Oerlikon invests $55 million in new R&D and AM production facility in North Carolina
June 7, 2019 Source: ASM International
Oerlikon, Switzerland, has opened a $55 million Innovation Hub & Advanced Component Production facility in Huntersville, North Carolina, as part of its ongoing U.S. growth strategy.
Continue readingRussian scientists dope aluminum with nickel and lanthanum to raise strength and ductility
Source:
Scientists from the National University of Science and Technology (MISIS), Russia, report that they have found a simple and efficient way of strengthening aluminum-based composite materials. Doping aluminum melt with nickel and lanthanum, scientists managed to create a material combining benefits of both composite materials and standard alloys: flexibility, strength, and lightness.
Scientists from NUST MISIS scientific school "Phase Transitions and Development of Non-Ferrous Alloys" created a new strong Al-Ni-La composite for aircraft and automobile industry. Doping elements were added to the aluminum melt, forming special chemical compounds that further formed strong reinforcing structure.
"Our research group, led by Professor Nikolai Belov, has worked on the creation of aluminum-based composites for many years,†says Torgom Akopyan, a researcher at NUST MISIS Department of Metal Forming. “The aluminum-based composite material contains more than 15% by volume of doping elements. A feature of the new development is the high reinforcing ability of the chemical compounds with ultrafine structure: the diameter of the reinforcing elements does not exceed several tens of nanometers.â€
This development solves the problem of non-uniform reinforcement and low density of "powder" composites: if a melting technique is used, after Al-Ni-La crystallization the diameter of doping particles does not exceed 30-70 nanometers. Thanks to "natural" crystallization, particles are distributed uniformly, forming a reinforcing structure. Hence, the composite becomes stronger and more flexible than its powder analogues.
Due to the peculiarities of the structure formation, the proposed material can be used for the manufacture of complex parts via 3-D printing. In addition, new developments may be of strategic importance from an economic point of view. At the moment, the main share of profit in the aluminum industry in Russia is the export of primary aluminum. The creation of new high-tech developments with increased added value will increase profits by expanding domestic and foreign markets for aluminum consumption.
An article on the research was published in Materials Letters. T.K. Akopyan et al, “New in-situ Al matrix composites based on Al-Ni-La eutectic,†Materials Letters (2019). DOI: 10.1016/j.matlet.2019.02.112
https://en.misis.ru/university/news/
Scientists from the National University of Science and Technology (MISIS), Russia, report that they have found a simple and efficient way of strengthening aluminum-based composite materials.
Continue readingATI to sell titanium investment castings business to Consolidated Precision Products
Source: ASM International
Allegheny Technologies Inc., Pittsburgh, announces that it has reached a definitive agreement to sell its Cast Products business to Consolidated Precision Products Corp. (CPP) of Cleveland, which operates 16 global facilities manufacturing products primarily for the aerospace, defense, and industrial industries.
Continue readingComposite steel foam stops 50-caliber rounds as well as solid steel at half the weight
Source:
North Carolina State University, Raleigh, announces its researchers have demonstrated that a steel composite metal foam can stop armor-piercing 50-caliber rounds as well as conventional steel armor, even though it weighs less than half as much.
Composite metal foam (CMF) consists of hollow metallic spheres made of materials such as stainless steel or titanium that are embedded in a metallic matrix made of steel, titanium, aluminum, or another metallic alloy. This can be made by bubbling gas through molten metal to produce a frothy mixture, which can then be cooled to form a lightweight matrix and embedded with hollow metallic spheres. The result is a material much lighter than conventional metals but with comparable strength. In this study, the researchers fabricated a composite in which both the spheres and the matrix were made of steel.
For the study, researchers manufactured a hard armor system consisting of a ceramic faceplate, a CMF core, and a thin back plate made of aluminum. The armor was tested using 50-caliber ball and armor-piercing rounds. The rounds were fired at impact velocities from 500 up to 885 meters per second.
The CMF layer of the armor was able to absorb 72 to 75% of the kinetic energy of the ball rounds, and 68 to 78% of the kinetic energy of the armor-piercing rounds. "We could stop the bullet at a total thickness of less than an inch, while the indentation on the back was less than 8 millimeters," says Afsaneh Rabiei, a professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering at NC State.
https://news.ncsu.edu/2019/06/metal-foam-stops-50-caliber/
North Carolina State University, Raleigh, announces that its researchers have demonstrated that a steel composite metal foam can stop armor-piercing 50-caliber rounds as well as conventional steel armor, even though it weighs less than half as much.
Continue readingGeorge Krauss to present Keynote Session at ASM International’s Heat Treat 2019
May 30, 2019 Source:
George Krauss, University Emeritus Professor at the Colorado School of Mines in Golden, is to present the keynote session at Heat Treat 2019 in Detroit. He will discuss Heat Treated Carbon Steels: Great Versatility, Excellent Performance, but Beware of Embrittlements.
Low-alloy carbon steels quenched to martensite and tempered, provide many excellent combinations of strength and fracture resistance, depending on carbon content and tempering temperature. Heat treated microstructures that enable strain hardening to eventual ductile fracture provide outstanding performance. Hardness, which is a good quality control measure, correlates well with ultimate tensile strength.
However, there are chemical and tempering factors that cause the development of microstructures for which the hardness/ultimate tensile strength correlation breaks down, caused by what are termed “embrittlement phenomena.â€
This presentation will address embrittlement phenomena that cause brittle intergranular fracture between prior austenite grains, namely quench embrittlement, tempered martensite embrittlement, temper embrittlement, and hydrogen embrittlement. The microstructural components and conditions that produce good mechanical performance and those that reduce performance by intergranular fracture will be discussed.
George Krauss, University Emeritus Professor at the Colorado School of Mines in Golden, is to present the keynote session at Heat Treat 2019 in Detroit. He will discuss Heat Treated Carbon Steels: Great Versatility, Excellent Performance, but Beware of Embrittlements.
Continue readingWisconsin Oven’s soluble mandrel curing oven quickly heats 8000 pounds of steel to 350°F
Source:
Wisconsin Oven, East Troy, has built an electrically heated soluble mandrel curing oven in which 8000 pounds of steel and 20,000 pounds of soluble material are heated from 80° to 350°F at an average rate of 0.1°F per minute. To maximize heating rates and temperature uniformity of the product, horizontal and vertical upward airflow are featured in this oven.
Shipped to a manufacturer in the aerospace industry, the curing oven has a maximum oven operating temperature of 400°F and work chamber dimensions of 12 x 12 x 20 feet. Guaranteed temperature uniformity of ±10°F at set points 150°, 200°, 250°, 300°, 350°, and 400°F was documented with a fifteen-point temperature uniformity survey in an empty oven chamber under static operating conditions.
The oven features a Eurotherm 6100A paperless digital recorder with a 5.5-inch graphic touch screen display and Ethernet communication capabilities. It includes a 576 kW heat input with SCR power control and a digital Eurotherm 3504 temperature controller
“Our ability to customize our standard lines of equipment is part of the reason we have so many repeat customers,†says Nick Toci, Sales Engineer. “They know that we will be able to meet all of their requirements and that our quality and customer service is unbeatable.â€
Wisconsin Oven, East Troy, has built an electrically heated soluble mandrel curing oven in which 8000 pounds of steel and 20,000 pounds of soluble material are heated from 80° to 350°F at an average rate of 0.1°F per minute.
Continue readingRetech supplies vacuum induction melting systems to Siemens for casting turbine blades
May 29, 2019 Source:
Retech Systems LLC, a subsidiary of Seco Warwick Group, Meadville, Pa., announces that two of its furnace systems have been installed at a new Siemens Power and Gas plant. These include a vacuum induction melting directional solidification/single crystal/equiax pitless (VIM DS/SC/EQ) combo casting furnace; and a vacuum induction melting directional solidification /single crystal (DS/SC) solidification casting furnace system.
Pitless DS/SC furnaces are said to greatly reduce or eliminate costs, time, disruptions to facility production, and confined space entry to pits required with the installation of the new Pitless VIM furnaces at the facility.
“The melting systems that Retech is delivering to Siemens incorporate industry-leading special design features,†says Earl Good, VP – Global Vacuum Melting Managing Director, Retech Systems LLC. “These include vacuum induction melting; a reliable and maintenance friendly design ideal for faster and more flexible operation; superb process control for repeatability and high yields; and Retech’s new pitless mold elevator that can be utilized on directional solidification/single crystal furnaces.â€
Retech Systems LLC, a subsidiary of Seco Warwick Group, Meadville, Pa., announces that two of its furnace systems have been installed at a new Siemens Power and Gas plant.
Continue readingNitrex enables heat treater to add nitriding, nitrocarburizing, and oxidation treatments
May 28, 2019 Source:
Nitrex Metal, Montreal, announces that Italian heat treater GalvanoTechnik has expanded its surface treatment services portfolio to include Nitreg controlled nitriding, Nitreg-C nitrocarburizing, and ONC in-process oxidation treatments.
The company invested in a compact Nitrex system, model NXK-609, configured to process workloads that are 23.5 inches in diameter by 35.5 inches high that weigh up to 1300 pounds. The system complies with the temperature uniformity requirements of AMS 2750E. It also meets specifications ASM 2759/10, which make it possible to consistently achieve the required metallurgical and mechanical properties for controlled nitriding. Other advantages of the NXK series include a reduced footprint and a system configuration that combines three process technologies into one platform.
The move to add nitriding and nitrocarburizing to its portfolio was the result of GalvanoTechnik engaging in deeper dialogue with its customers and identifying these new needs. Applications range from firearms components, such as magazines and barrels, to automotive components, with recipes tailored to meet the exact requirements of each part.
Working with GalvanoTechnik, the Nitrex Research & Technology team designed and tested process recipes to find the right match. All control recipes are stored to the Nitrex system process library, and the operator simply selects the process for the specific application. The control system then takes over, automatically monitoring and adjusting parameters such as time, temperature, atmosphere composition, Kn nitriding potential, and many more.
Nitrex Metal, Montreal, announces that Italian heat treater GalvanoTechnik has expanded its surface treatment services portfolio to include Nitreg controlled nitriding, Nitreg-C nitrocarburizing, and ONC in-process oxidation treatments.
Continue readingOne Minute Mentor: Stress relieving ductile iron
May 27, 2019 Source:
When not otherwise heat treated, complex engineering castings of ductile iron may be stress relieved at 510 to 675°C (950 to 1250°F). Temperatures at the lower end of this range are satisfactory for many applications; temperatures at the higher end will eliminate virtually all residual stress, but also will effect some reduction in hardness and tensile strength.
Recommended ranges of stress-relieving temperatures for various types of ductile iron are as follows:
Unalloyed: 510 to 565°C (950 to 1050°F)
Low-alloy: 565 to 595°C (1050 to 1100°F)
High-alloy: 595 to 650°C (1100 to 1200°F)
Austenitic: 620 to 675°C (1150 to 1250°F)
The Figure 25 graph shows the stress relief obtained in ductile iron held at three temperatures for half an hour to eight hours. Initial hardness was 102 to 103 HRB. Hardness after holding at 1000, 1100, and 1200°F for eight hours, was 102 to 104; 101 to 103; and 90 to 93 HRB respectively.
The required time at temperature will depend on the temperature, the complexity of the casting, and the completeness of stress relief needed. However, one hour, plus one hour per inch of section thickness, is the recommended general practice.
Cooling should be uniform to avoid reintroducing stresses. Castings should be furnace-cooled to 290°C (550°F), after which they can be air cooled. In most instances, however, austenitic iron can be uniformly air cooled from the stress-relieving temperature.
Adapted from: K. Hayrynen, Heat Treating and Properties of Ductile Iron, Heat Treating of Irons and Steels, Vol 4D, ASM Handbook, ASM International, 2014, p 508–521. https://doi.org/10.31399/asm.hb.v04d.a0005937
For more information on this topic, visit the article via the link shown below, (subscription required), scroll down the Chapter Contents column on the left, and click on Stress Relieving of Ductile Iron.
When not otherwise heat treated, complex engineering castings of ductile iron may be stress relieved at 510 to 675°C (950 to 1250°F).
Continue readingCarpenter Technology announces formation of additive manufacturing business unit
May 24, 2019 Source:
Carpenter Technology Corp., Philadelphia, announces the formation of a Carpenter Additive business unit, with capabilities that span the entire additive manufacturing process. These include highly engineered, gas atomized powders; Metal powder lifecycle management solutions; Finished component production; and Industrial-scale AM and full post-processing. Integrated AM and R&D facilities are focused on innovation and technical solutions.
“From powder production to manufacturing and finishing parts, the full spectrum of our capabilities is what differentiates Carpenter Additive from the rest of the AM industry,†said Chief Executive Officer Tony R. Thene. “We are revolutionizing how customers approach this disruptive technology by offering end-to-end solutions through an array of technical expertise, powder production, parts production, and material lifecycle management. Carpenter Additive is working with our customers and driving industry-wide change.â€
Carpenter Technology Corp., Philadelphia, announces the formation of a Carpenter Additive business unit, with capabilities that span the entire additive manufacturing process.
Continue reading