Nitrex Metal improves nitriding results for Polish aluminum extrusion company
September 16, 2019
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Nitrex Metal Inc., Montreal, Quebec, has supplied a nitriding system to Hydro Extrusion Solutions, an aluminum extrusion company in Poland, to address the need for improved process performance and more accurate control of nitriding results. The Nitrex N-EXT 812 nitriding system replaces a decommissioned nitrider that was phased out several years ago due to extrusion die failures and inconsistent metallurgical results.
The delivered solution includes Nitreg technology, which consists of potential-controlled gas nitriding and Nitreg-C potential-controlled gas nitrocarburizing (ferritic nitrocarburizing-FNC). These technologies help to optimize parameters for maximum efficiency and quality, increasing die strength and extrusion throughput, while reducing the possibility of potential die failures.
Moreover, Nitreg contributes to cost savings from reduced consumption of process gases and energy savings from shorter process times. The N-EXT type furnace has chamber diameter of 31.5 inches and height of 47.25 inches, with a capacity to nitride a 2200-pound load.
Since the start of operations with the new nitriding installation, treated samples have been periodically assessed by an external QA service to validate the nitride quality, specification compliance, and reliability of the Nitreg process. As part of this testing program, Nitreg results have been consistently in compliance with Hydro’s quality standard.
www.nitrex.com
Nitrex Metal Inc., Montreal, Quebec, has supplied a nitriding system to Hydro Extrusion Solutions in Trzcianka, Poland, to address the need for improved process performance and more accurate control of nitriding results.
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One Minute Mentor: M50 bearing steels
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Bearings made of M50 have been used in jet-engine applications for many years. M50 is a secondary-hardening alloy typically tempered multiple times to achieve high hardness and dimensional stability. High-alloy, high-carbon steels are stabilized by tempering at temperatures 10 to 15 °C (20 to 30 °F) higher than their peak secondary-hardening temperature. Austenite is stabilized by alloy in solution. Carbides that form during secondary hardening deplete alloy in solution making the austenite susceptible to transformation during cooling and during additional tempering cycles
Figure 17 shows the dimensional stability of M50 aged at room temperature as a function of tempering temperature and number of tempering treatments. Tempering M50 five times shows an improvement over triple tempering.
Thermal cycling is another test used to quantify the stability of bearings. M50 thermal cycled from 20 to 260°C (68 to 500°F) 20 times, results in 23 and 15 micro-in./in. of growth for triple tempering at 510 and 525°C (950 and 975°F), respectively, but no difference between three and five tempers at 540°C (1000°F), for which the growth is only 2 to 3 micro-in./in. of growth (Ref 10).
For more information, click on the link below (subscription required), then scroll down the Chapter Contents column on the left of the page, and click on "Special Purpose Through-Hardening Bearing Steels."
https://dl.asminternational.org/handbooks/book/9/chapter/110017/Heat-Treatment-of-Bearing
M50 is a secondary-hardening alloy typically tempered multiple times to achieve high hardness and dimensional stability.
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Wear resistance of stainless steel said to increase by high-intensity implantation of ions
September 12, 2019
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Scientists from Tomsk Polytechnic University in Russia announce that they have developed a new method of ion implantation that improves the wear resistance of stainless steel by more than a hundred times through highly intensive implantation of ions with low energy.
TPU scientists have already experimentally confirmed the possibility of creating a doped surface layer with a depth of several hundred micrometers, compared to a depth only several tens or hundreds of nanometers for conventional methods. In addition, this technology reportedly makes it possible to manufacture details and products with specific surface properties. For example, a barrier layer is formed by ion doping of zirconium with titanium, thus preventing oxygen penetration. This can be used to increase the service life and safety of nuclear fuel cells.
According to Alexander Ryabchikov, the head of the Laboratory for Highly Intensive Ion Implantation, "We proposed to increase the ion penetration depth into the material by enhancing the radiation-induced diffusion with high-density ion beams that are two to three orders of magnitude superior to those used in traditional ion implantation.â€
https://news.tpu.ru/en/news/2019/09/04/35196/
Scientists from Tomsk Polytechnic University in Russia announce that they have developed a new method of ion implantation that improves the wear resistance of stainless steel by more than a hundred times through highly intensive implantation of ions with low energy.
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Digital Metal launches two binder-jet additively manufactured superalloys
September 11, 2019
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Digital Metal AB, Sweden, a Höganӓs Group company, announces that it is launching two binder-jet 3D-printed superalloys for applications in extreme environments: DM 247, a nickel-base superalloy, and DM 625, a nickel-chromium superalloy. The unique properties of Digital Metal’s binder jetting technology make it highly suitable for printing superalloys with near full density, including non-weldable grades.
Superalloys exhibit great strength and corrosion resistance even when subjected to high heat and stress. These properties make them especially suitable challenging applications such as aerospace, automotive, and chemical. However, so far it has been difficult to use non-weldable materials such as MAR M247 in 3D printing, where high solidification rates and thermal gradients are inherent.
Digital Metal’s unique binder jetting technology helps avoid most of these problems by printing in an ambient temperature without applying any heat, followed by a separate sintering step. During sintering densification takes place without melting and with minimal thermal gradients during cooling from sintering temperature.
The DM 247 is based on the non-weldable MAR M247, which is widely used as material for turbine blades and in other applications with elevated temperatures. The DM 625 is an Inconel 625-grade. Its application areas range from seawater applications and chemical processing equipment, to nuclear industry and aerospace.
“We have been receiving qualified requests for these materials from various large companies,†says Ralf Carlström, General Manager at Digital Metal. “Many producers within the aerospace and automotive business have long been anticipating high-quality superalloys that are suitable for 3D printing. Now we can offer them the perfect combination – our unique binder jetting technology and superalloys that are specially developed for our printers.â€
www.digitalmetal.tech
Digital Metal AB, Sweden, a Högan?s Group company, announces that it is launching two binder-jet 3D-printed superalloys for applications in extreme environments: DM 247, a nickel-base superalloy, and DM 625, a nickel-chromium superalloy.
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Advances in ion nitriding and nitrocarburizing based on advanced process controls
September 5, 2019
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Ralph Poor of Surface Combustion, Maumee, Ohio, will discuss “Advances in Ion Nitriding and Nitrocarburizing†at Heat Treat 2019 in Detroit in October. The ion nitriding process uses high voltage power operating in the 500 to 1000 volt DC range, often conducting hundreds of amps to power the process by activating the glow discharge. The glow discharge is capable of heating parts and ionizing the atmosphere to allow the process to operate.
This paper provides insight to ion nitriding and nitrocarburizing, and covers new advances, widening the range of applications for the plasma process. Many of the advances are in the form of advanced process control electronics and mass flow controllers for process gas flow. Most important are the newer high voltage power supply designs, which feature high-speed microprocessor arc detection technology. Mr. Poor will provide an overview of the process, and will present sample metallurgical results.
Ralph P. Poor, Surface Combustion Inc., Maumee, Ohio
www.surfacecombustion.com
Advances in Ion Nitriding and Nitrocarburizing
Tuesday, October 15, 2019: 10:40 AM
Heat Treat 2019 https://www.asminternational.org/web/heat-treat-2019
Ralph Poor of Surface Combustion, Maumee, Ohio, will discuss “Advances in Ion Nitriding and Nitrocarburizing” at Heat Treat 2019 in Detroit in October.
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One-Minute Mentor: Special Purpose Through-Hardening Bearing Steels
September 4, 2019
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Through-hardening bearing steels from the ASTM A295 and A485 families that are given a typical heat treatment, operate well up to the 120–135 °C (250–275 °F) service range. Other through-hardening bearing steels have been developed over the years for use in specialty applications in higher temperature service or in atmospheric corrosive environments.
Some of these steels and service environments in which they operate:
Tool steels
M50 (jet engines, other aerospace applications up to 430 °C (800 °F)
M62 (high temperature, high stress applications)
T5 and T15 (high temperature, high stress applications)
Corrosion-resistant steels
Cronidur 30 (high temperature, corrosive applications)
BG42 (high temperature, corrosive applications; stable to 430 °C, or 900 °F)
XD15NW (high temperature, corrosive applications)
Type 440C (ambient temperature atmospheric corrosion)
440 N-DUR (ambient temperature atmospheric corrosion)
These special purpose steels were modified and tailored for their respective service environments. Because several of them are used in aerospace applications, they are also subject to specialized melting practices, such as consumable electrode vacuum melting (CEVM) and vacuum induction melted-vacuum arc remelting (VIM-VAR), which provide very low-inclusion content microstructures.
These high cleanliness specialty steels must be heat treated with care as they still are subject to the previously described restrictions of air-melted through-hardening steels, and certain precautions must be taken during high hot-working temperatures and heat treating.
For more information, click on the link below (subscription required), then scroll down the Chapter Contents column on the left of the page, and click on "Special Purpose Through-Hardening Bearing Steels."
https://dl.asminternational.org/handbooks/book/9/chapter/110017/Heat-Treatment-of-Bearings
Through-hardening bearing steels from the ASTM A295 and A485 families that are given a typical heat treatment, operate well up to the 120–135 °C (250–275 °F) service range.
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Ipsen announces January class for heat treating equipment Field Service Engineers
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Ipsen USA, Cherry Valley, Ill., announces that its next Corporate Academy class for training Field Service Engineers will be held in January 2020, part of a fast-track development strategy to build a nationwide network.
Participants get 26 weeks of comprehensive classroom knowledge, hands-on troubleshooting experience, and on-the-job field training. Ipsen's expectation is that participants acquire expertise in servicing and maintaining furnace equipment.
"As the industry's leader in field support not only for Ipsen equipment, but also for all equipment brands, we understand the significance of having a robust pool of qualified specialists ready to engage with customers," said Patrick McKenna, President and CEO.
www.ipsenusa.com/about-us/ipsen-careers/ipsen-corporate-academy
Ipsen USA, Cherry Valley, Ill., announces that its next Corporate Academy class for training Field Service Engineers will be held in January 2020, part of a fast-track development strategy to build a nationwide network.
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Can-Eng Furnaces awarded contract for a rapid heating furnace for aluminum components
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Can-Eng Furnaces International Ltd., Niagara Falls, Ontario, was recently awarded a contract from a research organization for the supply of a rapid heating furnace for lightweight hot-stamped and formed aluminum automotive product development. This organization will integrate the aluminum sheet heating furnace with existing equipment to support both automotive manufacturers and Tier 1 suppliers throughout North America for the development of new safety-critical lightweight structural components.
Can-Eng was chosen for this project because it provides significant experience in development of lightweight, thin-walled automotive structural components. The result of this experience and collaboration provides the customer with a unique rapid heating furnace system that offers significant reduction in floor space requirements, flexibility for processing a wide range of product sizes, and flexible operating temperatures required for various stamped and formed products. The system will be fully integrated with flexible robotic handling and material handling automation.
www.can-eng.com
Can-Eng Furnaces International Ltd., Niagara Falls, Ontario, was recently awarded a contract from a research organization for the supply of a rapid heating furnace for lightweight hot-stamped and formed aluminum automotive product development.
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Seco Warwick 96-foot CAB line enables brazing a variety of parts and heat exchangers
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Seco Warwick, Meadville, Pa., announces that it has been selected to relocate a very large CAB line for a customer who purchased it with the intention of brazing its own heat exchangers. Built by Seco Warwick for another Houston OEM in 2005, the CAB line will be a first for Cold Shot Chillers, as they have not previously conducted furnace brazing in house.
The indexing CAB furnace has an overall load size of 48 inches by 100 inches. The entire line, which measures 96 feet, includes a wet spray fluxer with blow off, load table, dry off (dehydration) oven, entrance/purge chamber, convection furnace, atmosphere air cooling chamber, final air-blast cooling chamber, and final unloading table. In addition, there is a power panel, a control panel and an atmosphere scrubber.
The controlled atmosphere brazing (CAB) process heats a product to brazing temperatures while maintaining uniform temperatures within the product in an oxygen-free nitrogen atmosphere. The Seco Warwick design allows OEMs and aftermarket specialists the flexibility to produce a wide variety of sizes and types of heat exchangers on a daily basis. The Indexing solution allows a variety of parts to be brazed with no changes to the menus or furnace settings.
The Seco engineering team has the knowledge and experience to manage fleets of heat treating equipment in a planned and professional manner regardless of the equipment manufacturer. The solutions offered by the Group are universal because they are based on best practices.
www.secowarwick.com
Seco Warwick, Meadville, Pa., announces that it has been selected to relocate a very large CAB line for a customer who purchased it with the intention of brazing its own heat exchangers.
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Advances in microstructure and multilayer coatings support SPS cost reduction
September 3, 2019
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Marshall Sweet of Praxair Surface Technologies, Danbury, Conn., will present “Advances in Transition of SPS from the Lab to the Engine,†at the Thermal Spray of Suspensions and Solutions Symposium, September 17 and 18, in Boucherville, Quebec.
As the demand for aerospace coatings continues to accelerate, the interest in so-called “EBPVD replacement†coatings has also peaked. This has driven an ever-increasing volume of data supporting the use of suspension plasma spray (SPS) coatings for such applications.
In this talk, Mr. Sweet will address the challenges associated with the implementation of SPS thermal barrier and other coatings. He will discuss several advances in microstructure and multilayer coatings, in addition to progress in the deposition of these coatings in a time and cost-effective manner. He will specifically focus on addressing the challenges of coating toughness, CMAS resistance, and thermal conductivity as it relates to the application of SPS coatings on complex geometries.
Marshall Sweet, Praxair Surface Technologies
www.praxairsurfacetechnologies.com
Symposium website: https://www.asminternational.org/web/ts4e-2019/home
Marshall Sweet of Praxair Surface Technologies, Danbury, Conn., will present “Advances in Transition of SPS from the Lab to the Engine,” at the Thermal Spray of Suspensions and Solutions Symposium, September 17 and 18, in Boucherville, Quebec.
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