Composite curing oven to support aerospace research at University of South Carolina
April 28, 2015
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Wisconsin Oven Corp., East Troy., Wis., has shipped a composite curing batch oven to the McNair Center for Aerospace Innovation and Research at the University of South Carolina. The composite curing oven will be used by university faculty, students, and industry partners to support education and research efforts as part of the McNair Center's Advanced Composite Manufacturing Laboratory, an industrial-scale applied R&D facility. With a maximum operating temperature of 800°F, the oven will allow students to process and develop new higher-temperature materials as they hit the market.
The electrically heated walk-in oven has a maximum temperature rating of 800°F and a work chamber 6 ft. wide, 10 ft. long, and 6 ft. high. The batch oven features guaranteed temperature uniformity (+/-10°F at 600°F) which was verified through a nine-point profile test prior to shipment.
The recirculation system utilizes a 10,800 CFM @ 10 HP plug-mounted blower and combination airflow to maximize heating rates and temperature uniformity. Unique features include a reinforced insulated 4-in. thick floor, a vacuum manifold with four interior stubs and transducers, a Eurotherm 3504 programmable controller, a Eurotherm Versadac to record part temperatures and vacuum pressure, and a 12-position thermocouple jack panel.
www.wisoven.com
Wisconsin Oven Corp., East Troy., Wis., has shipped a composite curing batch oven to the McNair Center for Aerospace Innovation and Research at the University of South Carolina.
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British universities form consortium to optimize steel for railroad track
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The University of Huddersfield, England, announces that its researchers will take part in a new $3 million railway steel development project backed by major funding groups. The Rail Safety and Standards Board (RSSB) and the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) have combined to provide funds for three linked programs of research into new materials that will reduce heavy maintenance and renewal costs for rail tracks.
The university is home to the Institute of Railway Research (IRR), which has a multi-national team of experts based in specially equipped labs. It formed a consortium that was joined by three other universities, including Cambridge, Leeds and Cranfield, to bid for a share of the RSSB and EPSRC funding.
A panel of leading industrial and academic figures appraised the IRR-led consortium's proposal and then gave the go-ahead to a two-year investigation into developing a fundamental understanding of how different characteristics of steel microstructures respond to rail-wheel contact conditions. This understanding will establish the design rules for the optimum rail steel microstructure that is best at resisting degradation resulting from the contact between wheel and rail.
The Principal Investigator for the project is Dr. Adam Bevan, the IRR's Head of Enterprise. Technical leadership will also be provided by Dr. Jay Jaiswal, a Visiting Professor at the IRR and a leading metallurgist specializing in rail materials. He has held important research posts with British Steel, Corus, and Tata Steel.
Professor Jaiswal previously contributed to the development two patented high-performance steels currently produced by Tata Steel for railway tracks. He is convinced that further improvements are possible and that they are vital to the economics of the railway.
The study will also provide much needed data on the economic impact of the increased rail life to facilitate wider and more rapid deployment of more degradation-resistant steels.
www.hud.ac.uk
The University of Huddersfield, England, announces that its researchers will take part in a new $3 million railway steel development project backed by major funding groups.
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Cerium-cobalt alloy added to NdFeB magnets raises Curie temperature, cuts cost
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The U.S. Department of Energy's Ames Laboratory, Ames, Iowa, reports that ASM Fellow Karl A. Gschneidner and a team of researchers have developed a low-cost cerium-cobalt alloy that can be added to neodymium-iron-boron to improve magnetic properties in rare-earth magnets. The new alloy eliminates the need for dysprosium, one of the scarcest and most costly rare earth elements.
The result, an alloy of neodymium, iron, and boron co-doped with cerium and cobalt, is a less expensive material with properties that are competitive with traditional sintered magnets containing dysprosium. The materials are at least 20 to 40% cheaper than the dysprosium-containing magnets.
Experiments demonstrate that the cerium-containing alloy's intrinsic coercivity — the ability of a magnetic material to resist demagnetization — far exceeds that of dysprosium-containing magnets at high temperatures.
"We found that this material works better than anything out there at temperatures above 150°C," says Dr. Gschneidner. "It's an important consideration for high-temperature applications."
Previous attempts to use cerium in rare-earth magnets failed because it reduced the Curie temperature, above which an alloy loses its permanent magnet properties. The research team discovered that co-doping with cobalt allowed cerium to substitute for dysprosium without losing magnetic properties.
Finding a comparable substitute material is key to reducing manufacturing reliance on dysprosium, because current demand far outpaces mining and recycling sources.
The research was supported by the U.S. Department of Energy's ARPA-E REACT program (Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy-Rare Earth Alternatives in Critical Technologies) which develops cost-effective alternatives to rare earths.
www.ameslab.gov
The U.S. Department of Energy’s Ames Laboratory, Ames, Iowa, reports that ASM Fellow Karl A. Gschneidner and a team of researchers have developed a low-cost cerium-cobalt alloy that can be added to neodymium-iron-boron to improve magnetic properties in rare-earth magnets.
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Microporous copper foam with relative density of 37% is effective heat sink
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Goodfellow, England, offers a microporous copper foam with pore sizes between 300 and 600 µm and a relative density of around 37%. This provides a much higher surface area than traditional copper foams, and is a powerful heat sink. Microporous copper foam is produced by means of a lost-carbonate sintering process. Pure copper powder is mixed with a carbonate powder, then compacted and sintered. This forms a matrix of copper ligaments, with spaces filled with carbonate powder.
After cooling, the carbonate is dissolved away in water and recycled or decomposed using heat. The resulting structure is regular and uniform throughout, giving a rigid, highly porous and permeable structure with a controlled density of metal per unit volume.
Applications of microporous copper foam include but are not limited to board-level electronics cooling, power electronics, and EMI shielding. This microporous material is expected to be of particular interest to design engineers working in fields requiring heat exchange.
The foam is available as disks and sheets ranging in thickness from 4 to 10 mm. Other thicknesses may be available upon request.
www.goodfellow.com
Goodfellow, England, offers a microporous copper foam with pore sizes between 300 and 600 µm and a relative density of around 37%.
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Center for Heat Treating Excellence announces June meeting
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Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Mass., announces that the Center for Heat Treating Excellence (CHTE) and the Advanced Casting Research Center (ACRC) will hold their spring meeting June 2 -3. At CHTE, university researchers work together with industry members to improve heat treating processes. Recent research projects include reducing cycle time, gas furnace efficiency and tempering, energy savings, process control, and induction tempering.
CHTE is part of the Metal Processing Institute at Worcester Polytechnic Institute. It is a leading industry-university alliance dedicated to advancing the field of materials science. Working together, industry leaders and university researchers solve business challenges and improve manufacturing processes that save energy, reduce cycle time, increase productivity, and eliminate environmental waste.
http://wp.wpi.edu/chte/
Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Mass., announces that the Center for Heat Treating Excellence (CHTE) and the Advanced Casting Research Center (ACRC) will hold their spring meeting June 2 -3.
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23rd International Congress of Advanced Thermal Processing 2016 Dates Announced
April 22, 2015
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The ASM Heat Treating Society and the International Federation for Heat Treatment and Surface Engineering are pleased to announce the dates for the 23rd International Congress of Advanced Thermal Processing as April 18-22, 2016. The event will be held in Savannah, Georgia next year and will once again bring together experts from around the globe to present the latest innovations and research in Thermal Processing and Surface Engineering.
Thermal Processing is a critical step in bringing goods to market. Historically it has encompassed only heat treating ferrous and non-ferrous alloys. However, with new advances in composites, additive manufacturing, tribology and surface engineering, the science and art of thermal processing has taken on a vital importance to the high performance requirements of performance, cost and quality.
"Thermal processing is an important emerging field, and this conference will bring together the brightest minds in this industry to talk about how we advance the field," says Scott Mackenzie, PhD, FASM, Conference Chairman. "It will provide a platform where practioners and researchers can convene while enjoying the warm hospitality of Southern Georgia."
Now in its 23rd year, the Conference will cover the overall development of technologies in Thermal Processing and Surface Engineering, with particular focus on the following topics:
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Advances in Thermal Processing and Emerging Technologies
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Thermo-chemical Treatment (Carburizing, Nitriding, Nitro-carburizing...), including vacuum applications of Low Pressure and High Pressure Carburizing
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Tribology and Wear of Engineered Surfaces, including the nano-mechanical properties/behavior of surface engineered system
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Computational Metallurgy and Materials for new alloy design or performance
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Finite Element Analysis (FEA) for prediction of stresses and microstructure in ferrous and non-ferrous materials
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Computational Fluid Dynamics as applied to thermal processing, such as furnace design or quenchant uniformity
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Thermal Processing of Ferrous and Non-Ferrous alloys, and Superalloys
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Thermo-Mechanical Simulation, Treatments and Implementation (Forging, Cutting, Forming, Shaping, Drawing), including Surface Engineering
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And much more
See full list of topics
Prospective authors wishing to present papers are invited to submit a tentative title and an abstract of about 300 words (in English) to the Organizing Committee.
SUBMIT YOUR ABSTRACT
Submission deadline is September 30, 2015.
Call for papers submission is now open.
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Oxford Instruments introduces two new handheld XRF analyzers
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Oxford Instruments, U.K., has added two new models to its X-Met8000 series of handheld XRF analyzers: the X-Met8000 Optimum and X-Met8000 Smart. They reportedly enable reliable, uninterrupted metals analysis for rapid alloy identification in power generation, manufacturing, scrap metal processing/recycling, and precious metals facilities. The two new models join the X-Met8000 Expert, which has been available since September 2014.
The X-Met8000 may be used for a full working day of 10 to 12 hours without changing the battery, maximizing uptime. Due to its ergonomic design, the X-Met8000 is perfectly balanced and lightweight at only 1.5 kg (3.3 lb).
The X-Met8000 range of analyzers has been designed to cover all analysis needs and budgets. The entry level Smart analyzer is ideal for routine, rapid testing of common alloys. The mid-range X-Met8000 Optimum model is optimized for high-speed sorting and analysis of alloys from aluminum to bronze to stainless steel, etc.
The top-of-the-range X-Met8000 Expert provides ultimate performance for the testing of the widest variety of alloys; with superior analysis of light elements (Mg, Al, Si, P and S), tramp, and trace elements.
All three models are fitted with a large-area SDD (silicon drift detector) and high performance X-ray tube, delivering exceptional speed and superior performance.
Clear functional icons on the large (11-cm/4.3-in.) integrated LCD touchscreen make the instrument simple and quick to use, even in direct sunlight and when the operator is wearing gloves. The flexible and easily customizable results screen means that only relevant information is displayed, ensuring the decision-making process is always optimized.
Designed with low cost of ownership in mind, all three models are manufactured with a rugged enclosure and are IP54 (equivalent to NEMA 3) compliant, meaning they can withstand the harshest working environments. The X-Met8000 Smart is fitted with a robust, thick Kapton window, and an optional shield is available for the X-Met8000 Optimum and X-Met8000 Expert, both preventing detector and X-ray tube damage when testing small components and sharp objects.
www.oxford-instruments.com/x-met8000
Oxford Instruments, U.K., has added two new models to its X-Met8000 series of handheld XRF analyzers: the X-Met8000 Optimum and X-Met8000 Smart.
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SSAB launches Strenx brand for high-strength steels
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SSAB, Stockholm, has launched Strenx, a new high-strength structural steel product brand that includes Optim, Weldox, and Domex steels that are well-known trademarks of SSAB and the former Ruukki. Strenx is well-suited for agriculture, the frames of heavy mobile machines, rolling stock, offshore, and construction sectors.
Strenx features the world's widest choice of high-strength structural steels, in terms of both strength and dimensional range. Yield strengths range from 600 MPa to 1300 MPa, which is the strongest steel available on the market. Strenx is available in plate, strip and tubular products in thicknesses ranging from 0.7 mm to 160 mm.
Strenx is designed for sectors where structural strength and weight savings are key competitive factors, especially in the lifting, handling, and transportation industry. Now customers will be able to design more competitive and sustainable products – cranes that reach farther, trailers that carry more payload, trucks that use less fuel.
"Strenx embodies over 50 years of experience in high-strength steels," says Gregoire Parenty, Head of Market Development at SSAB. "We give full support to designers and customers to help them upgrade to Strenx. By sharing our in-depth experience and wide knowledge of steel we can guarantee the best results for end-product performance."
Strenx comes with guaranteed product consistency, services to help customers, and permanent assistance to enhance end-product performance.
www.strenx.com
SSAB, Stockholm, has launched Strenx, a new high-strength structural steel product brand that includes Optim, Weldox, and Domex steels that are well-known trademarks of SSAB and the former Ruukki.
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Timken opens gear drive manufacturing facility in Houston
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The Timken Co., North Canton, Ohio, has opened a new 27,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art gear drive manufacturing facility in Houston. An integral part of the Timken Power Systems group, the new plant will significantly improve production efficiencies in the manufacture of Philadelphia Gear brand high-speed drives. To meet growing demand, Timken Power Systems equipped the facility with two 5-axis machines that employ gear milling technology instead of the traditional hobbing process.
These machines can carry out up to six different operations for producing helical gears, shafts, and pinions from raw material, with the potential to reduce the OE production cycle by weeks.
"The gear milling process, for example, can reduce pure machine time of a standard-sized gear from 110 hours to 25 hours," said Boyd Swearingen, general manager of the new facility, as well as Timken Power Systems' business in the Gulf Coast, Latin American and Middle East regions. The milled gear teeth are finish ground on a traditional Hofler form grinder to achieve the required AGMA 14 quality level of Philadelphia Gear drives. Before shipment, each gearbox then undergoes a full-speed no-load spin test that measures sound levels, temperatures and vibration.
"This investment represents our commitment to meet the growing demands of our energy-market customers," said Carl Rapp, vice president of Timken Power Systems. "The new facility will be able to supply customers in the power generation, oil and gas, refining and pumping industries with reliable, high-speed gearboxes to keep their pumps, compressors and generators running in some of the most challenging operating environments in the world. While low oil prices represent a near-term challenge to the industry, we expect sales for our new high-speed gear drives to continue to grow over the coming years."
Mr. Swearingen noted that in addition to the state-of-the-art equipment, the Houston facility is unique for a gear shop and incorporates ergonomic safeguards in the assembly area. "It's a very clean plant, not what you typically think of as a gear shop," Swearingen said. "In addition to the machinery being totally enclosed and EPA-compliant, all the electrical and plumbing are buried within the foundation to remove hazards and enhance the aesthetics of the facility."
www.timken.com
The Timken Co., North Canton, Ohio, has opened a new 27,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art gear drive manufacturing facility in Houston.
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Lucifer Furnaces delivers heat treating system to precision tool company
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Lucifer Furnaces, Warrington, Pa., announces that it has delivered an air recirculating oven, a salt bath pot furnace, and a quench tank to Vermont Custom Gage LLC, a subsidiary of Vermont Precision Tools Inc., Swanton Vt. The new equipment will be used in the production of small steel component parts of its measuring (gage) equipment.
The oven, a 4000 series model 48-R36 with working dimensions of 24x24x36 inches, heats to 800°F and will be used for tempering. It is insulated with 6.5-in. multi-layered lightweight firebrick and block insulation, and a roof lined with ceramic fiber modules. The oven features a stainless steel liner that isolates the workload from the heating elements and directs airflow in a horizontal pattern.
A high CFM fan assembly mounted through the oven rear wall circulates air over heating elements and back through the work chamber. The horizontal swing door is mounted with heavy duty hinges, 6 inches of insulation, and two cam latches for a secure seal. After pre-heating, parts will be loaded into the salt pot furnace, model 2055-1624, and then oil quenched in a Lucifer Quench Tank, QT-2020, complete with air mixer, heater and soak timer.
Next, the tools will be loaded into the 4000 series, model 48-R36 oven to be held at a constant temperature over a period of time to stabilize the structure of the steel.
www.luciferfurnaces.com
Lucifer Furnaces, Warrington, Pa., announces that it has delivered an air recirculating oven, a salt bath pot furnace, and a quench tank to Vermont Custom Gage LLC, a subsidiary of Vermont Precision Tools Inc., Swanton Vt.
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