QuesTek to serve as research partner for lightweight materials innovation institute

March 11, 2014
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QuesTek Innovations, Evanston, Ill., announces that it has been selected as a research partner by the U.S. Department of Defense under the Lightweight and Modern Metals Manufacturing Innovation (LM3I) solicitation. It is led by the collaboration between the Edison Welding Institute, the University of Michigan, and the Ohio State University. This institute brings together the collaborative partnership of the federal government and a Detroit-based consortium of more than 50 universities, non-profits, and companies from around the country, including QuesTek Innovations LLC as a research partner.

The effort addresses a critical need for affordable and high-performance lightweight metals, as well as advances in their associated design and manufacturing processes, that will benefit large sectors of the U.S. economy such as metal production, casting, and metalworking.

QuesTek's Chief Science Officer, Dr. Gregory B. Olson, will serve as the leader of "Novel Materials," one of 15 key technology development pillars that bring together experts within the respective fields. Dr. Jason Sebastian, QuesTek's Manager of Technology and Product Development, will serve as one of seven experts in the technology development area of Integrated Computational Materials Engineering (ICME). QuesTek's unique role and expertise will contribute to the innovative "ecosystem" that draws together the full spectrum of capabilities and spans the entire value chain of lightweight manufacturing.

QuesTek has been developing new breakthrough alloys since 1997 using ICME methodologies and its Materials by Design technology. Four QuesTek high performance steels (Ferrium M54, Ferrium S53, Ferrium C61 and Ferrium C64 steels) were successfully developed and licensed to Carpenter Technology. These Ferrium steels are displacing materials that have been used for decades in demanding applications such as aircraft landing gear, arresting hook shanks and hook points; and helicopter power transmission gears and rotor shafts. The steels also serve oil and gas applications and other industries. In addition, novel alloys based on Al, Ni, Co, Cu, Mo are being designed and developed by QuesTek, based on ICME ensuring successful design and accelerated implementation.

Other members of ALMMII with whom QuesTek will be closely collaborating include Northwestern University, Thermo-Calc, Boeing Company, General Electric, and Lockheed Martin.

www.questek.com

Ambrell induction heating equipment enables fast repeatable heating for aerospace manufacturers

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Ambrell, an Ameritherm Company, Scottsville, N.Y., designs fast, repeatable, controllable, noncontact heating equipment with a minimal footprint that makes it an ideal solution for aerospace manufacturers. Induction heating is used for decarburization, brazing, and preheating, among other applications, during the manufacture of fasteners, turbine blades, and much more. It provides the ability to increase production and boost quality within the aerospace industry.

Additionally, Ambrell offers monitoring and logging of temperature and other key operating parameters via eView induction heating software.  This software often helps suppliers to meet aerospace manufacturer specifications for parts. One such example is numerous aerospace fastener suppliers using eVIEW to meet data logging requirements.

Ambrell also offers free application testing in its Applications Lab. From the testing, engineeers determine the optimal system for the client's application, accounting for their parts and required heating time. Systems from 1 kW to over 1 MW enable a solution whether the application is large or small.

Ambrell will be exhibiting and demonstrating its induction heating solutions for aerospace at MFG4 in Hartford, Conn., May 6-8 in booth 1208.

 www.ambrell.com

Aviation seating to be made of magnesium for the first time

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Magnesium Elektron, England, announces the first use of its proprietary Elektro 43 alloy in aviation seating. Zim Flugsitz GmbH, a German manufacturer of seating for the aerospace industry, is now producing seats with major structural components made from Elektron 43. The new seats will provide a significant weight reduction compared to aluminum alloys, while retaining strength and ductility. The first new seats are scheduled to enter service later in 2014 in a low-volume non-commercial aviation platform.

"The use of our Elektron 43 magnesium alloy has enabled Zim Flugsitz to surpass their weight-reduction targets and improve the fuel efficiency and endurance in this new application," says Steve Montisci, European Technical Sales Manager, Wrought Products.  "This project is an important step and will demonstrate the benefits that Elektron magnesium alloys can bring to future lightweighting strategies for commercial aircraft designers and operators."

 Magnesium Elektron alloys have been widely used in military aircraft for many years, as well as in critical engine components for civil aircraft. During the past decade, Magnesium Elektron has been working with regulatory agencies, aircraft manufacturers, and seat manufacturers around the world to gain acceptance for magnesium in civil aircraft interiors, including changing provisions of SAE standard AS8049 so that magnesium can be approved for commercial aircraft with 20 seats or more.

In June 2013, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced: "With the results of the Magnesium Full Scale Testing and the progress demonstrated in the development of the lab scale test method, the FAA would now allow magnesium in aircraft seats, providing the requirements and conditions as set out in the Special Conditions are satisfied."

The FAA, European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and the aircraft industry continue their work to finalize the framework of the Special Conditions route for commercial aircraft applications.

www.magnesium-elektron.com

Tecnalia achieves NadCap accreditation for testing and surface treatments

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Tecnalia Research & Innovation, Spain, has received Nadcap accreditation, which recognizes the company´s technical competence as a testing laboratory for control of surface treatment baths and also as testing on metal materials  â€“ mechanical, metallography and corrosion testing – in the aeronautical sector.

Nadcap accreditations constitute an international recognition of technical competence and reliability to provide products and services in the aeronautical sector.

This accreditation is granted by the Performance Review Institute (PRI), a worldwide organization comprising the main aircraft manufacturers: Airbus, Boeing, Bombardier, GE Aviation. The main objective is to develop programs and services designed to improve product manufacturing processes and quality processes in the aeronautical sector.

The PRI guarantees the unbiased assessment of these products and services, ensuring that the suppliers of the aeronautics sector can meet the complex requirements of their customers.

Although Tecnalia already has Airbus authorization, it is now an internationally recognized, independent and impartial organization.

Tecnalia´s technological services in the aerospace sector, in which it has been working for the last 20 years, comprise characterization of materials, nondestructive testing (NDT), failure analysis, materials assessment and diagnosis, welding processes, and comprehensive outsourcing of calibration.

"The NadCap accreditation is an important step in our strategy for specialization within the business of materials characterization and in generating new business opportunities for our clients," said Jose Miguel Iturrioz, Head of Tecnalia's Materials Services Area.

http://www.basqueresearch.com/berria_irakurri.asp?Berri_Kod=4941&hizk=I