Cleveland-Cliffs invests $100 million in DR iron plant, $830 million in HB iron plant
August 12, 2019
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Cleveland-Cliffs Inc., Cleveland, announces that has started up new production equipment, including supporting infrastructure, to support large-scale commercial production of DR-grade iron pellets at its Northshore Mining facility in Babbitt, Minnesota. The plant will be completed on schedule and within a total investment budget of $100 million. Cleveland-Cliffs invested in upgrading the concentrator building, a new scavenger building, new conveyor systems, a limestone tank, and a steam-generating plant to support large-scale commercial production of DR-grade pellets. With the conclusion of the project, Northshore Mining will be the only U.S.-based iron ore processing facility to produce low-silica DR-grade pellets.
The company also announces that it has invested $830 million in a hot briquetted iron plant in Toledo, Ohio. The Northshore operation will immediately start to produce DR-grade pellet feedstock for this HBI plant, which will be commissioned in mid-2020, as well as DR-grade pellets to be exported to a new clientele of DRI producers outside the United States.
Founded in 1847, Cleveland-Cliffs Inc. is the largest and oldest independent iron ore mining company in the United States. The company is a major supplier of iron ore pellets to the North American steel industry from its mines and pellet plants located in Michigan and Minnesota. By 2020, Cliffs expects to be the sole producer of hot briquetted iron in the Great Lakes region with the development of its first production plant in Toledo.
www.clevelandcliffs.com
Cleveland-Cliffs Inc., Cleveland, announces that has started up its new production equipment, including supporting infrastructure, to support large-scale commercial production of DR-grade iron pellets at its Northshore Mining facility in Babbitt, Minnesota.
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Aeromet aluminum A20X additive manufacturing alloy exceeds 500 MPa ultimate strength
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Aeromet International Ltd., United Kingdom, announces that A20X, the aluminum alloy developed and patented by Aeromet, has cemented its status one of the strongest aluminum additive manufacturing powders commercially available after surpassing the key 500 MPa UTS mark.
As part of a recent research project involving aero-engine giant Rolls-Royce and additive manufacturing equipment specialist Renishaw, heat-treated parts produced of A20X powder have achieved an ultimate tensile strength of 511 MPa (74 ksi), a yield strength of 440 MPa (64 ksi) and elongation of 13%. This places the powder at the forefront of high-strength aluminum additive manufacturing. Crucially, parts additively manufactured with A20X powder maintain high strength and fatigue properties even at elevated temperatures, outperforming other leading aluminum powders.
According to Mike Bond, Director of Advanced Material Technology at Aeromet, “Since bringing the A20X alloy to market for additive manufacturing five years ago, we have seen significant adoption for high-strength, design-critical applications. By working with Rolls-Royce, Renishaw, and Phoenix Scientific Industries Ltd. (PSI), we have optimized processing parameters that led to record-breaking results, opening up new design possibilities for aerospace and advanced engineering applications.â€
The HighSAP project, backed by the UK’s National Aerospace Technology Exploitation Programme (NATEP), was led by Aeromet and involved Rolls-Royce, Renishaw, and atomization expert PSI.
The A20X powder for additive manufacturing is derived from the MMPDS-approved A20X casting alloy, the world’s strongest aluminum casting alloy, which is in use by a global network of leading aerospace casting suppliers.
www.aeromet.co.uk
www.a20x.com
www.natep.org.uk
Aeromet International Ltd., United Kingdom, announces that A20X, the aluminum alloy developed and patented by Aeromet, has cemented its status one of the strongest aluminum additive manufacturing powders commercially available after surpassing the key 500 MPa UTS mark.
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One Minute Mentor: Cooling time and transformation diagram for a 52100 Jominy test bar
August 6, 2019
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Figure 8 shows a cooling time and transformation (CTT) diagram for a 52100 Jominy test-bar sample austenitized at 845°C (1550°F). The bar cools at different rates, which results in different microstructural constituents and amounts as the cooling curves intersect and traverse the different phase transformation domains.
The expected result of the cooling rate of the second point on the Jominy bar is a microstructure consisting of martensite plus some nonmartensitic transformation products, such as upper bainite, which is a softer constituent than martensite. The softer constituents serve as points of weakness in the martensitic matrix, making them objectionable in a bearing steel.
Inhomogeneities such as nonmetallic inclusions and voids, and constituents like upper bainite reduce rolling contact fatigue life of through-hardening bearing steels.
For more information, click on the link below (subscription required), then scroll down the Chapter Contents on the left of the page, and click on Quench problems that can affect through-hardening bearing steels. Then scroll to Figure 8.
https://dl.asminternational.org/handbooks/book/9/chapter/110017/Heat-Treatment-of-Bearings
Figure 8 shows a cooling time and transformation (CTT) diagram for a 52100 Jominy test-bar sample austenitized at 845°C (1550°F).
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Lindberg hot stamping furnace features one low-heat and three high-heat stacked chambers
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Lindberg MPH, Riverside, Mich., has shipped an electrically heated four chamber hot-stamping furnace to the Gestamp Research and Development facility located in Auburn Hills, Mich. Gestamp is an international corporation that designs, develops, and manufactures metal automotive components.
The hot stamping furnace features one stack of three high-heat chambers and one low-heat chamber. The maximum temperature rating of the high-heat chambers is 1920°F and the low-heat chamber is 1000°F. Each furnace chamber was designed with load space dimensions of 36 x 30 x 8 inches.
The furnace is integrated at the Gestamp facility with a robotic transfer system and hydraulic hot stamping press. The four chambers operate independently, with the top chamber designated for aluminum treatment. This type of hot stamping system allows the customer the flexibility to treat different steels simultaneously, and has a much smaller footprint than a continuous system. Click here to view a video of the integrated hot stamp furnace at the Gestamp facility.
Lindberg/MPH hot-stamping furnaces are available in batch or multiple batch style configurations, and are designed to heat any structural size or shaped part. They can be designed with rapid and selective heating areas, fast opening doors to meet any loading/unloading speeds, and data acquisition systems for full process reporting.
www.lindberg.com
Lindberg MPH, Riverside, Mich., has shipped an electrically heated four chamber hot-stamping furnace to the Gestamp Research and Development facility located in Auburn Hills, Mich.
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Exactatherm awarded Nadcap Merit accreditation for heat treatment from PRI
Source: ASM International
Exactatherm, Mississauga, Ontario, announces that it has been awarded Nadcap Merit status for heat treatment, which means that, instead of having its next Nadcap audit in twelve months, it has been granted an accreditation that lasts until April 30th, 2021.
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Solar Manufacturing provides heat treating furnace to Georgia Southern University
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Solar Manufacturing, Souderton, Pa., recently shipped a horizontal front-loading vacuum furnace to Georgia Southern University in Statesboro. The furnace – the Mentor– combines versatility and compact design to efficiently process smaller load sizes, and is ideal for laboratory use.
GSU will be using the furnace primarily for vacuum thermal processing research and development of various iron-based alloys, including additive manufactured parts. The Mentor® includes a graphite insulated hot zone and heating elements, with a work zone size of 12 X 12 X 18 inches, and a weight capacity of 250 pounds.
Fully compliant to aerospace specification AMS2750E, the Mentor can process in an argon or nitrogen atmosphere or in high vacuum in the 10-6 Torr range with a six-inch Varian diffusion pump. The furnace incorporates the SolarVac Essentials control system package with large graphic touchscreen overview. Programming capabilities include gas quench rate control up to two bar pressure, and precise temperature uniformity up to 2400°F.
“We are pleased to provide a solution to GSU’s growing research and development efforts,†says Dan Insogna, Solar Manufacturing’s Southeast Sales Manager. “We know the Mentor® vacuum furnace will benefit the university with this research.â€
www.solarmfg.com
Solar Manufacturing, Souderton, Pa., recently shipped a horizontal front-loading vacuum furnace to Georgia Southern University in Statesboro.
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Seco Vacuum provides high-volume nitrocarburizing furnaces for auto supplier
August 5, 2019
Source: ASM International
Seco Vacuum, Meadville, Pa., announces an order for a high-volume nitrocarburizing line of furnaces serving a major carmaker through a tier-one supplier.
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Quaker Chemical and Houghton International combine to form new industrial fluids company
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Quaker Chemical Corp., Conshohocken, Pa., and Houghton International, Valley Forge, Pa., have combined to create Quaker Houghton, a global leader in industrial process fluids to the primary metals and metalworking markets. Along with the new name, the company revealed a new logo and brand representing the combined companies.
Their combined breadth of product and service offerings can be found in end-markets such as aerospace, aluminum, automotive, machinery, can manufacturing, industrial parts manufacturing, mining, offshore, steel, and tube and pipe industries.
With its expanded products and services portfolio, the company expects that cross-selling opportunities will facilitate continued above-market growth. Specific products the company offers include metal cutting and forming fluids, corrosion protection fluids, specialty hydraulic fluids, and steel and aluminum rolling oils.
In addition, legacy-Houghton customers will benefit from Quaker’s strength in specialty greases, high-pressure die casting, mining specialties, surface treatment and bio-based lubricants, while legacy-Quaker customers will now have access to Houghton’s heat treatment quenchants, offshore hydraulic fluids, metal finishing products, and a broader metal removal fluids portfolio.
In the first year, the company’s focus will be to maintain service levels for its customers and ensure no supply chain disruptions, while successfully executing its integration plans. In year two, the revenue synergies will begin to be visible as the company expects to grow above the market by 2% to 4% as it has in the past.
The company also expects to continue to grow through acquisitions, which remain part of its core growth strategy. In the short term, the company will focus on paying down debt, but will continue to consider smaller acquisitions that can create value. Both Quaker and Houghton have long histories of building value through acquisitions.
www.quakerhoughton.com
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Quaker Chemical Corp., Conshohocken, Pa., and Houghton International, Valley Forge, Pa., have combined to create Quaker Houghton, a global leader in industrial process fluids to the primary metals and metalworking markets.
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Leaders of NACE International and SSPC meet to discuss potential partnership
August 1, 2019
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Leaders from NACE International, Houston, and The Society for Protective Coatings, Pittsburgh, recently convened in Houston to hold further discussions about options and approaches to combining the organizations to benefit the members of both. Deemed a success by NACE International President Terry Greenfield and SSPC President Garry Manous, the meeting led to multiple positive outcomes.
During the meeting, the participants from NACE and SSPC worked together to create a timeline for moving forward, with the goal of having a membership vote by the second quarter of 2020. In the meantime, both organizations will provide informational webinars and small group information sessions prior to the vote to enable members to have a thorough understanding of what is involved in any cooperative relationship between the two organizations.
The representatives from both organizations left the meeting optimistic and agreed to continuing regularly scheduled phone calls and a second face to face meeting later this summer. Mr. Manous and Mr. Greenfield agreed that they are encouraged by the way the integration team is prioritizing doing what is right for the industries and members served by NACE and SSPC.
www.nace.org
www.sspc.org
Leaders from NACE International, Houston, and The Society for Protective Coatings, Pittsburgh, recently convened in Houston to hold further discussions about options and approaches to combining the organizations to benefit the members of both.
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Haynes Ni-Mo-Cr-W alloy designed for low thermal expansion at 1400°F in gas turbines
July 31, 2019
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Haynes International, Kokomo, Ind., announces that it has new alloy data for Haynes 244, a new Ni-Mo-Cr-W alloy developed for static parts in advanced gas turbine engines that require low thermal expansion at temperatures up to 1400°F.
Alloy 244 offers a higher maximum service temperature than other low thermal-expansion alloys currently available, including a 100 to 200°F improvement over Haynes 242 alloy. The alloy is age-hardenable by formation of Ni2 (Cr,Mo,W) domains, which are structurally similar to the strengthening domains in 242 alloy. Judicious alloying with tungsten increased the thermal stability of these domains and lowered the coefficient of thermal expansion. Other important properties such as oxidation resistance and low-cycle fatigue performance are comparable to or better than those of the 242 alloy.
The 244 alloy exhibits very good oxidation resistance at temperatures up to 1400°F, and should not require protective coatings for continuous or intermittent service at these temperatures. The alloy is not specifically designed for service at higher temperatures, but can tolerate short-term exposures.
To view Haynes data, please click here.
www.haynesintl.com
Haynes International, Kokomo, Ind., announces that it has new alloy data for Haynes 244, a new Ni-Mo-Cr-W alloy developed for static parts in advanced gas turbine engines that require low thermal expansion at temperatures up to 1400°F.
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