Directors, which consists of so many highly respected leaders in our industry.  I believe the ongoing quality and expertise of our board members positions IHEA for continued success and future growth potential.  I look forward to continuing on the path carved by my predecessors which has established IHEA as the entity where all manufacturers of process heating equipment and associated service providers work together for the benefit of the industry.  IHEA continues to follow the bold mission statement of 'Driving Members Success by Providing the Knowledge Base and Authoritative Voice for Industrial Process Heating Worldwide.'  We look forward to another successful year of providing valuable benefits and services to our industry."

 

www.ihea.org

IHEA announces 2013-2014 board and officers

The Industrial Heating Equipment Association, Taylor Mill, Ky., recently announced its 2013-14 Board of Directors and Officers. Serving as president (shown in the photo) is Tim Lee of Maxon, a division of Honeywell. Bob Green of Bloom Engineering was named IHEA Vice-President, and B.J. Bernard of Surface Combustion was elected Treasurer. Outgoing president Mike Shay of Elster Kromschröder, assumes the role of Past President.

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