QuesTek receives Tibbetts Award for Integrated Computational Materials Engineering
February 10, 2017
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QuesTek Innovations, Evanston, Ill., announces that it was invited to the White House in early January to accept the U.S. Small Business Administration 2016 Tibbetts Award. This prestigious award is presented to small businesses, organizations, and individuals who have demonstrated excellence in leveraging Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) funding to generate measurable impact through technological innovation, technology transfer, business impact, and product commercialization.
The 2016 Tibbetts Award was presented to 37 small businesses, and QuesTek was specifically recognized for its unique contributions to the field of Integrated Computational Materials Engineering (ICME) and President Obama's Materials Genome Initiative.
QuesTek received its first SBIR-funded project in 2001, and has since been awarded over $30 million across a total of 93 projects, all of which have focused on the modeling and design of novel materials.
QuesTek's reported commercialization value ranks it in the 95th percentile of all SBIR recipient companies. SBIR funding (from DOD, DOE, DARPA and NASA) has enabled QuesTek to create more than 30 jobs; transition its ICME technology and a team of engineers to a leading Silicon Valley consumer electronics corporation; form a joint venture with Thermo-Calc Software in Sweden to expand its ICME offerings into the European market; and enter into a strategic partnership with a major U.S.-based company to design and commercialize game-changing alloys.
Under SBIR-funded projects, QuesTek designed and commercialized two ultra-high performance steels: Ferrium M54 steel and Ferrium C64 steel. Ferrium M54 steel was successfully qualified and transitioned into the U.S. Navy T-45 fleet for the safety-critical hook shank component application, and is bringing an estimated $3 million in savings to the Navy based on an order of 60 components. Ferrium C64 steel is being qualified by Bell Helicopter and Sikorsky/Lockheed Martin for next generation helicopter transmissions, replacing lower-performing steels and allowing for significant increases in power density.
Both of these steels have received U.S. patents and are commercially available through a license agreement from leading specialty steel producer, Carpenter Technology.
www.questek.com
QuesTek Innovations, Evanston, Ill., announces that it was invited to the White House in early January to accept the U.S. Small Business Administration 2016 Tibbetts Award.
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Message from the President: ASM Thermal Spray Hall of Fame Inductees
February 8, 2017
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I would like to dedicate the TSS President's Message to two outstanding individuals who were recently selected for induction into the ASM Thermal Spray Society Hall of Fame (HoF). This honor was established in 1993 to recognize outstanding leaders who have made significant achievements and contributions to the science, technology, practice, education, management, and advancement of thermal spraying.
The first inductee is Professor Robert Vassen, Section Head, Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH. Professor Vassen is being honored "for thermal spray developments for applications in solid oxide fuel cell materials and thermal barrier coatings for gas turbines, as well as mentoring and training of highly skilled professionals."
The second inductee this year is Professor Petri M.J. Vuoristo, FASM of the Tampere University of Technology. Professor Vuoristo is being recognized "for long term contributions for the advancement of thermal spray and related deposition technologies through worldwide education and practice."
There will be a ceremony to recognize Professors Vassen and Vuoristo on Thursday, June 8 during ITSC in Dusseldorf, Germany. This is a truly special part of the ITSC event, and if you plan to be in Germany I do hope that you will join us to celebrate these two Hall of Fame inductees.
Doug Puerta
President, ASM Thermal Spray Society
I would like to dedicate the TSS President’s Message to two outstanding individuals who were recently selected for induction into the ASM Thermal Spray Society Hall of Fame (HoF). This honor was established in 1993 to recognize outstanding leaders who have made significant achievements and contributions to the science, technology, practice, education, management, and advancement of thermal spraying.
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Spray Tips: What is a Splat?
February 7, 2017
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Splat is the term given to a single impacted droplet/particle, as illustrated in the diagram. Many overlapping splats solidify and adhere to one another to form a continuous coating layer. Thus, the splat is the basic structural building block in thermal spray coatings.
Splats are created when the accelerated, molten particles impact a substrate surface or previously deposited coating material. The arriving molten droplets are generally spherical, and on impact, they spread over and fill the underlying interstices (spaces). The droplets become flattened, disk-like structures.
Volume 5A, Thermal Spray Technology ⇒ Thermal Spray Processes and Coatings ⇒ Coating Structures, Properties, and Materials
Splat is the term given to a single impacted droplet/particle, as illustrated in the diagram. Many overlapping splats solidify and adhere to one another to form a continuous coating layer. Thus, the splat is the basic structural building block in thermal spray coatings.
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Carpenter buys Puris for its titanium powder capabilities
February 6, 2017
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Carpenter Technology Corp., Philadelphia, announces that it has agreed to purchase substantially all of the assets and business of Puris LLC, a producer of titanium powder for additive manufacturing and advanced technology applications. The assets and business to be acquired include Puris' titanium powder operations and business, additive manufacturing assets, patents, and related intellectual property.
"This acquisition will provide Carpenter with immediate entry into the rapidly expanding titanium powder market, and is consistent with our strategic focus on strengthening our leadership position in important growth areas," said Tony Thene, Carpenter's President & CEO. "Puris brings industry leading technology and processes for the production of titanium powder, additive manufacturing part production capabilities, a talented team, attractive intellectual property, and established customer relationships. The strengths of Puris, coupled with Carpenter's reputation as an industry leading producer of premium alloys and our global commercial reach, will allow us to further deliver on the growing needs of our customers."
As a result of the transaction, which cost $35 million, Carpenter will enter the titanium powder market significantly earlier than previously planned, and will reduce its planned fiscal year 2017 capital expenditures by approximately $20 million.
Operations will continue at the existing site, which is well positioned for future expansion and will operate as a functional unit of Carpenter Powder Products, complementing Carpenter's existing broad portfolio of well-established powder metallurgy portfolio.
According to Stephen Peskosky, Vice President of Corporate Development at Carpenter, "The addition of titanium powder to Carpenter's existing capabilities is significant due to the current and anticipated demand increases from the additive manufacturing industry, which produces mission-critical parts supplied to Aerospace and Medical markets, as well as other markets."
www.cartech.com
Carpenter Technology Corp., Philadelphia, announces that it has agreed to purchase substantially all of the assets and business of Puris LLC, a producer of titanium powder for additive manufacturing and advanced technology applications.
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Steel Dynamics invests $28 million to expand rolling capacity at its Roanoke facility
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Steel Dynamics, Fort Wayne, Ind., recently invested $28 million for a reheating furnace and a new finishing area in its Roanoke Bar Division to increase rolling capacity from the current 500,000 tons to over 600,000 tons per year.
"With the addition of this equipment, which allows for multi-strand slitting and rebar finishing, we expect the added product diversification and our existing highly competitive cost structure to allow us to quickly grow market share. Additionally, we will be one of the largest independent rebar suppliers without our own rebar fabricating business, which we believe will be a positive for our new customer base," said Joe Crawford, Vice President and Roanoke Bar Division General Manager.
The supply package is comprised of a pusher-type high capacity reheating furnace designed to process 140 tons of billets per hour. The plan is to roll the billets into light sections and reinforcing bars from sizes #4 to #11, as well as corresponding round bars. The objective of the new reheating furnace is not only to increase productivity, but also to significantly improve energy efficiency, with the adoption of a smart combustion management system.
After the upgrade, the Roanoke Bar Division expects to increase production of rebar to over 200,000 tons per year. Commissioning is expected to commence at the end of 2017.
http://ir.steeldynamics.com/
Steel Dynamics, Fort Wayne, Ind., recently invested $28 million for a reheating furnace and a new finishing area in its Roanoke Bar Division to increase rolling capacity from the current 500,000 tons to over 600,000 tons per year.
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Plasma-sprayed aluminum-titanium coating to protect U.K. aircraft carrier deck
February 4, 2017
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The Aircraft Carrier Alliance, U.K., reports that a plasma spray aluminum-titanium coating has been developed by British companies specifically to protect the flight deck of the new Queen Elizabeth Class aircraft carriers from the heat that results from the immense thrust of the engines of its F-35B Lightning II fighter jets.
The specialized thermal spray coating is being applied to sections of the vast flight deck of HMS Queen Elizabeth using a specially developed robotic spray that fires powdered metal through a jet of plasma at temperatures of almost 18,000°F. The molten droplets then flatten and quickly solidify, creating a tough but rough coating 2 to 2.5 mm thick that is bonded to the steel beneath. Approximately 2000 square meters of the 19,000 square-meter flight deck will be coated, with the work due to be completed prior to sea trials in early 2017.
The coating is made of a combination of aluminum and titanium powders, and can withstand temperatures of up to 2700°F. Developed in partnership with Monitor Coatings, based in Tyne and Wear, the material is expected to provide long-term protection through the 50-year life of the carriers. It is an important part of the work underway to prepare HMS Queen Elizabeth for sea trials this year and flight trials in 2018.
The QE Class ships, which include the Queen Elizabeth and the Prince of Wales, will each provide eight acres of sovereign territory to be deployed around the world. They will be versatile enough to be used for operations ranging from supporting war efforts to providing humanitarian aid and disaster relief.
According to Captain Simon Petitt, Senior Naval Officer of HMS Queen Elizabeth, "The new flight deck coating is one of the many 21st Century engineering innovations being incorporated in the Queen Elizabeth Class program. As the largest warships ever built for the Royal Navy, these powerful ambassadors will protect U.K. interests around the globe for the next 50 years."
The Aircraft Carrier Alliance has four members, three of which are industrial: Babcock, BAE Systems, and Thales UK. The fourth, the UK Ministry of Defence, has a dual role, acting as a member of the Alliance as the customer.
While both aircraft carriers will enter service under the white ensign of the Royal Navy, they will ultimately be utilized by all three sectors of the UK Armed Forces.
http://www.aircraftcarrieralliance.co.uk/media/latest-news
The Aircraft Carrier Alliance, U.K., reports that a plasma spray aluminum-titanium coating has been developed by British companies specifically to protect the flight deck of the new Queen Elizabeth Class Aircraft Carriers from the heat that results from the immense thrust of the engines of the F-35B Lightning II fighter jets.
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Additive manufacturing survey shows growth in Defense, Aircraft, and Space
February 3, 2017
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Defence IQ, London, recently conducted a wide-ranging survey of additive manufacturing in the defense, aerospace, and space industries to explore what has changed in the last 12 months and what the future holds. The findings are summarized in an infographic that shows much more than the section shown here. This section refers only to answers to the question, "Which companies are the leaders in applying additive manufacturing?"
The graph compares the results of the 2015 survey to the results of the 2016 survey. The outcome displayed here shows that GE Aviation has moved firmly into the lead at 63%. Last year's leader Airbus, at 53% in 2015, fell to 40% in 2016.
One section of the infographic shows that 37% of respondents think that international bodies should lead additive manufacturing certification efforts, down from last year's survey. The trend for 2017 shows that more people think it should be led by cross-sector working groups.
Other sections of the survey ask what are the industry's biggest challenges, how many stakeholders are aware of the benefits of AM, and how many respondents think that AM will be "standard and ubiquitous" over the next years and decades.
Download the full infographic here: http://bit.ly/2hMibdi
Defence IQ, London, recently conducted a wide-ranging survey of additive manufacturing in the defense, aerospace, and space industries to explore what has changed in the last 12 months and what the future holds.
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Leica Microsystems announces education partnership with ASM International
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Leica Microsystems, Buffalo Grove, Ill, announces a new educational partnership with ASM International, the preeminent association for connecting materials professionals with the finest resources available – to solve problems, improve materials performance, and support professional development.
ASM will host classroom programs using inverted and digital microscopes for inspection and analysis in metallography, manufacturing, and materials research through this partnership. These programs will rely on sophisticated equipment from Leica Microsystems, including the Leica DMi8 modular inverted microscope system for the material sciences and the Leica DMS300 digital microscopy system, as well as Leica LAS X advanced measurement and image analysis software. The partnership between Leica and ASM will provide learning opportunities for new imaging techniques and the benefits of heads-up inspection.
"The partnership will allow ASM to expand its existing content and enhance the experience for both instructors and professionals," says John Cerne, ASM International Senior Manager of Education.
"Leica Microsystems‘ partnership with ASM unites a leader in materials imaging and analysis instrumentation with the premier industrial materials educational institution," says Alan Paris, Director of Business Development at Leica Microsystems. "This partnership will advance materials science and manufacturing worldwide."
For questions regarding this partnership, please contact Lon Nelson, Director of Sales-Microscopy, at 224-628-2467 or [email protected].
www.leica-microsystems.com
Leica Microsystems, Buffalo Grove, Ill, announces a new educational partnership with ASM International, the preeminent association for connecting materials professionals with the finest resources available – to solve problems, improve materials performance, and support professional development.
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One Minute Mentor: Reactor for Gas Nitriding
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This diagram shows the major parts of a gas nitriding reactor. 1, muffle furnace; 2, outer shell; 3, heater; 4, internal container (retort); 5, gas inlet pipe; 6, exhaust pipe; 7, motor; 8, fan; 9, metal-made jig; 10, gas guide cylinder.
11, inverted funnel; 12, vacuum pump; 13, effluent gas combustion facility; 14, carbon donor compound gas cylinder; 15, ammonia gas cylinder; 16, nitrogen gas cylinder; 17, hydrogen gas cylinder; 18, flow-rate meter; 19, gas control valve.
Volume 4D, Heat Treating of Irons and Steels ⇒ Heat Treated High-Alloy Steels ⇒ Nitriding of Stainless Steels ⇒ Thermochemical Nitriding Treatments
This diagram shows the major parts of a gas nitriding reactor.
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CVD Materials to expand Tantaline corrosion coatings in the United States
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CVD Equipment Corp., Central Islip, N.Y., announces that its subsidiary CVD Materials plans to open a facility in the United States for expansion of the corrosion-resistant coatings services currently offered through its Tantaline CVD subsidiary in Denmark. Tantaline was originally founded in 2007 as a spin-off from The Danfoss Group, and is an established leader in the commercialization of tantalum-treated parts for corrosion resistance. CVD acquired the assets and IP of Tantaline in December 2016, and established a new and wholly owned CVD subsidiary operating under the name Tantaline CVD A/S.
Tantaline products consist of a core substrate (typically stainless steel) which is treated to create an extremely rugged, uniform, inert, and corrosion-resistant tantalum surface. Through Tantaline treatment, tantalum atoms are actually grown into the substrate, creating an inseparable nanoscale surface alloy.
Further processing creates a tantalum surface of ~50 microns, with all of the characteristics and properties of pure tantalum metal. Tantaline treatment is a gas phase process; therefore, both the internal and external surfaces of complex parts can be coated.
Tantaline-treated parts are said to outperform most high-priced specialty alloys and function nearly at the level of solid tantalum in hot corrosive acidic environments (>150°C), such as those exposed to sulfuric, nitric, and hydrochloric acids as part of the production process. Tantaline treatment therefore provides corrosion resistance at a much lower cost than solid tantalum.
"This planned expansion will further CVD's corrosion-resistant technology and applications base," says Leonard Rosenbaum, President and CEO. "We are now considering where in the United States to locate the new facility. Our equipment know-how and proven ability to scale up deposition processes will be leveraged into offering high value-added materials, as well as traditional products and services, to our current and new customers."
www.tantaline.com
CVD Equipment Corp., Central Islip, N.Y., announces that its subsidiary CVD Materials plans to open a facility in the United States for expansion of the corrosion-resistant coatings services currently offered through its Tantaline CVD subsidiary in Denmark.
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