Harper rotary furnace processes iron phosphate powders for lithium-ion batteries
November 22, 2016
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Harper International, Buffalo, N.Y., has been awarded a contract for a high-volume rotary furnace system for drying and calcining advanced iron phosphate powders for lithium-ion batteries at Prayon Technologies, Belgium. Iron phosphate powder is a key component of lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO4) cathode materials used in rechargeable batteries for electric vehicles, and is a part of Prayon's recently announced new plant investment to supply the lithium-ion battery market.
The gas-fired Harper rotary kiln will support high volume operations with features to maximize Prayon's production, including advanced tube features to provide enhanced reaction kinetics, gas-tight and dust-tight design, and internal heat recovery within the furnace chamber to improve energy efficiency.
Prayon collaborated with Harper through the Ignite process during the development phase by supporting scale-up planning and analysis. The Ignite program offers scale-up expertise and testing resources to help minimize risk and maximize efficiency for pilot and production level outputs.
"Harper is focused on supporting the next generation of materials in advanced markets, and this project for the lithium iron phosphate market is a great representation of that," commented Brian Fuller, Sales Manager for Harper International. "The material is an ideal solution for many of today's most advanced technologies for electric power and storage battery systems, and we are proud to be a part of Prayon's solution to supply this market."
www.harperintl.com
Harper International, Buffalo, N.Y., has been awarded a contract for a high-volume rotary furnace system for drying and calcining advanced iron phosphate powders in lithium-ion batteries by Prayon Technologies, Belgium.
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Arconic’s aluminum Micromill technology wins R&D 100 award
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Arconic (formerly Alcoa), Pittsburgh, announces that R&D magazine has named Arconic's aluminum Micromill technology an R&D 100 Award winner. The technology reduces the production time to create rolled coil from hot metal from 20 days to 20 minutes. The Micromill's unique production process significantly changes the microstructure of the metal, allowing for higher formability, greater strength, and lighter weight at the same time. It produces metal that is 40% more formable and 30% stronger than today's incumbent automotive aluminum alloys, while meeting stringent surface quality requirements.
Automotive parts made with Micromill material are twice as formable and at least 30% lighter than parts made from high-strength steel.
"Arconic's Micromill material offers a unique combination of strength, weight reduction, and increased formability that was previously impossible," says Ray Kilmer, Arconic Chief Technology Officer. "Bringing these material benefits together changes the paradigm for auto makers, offering them unparalleled design freedom."
Micromill material debuted on Ford's best-selling vehicle, the 2016 F-150, and Ford continues to collaborate with Arconic under a joint development agreement announced last year.
Arconic received an R&D 100 Award in 2014 for its A951 bonding technology that enabled the historic shift to aluminum-intensive vehicles. Arconic estimates that it will grow its automotive sheet revenue approximately sixfold, from $229 million in 2013 to $1.3 billion in 2018.
This year's R&D 100 Awards were presented during the R&D 100 Conference in Washington, D.C., where top innovators in the R&D community come together each year to review the developments of the past year, provide insight into future forecasting, and foster a collaborative environment to share ideas and network with industry peers.
www.arconic.com
Arconic (formerly Alcoa), Pittsburgh, announces that R&D magazine has named Arconic’s aluminum Micromill technology an R&D 100 Award winner.
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All-Metal Planes for Coast-to-Coast Transport
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Classic article from July 1933 Metal Progress
Classic article from July 1933 Metal Progress
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Computationally Optimized Heat Treatment Process wins R&D 100 Award
November 18, 2016
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The National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL), Pittsburgh, announces that its Computationally Optimized Homogenization Heat Treatment Process has been named a winner of the 2016 R&D 100 Awards. NETL's technology provides an easy method to optimize heat treatment to achieve the required degree of homogenization with a minimum of furnace time.
Conventional processes for homogenizing metal alloys are trial-and-error in their approach, resulting in increased process cost and limits to the possible paths that may be explored. The primary application for this technology is for alloys that are exposed to extreme environments, including heat-resistant alloys or those needing corrosion/oxidation resistance. A properly homogenized alloy will not only function better, but also will have an extended life cycle.
During solidification of any alloy, the elements segregate unevenly. This chemical segregation is unavoidable and results in non-uniform regions that negatively impact mechanical and physical properties. Even distribution of the alloying elements is necessary to achieve optimal performance for the specified application.
The computational approach to homogenization is based on kinetics of the chemical diffusion coefficient of each element to determine the homogenization cycle necessary to evenly distribute the elements that are susceptible to segregation. Conventional homogenization processes rely on a trial-and-error approach that results in the need for more experimentation and analysis. If the selected times and temperatures do not achieve the correct degree of homogenization, additional experimentation become necessary.
The Computationally Optimized Homogenization Heat Treatment Process is designed especially for alloys exposed to extreme environments, including heat-resistant alloys and those that require corrosion/oxidation resistance. Such alloys are typically in industries that service the aerospace, military, petrochemical, power generation, nuclear, structural, automotive. and instrumentation sectors.
www.netl.doe.gov
The National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL), Pittsburgh, announces that its Computationally Optimized Homogenization Heat Treatment Process has been named a winner of a 2016 R&D 100 Award.
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Customized MetalMaster heat treating furnaces process a range of materials
November 17, 2016
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Ipsen, Cherry Valley, Ill., announces that in the past few weeks it has shipped five customized MetalMaster vacuum furnaces to companies in locations around the world: Washington, South Carolina, Mexico, and China. Comprised of both horizontal- and vertical-loading systems, these shipments will be used to process parts for the commercial heat treating and aerospace industries .
The customized furnaces also vary in size, ranging from 36 x 48 x 30 inches with all-graphite hot zones and a 2000-pound load capacity, all the way up to a 72 x 156 x 92-inch all-metal hot zone with moly heating elements and a 20,000-pound load capacity. These heat-treating systems are also capable of providing tight temperature tolerances with DigiTrim controls settings, while meeting applicable AMS 2750E requirements.
The MetalMaster furnace design has demonstrated ultimate performance and reliability for more than 45 years, with 500+ installations worldwide. It delivers the cleanliness and uniform cooling that customers request, while also providing a cost-effective, versatile, and adaptable vacuum furnace system.
MetalMaster furnaces may also be ordered with several high-productivity options such as Specialized instrumentation; Increased pumping capability; and Material handling systems.
www.IpsenUSA.com/MetalMaster
Ipsen, Cherry Valley, Ill., announces that in the past few weeks it has shipped five customized MetalMaster vacuum furnaces to companies in locations around the world: Washington, South Carolina, Mexico, and China.
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One Minute Mentor: Effect of Cold Work on Grain Growth
November 14, 2016
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Larger amounts of cold work refine the grain size during solution treatment, but smaller amounts of cold work can lead to critical grain growth. The effect of varying amounts of cold work on grain growth in A-286 during solution treating is illustrated in the graph.
The initial material was solution treated with a maximum grain size of ASTM 5. Cold working in the range of 1 to 5% caused excessive grain growth during subsequent solution treating at 1650°F. Above about 5% of cold work, critical grain growth does not occur, and the recrystallized grain size decreases with increasing cold work. Excessive grain growth, especially excessive localized grain growth, would likely degrade tensile properties.
Therefore, on parts subjected to cold or hot work prior to solution treating, the critical amount of work (about 1 to 6% cold work, depending on the alloy, and about 10% hot work) must be exceeded in all areas to avoid the growth of abnormally large grains. This rule applies to parts such as cold-headed bolts, spun or stretch-formed sheets, and parts formed by simple bending.
Volume 4D, Heat Treating of Irons and Steels ⇒ Heat Treated High-Alloy Steels ⇒ Heat Treating of Precipitation-Hardenable Stainless Steels and Iron-Base Superalloys ⇒ Iron-Nickel Precipitation-Hardenable Superalloys
Larger amounts of cold work refine the grain size during solution treatment, but smaller amounts of cold work can lead to critical grain growth.
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Siemens to acquire Mentor Graphics for its electronics IC and systems design
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Siemens AG, Munich, and Mentor Graphics, Wilsonville, Ore., announce that they have entered into a merger agreement under which Siemens will acquire Mentor for $37.25 per share in cash, which represents an enterprise value of $4.5 billion. The offer price represents a 21% premium to Mentor's closing price on November 11, 2016, the last trading day prior to the announcement.
This acquisition decisively extends Siemens' leading Digital Enterprise Software portfolio with Mentor's well established electronics IC and systems design, simulation, and manufacturing solutions. These capabilities are essential for today's smart connected products such as autonomous vehicles. The combination provides mechanical, thermal, electronic and embedded software tools which will allow Siemens' customers to further accelerate their innovation, drive production efficiencies, and optimize the operation of their products in the field. Now, for the first time, quality, efficiency, flexibility, safety and speed can be optimized across technical domains, throughout the entire lifecycle and for the entire extended enterprise.
"Siemens is acquiring Mentor as part of its Vision 2020 concept to be the Benchmark for the New Industrial Age. It's a perfect portfolio fit to further expand our digital leadership and set the pace in the industry," said Joe Kaeser, President and CEO of Siemens AG.
"With Mentor, we're acquiring an established technology leader with a talented employee base that will allow us to supplement our world-class industrial software portfolio. It will complement our strong offering in mechanics and software with design, test and simulation of electrical and electronic systems," said Klaus Helmrich, member of the Managing Board of Siemens.
"Combining Mentor's technology leadership and deep customer relationships with Siemens' global scale and resources will better enable us to serve the growing needs of our customers, and unlock additional significant opportunities for our employees," said Walden C. Rhines, chairman and CEO of Mentor. "Siemens is an ideal partner with financial depth and stability, and their resources and additional investment will allow us to innovate even faster and accelerate our vision of creating top-to-bottom automated design solutions for electronic systems.
www.mentor.com
www.siemens.com
Siemens AG, Munich, and Mentor Graphics, Wilsonville, Ore., announce that they have entered into a merger agreement under which Siemens will acquire Mentor for its electronics IC and systems design, simulation, and manufacturing solutions.
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Bruker introduces nano-scratch capability for nanomechanical testing
November 13, 2016
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Bruker's Nano Surfaces Division, San Jose, Calif., announces a nanoscale scratch option for its NanoForce Nanomechanical Testing System. The new option brings the low-noise floor, precision, and stability of the NanoForce to controlled lateral displacement between tip and sample during nanoindentation. This significantly expands the platform's capability to characterize the resistance of thin films and coatings to scratching, cracking, chipping, scuffing, and delamination.This expanded capability does not compromise its ability to accurately investigate the uniformity of mechanical properties via instrumented indentation tests on nanoscale surfaces and structures over large sample areas. An optional 200 mm vacuum chuck offers convenience for the mounting of wafer samples, and built-in safety features protect the head assembly during translation of the X-Y stages.
"The NanoForce system already has a reputation of being well suited for testing of modulus and hardness of thin films and coatings with its standard dynamic testing methods," says Min Yang, Director of Applications at Bruker Nano Surfaces. "The addition of nanoscratch capabilities to perform characterization of other important thin film mechanical properties on a single, high-performance platform greatly enhances this legacy and positions NanoForce as an invaluable asset for the investigation of nanomechanical performance of new material systems."
"NanoForce has demonstrated superior capabilities for some of the most challenging nanoindentation applications in research labs," added James Earle, Vice President and General Manager of Bruker's Tribology, Stylus and Optical Metrology Business. "The new nanoscale scratch capabilities demonstrate our commitment to delivering the most advanced nanomechanical material testing and analysis solutions available anywhere."
Leveraging the accuracy enabled by electromagnetic actuation technology, NanoForce is a nanomechanical testing system that delivers high sensitivity at industry-leading measurement speeds. NanoForce features powerful, user-friendly measurement and control software, which enables real-time experimental control based on recorded or calculated data. Built upon Bruker's ubiquitous Dimension Icon AFM product architecture, the innovative gantry design and hardware architecture provide excellent positional accuracy as well as acoustic and vibration isolation to establish an optimal testing environment for challenging nanoindentation applications in materials science.
www.bruker.com
Bruker’s Nano Surfaces Division, San Jose, Calif., announces a nanoscale scratch option for its NanoForce Nanomechanical Testing System.
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Ampco Pittsburgh acquires ASW Steel for its specialty steel products
November 8, 2016
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Ampco-Pittsburgh Corp., Carnegie, Pa., has acquired ASW Steel Inc., Welland, Ontario, a specialty steel producer with customers in the oil and gas, power generation, aerospace, transportation, and construction industries. ASW offers a unique combination of carbon, stainless, and other specialty steelmaking capabilities, as well as flexible steel refining methods such as argon oxygen decarburization, vacuum oxygen decarburization, vacuum degassing, and a ladle metallurgical station.
According to John Stanik, Ampco-Pittsburgh's Chief Executive Officer, "This acquisition is a very important element in Ampco-Pittsburgh's strategic diversification plan. ASW's proven broad expertise in flexible steel refining methods will provide us with the capabilities to manufacture the additional chemistries needed to expand our reach in the open-die forging market. The transaction also enhances our ability to grow in markets in which we currently participate and to add new markets."
"Our combined capabilities will offer forgers, ring rollers, and rolling mills, a high-quality supplier with the broadest range of specialized steel products in the marketplace," says Tim Clutterbuck, President of ASW Steel, Inc.
The total purchase price was approximately $13.1 million, including $3.5 million in cash and assumption of approximately $9.6 million of outstanding indebtedness.
ASW, whose annual revenues are approximately $48 million, will be an indirect subsidiary of Union Electric Steel Corporation, a wholly owned operating subsidiary of Ampco-Pittsburgh. Union Electric Steel is a leading producer of forged and cast engineered products for the global steel and aluminum industries.
www.ampcopgh.com
Ampco-Pittsburgh Corp., Carnegie, Pa., has acquired ASW Steel Inc., Welland, Ontario, a specialty steel producer with customers in the oil and gas, power generation, aerospace, transportation, and construction industries.
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Arconic wins billion-dollar contract from Airbus for aluminum sheet and plate
November 7, 2016
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Arconic, Pittsburgh, Pa., announces a multi-year contract with Airbus valued at approximately $1 billion, to supply aluminum sheet and plate for its highest-volume programs. This agreement is the first to include material from Arconic's new state-of-the-art thick plate stretcher, which will come online in 2017 and enables production of the largest high-strength monolithic wing ribs in the industry. Located at the Davenport (Iowa) Works, the stretcher enhances the performance of thick aluminum and aluminum-lithium plate in wing ribs and fuselage frame material.
The stretching process reduces stress introduced into the plate as part of the manufacturing process, resulting in a part that is more easily machined and processed. For example, as composite wings get larger, one of the challenges is strength and stiffness, and the aluminum plate from this stretcher will enable Arconic to make wing ribs to address that issue. The addition will also enable Arconic to serve the existing plate market, while also providing airframe builders with the ability to make large wing ribs, fuselage frames, and bulkheads using Arconic thick plate.
"This large contract is a further important step to expand our leadership position in the aerospace industry," says Klaus Kleinfeld, Chairman and CEO of Arconic. "We are proud that Airbus has chosen us to support its fastest growing, technologically advanced programs. Partnerships like this with industry leaders are core to our strategy, and this contract is another proof-point of the potential that lies in it. We continue to focus on developing products and technologies that take all of our aerospace customers to new heights." Arconic's most significant share gain in the contract is in the A320 family, which is Airbus' highest growth program.
The multi-year agreement starts in January 2017 and makes Arconic sole supplier to Airbus for specific applications, including some wing, fuselage, and structural components. In addition to Arconic's proprietary alloys – chosen for their combination of strength, corrosion resistance, density, and manufacturability – Airbus planes will feature Arconic plate products on every platform, in key applications such as wing ribs, fuselage frames, and other structural parts.
www.arconic.com
Arconic, Pittsburgh, Pa., announces a multi-year contract with Airbus valued at approximately $1 billion, to supply aluminum sheet and plate for its highest-volume programs.
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