Air Products to build large-scale air separation unit to produce nitrogen, oxygen, argon
December 31, 2018
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Air Products, Lehigh Valley, Pa., announces plans to build, own, and operate a new air separation unit in the Twin Cities area of Minnesota. The large-scale facility, scheduled to be onstream in early-to-mid-2020, will provide reliable liquid industrial gas options for local customers and distributors in the region.
The new ASU will produce liquid nitrogen, oxygen, and argon, allowing Air Products to strengthen and grow its presence in a dynamic geography. “Air Products has supplied customers in Minnesota and the surrounding region with both onsite gases and merchant liquid for decades. This investment shows further commitment to our customers in the Midwest region, will expand our ability to serve the greater area, and will provide reliable product to supply new customers as well,†said Francesco Maione, Air Products vice president, Northern Region, Americas.
Air Products currently owns and operates over 300 air separation plants in over 40 countries worldwide. In addition to its plants, the company has sold, designed and built more than 2,000 air separation units globally. Air Products’ cryogenic offerings span plants with a capability of 50 tons per day (TPD) to single train facilities with oxygen production capacities beyond 4,000 TPD.
www.airproducts.com
Air Products, Lehigh Valley, Pa., announces plans to build, own, and operate a new air separation unit in the Twin Cities area of Minnesota. The large-scale facility, scheduled to be onstream in early-to-mid-2020, will provide reliable liquid industrial gas options for local customers and distributors in the region.
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Mettech launches NanoFeed nanopowder suspension feeders for thermal spray torches
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Northwest Mettech, Vancouver, announces that its NanoFeed line of liquid and suspension feeders for the thermal spray industry has been developed to enable delivery of submicron powders to thermal spray torches. The powders are homogenously suspended in an easy-to-transport liquid medium, which is then delivered to the torch with a precisely controlled rate. Nanofeed units are available either standalone or integrated with a spray system.
Integration of Mettech's Axial III plasma system with a NanoFeed suspension delivery device resulted in new technology, Axial III Suspension Plasma Spray (SPS). Axial III SPS is capable of producing a large variety of unique nanostructured coatings with characteristics completely different from those deposited from powders of the same chemistry.
Uniqueness of Axial III SPS derives from its axial injection principle. This form of injection is the only one that allows nano-size (<1µm) particles and droplets to enter the plasma plume.
One family of coatings where Axial III SPS has proven to be a viable alternative to existing technologies are thermal barrier coatings (TBCs) for high-temperature turbine components.
High end TBCs are generally produced by slow and very expensive vacuum process called electron beam physical vapor deposition (EB-PVD). Low end TBCs are thermally sprayed in atmosphere in the process called Atmospheric Plasma Spraying (APS). Axial III SPS produces TBCs with equivalent properties to that of EB-PVD coatings, but at much lower operating and capital costs, whereas Axial III APS can economically do the low end ones. Other areas of interest that can benefit from Axial III SPS are nano-ceramics and nano-cermets for power generation, fuel cells, and electronics.
www.mettech.com
Northwest Mettech, Vancouver, announces that its NanoFeed line of liquid and suspension feeders for the thermal spray industry has been developed to enable delivery of submicron powders to thermal spray torches.
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SSPC, AWS, NACE announce Public Review Period for revised thermal spray standard
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The Society for Protective Coatings, the American Welding Society, and NACE International announce a public review period for its proposed Joint Standard/Standard Practice, “Specification for the Application of Thermal Spray Coatings (Metallizing) of Aluminum, Zinc, and Their Alloys and Composites for the Corrosion Protection of Steel.â€
Draft #1 of a proposed revision to this joint standard (SSPC-CS 23.00/AWS C.2.23/NACE No. 12), is being issued for consensus committee ballot by SSPC, NACE, and AWS in early January 2019.
Interested stakeholders (especially those in the “general interest†category who neither apply nor specify thermal spray coatings) may contact Aimée Beggs, Standards Development Specialist, at [email protected] (phone 412-288-6042) to obtain a copy of the draft for review purposes.
This SSPC/AWS/NACE joint standard contains requirements for best industry practice in the application of zinc and aluminum alloys to steel substrates for the preservation and maintenance of steel structures and components. It also may be used by thermal spray coating inspectors to assess the quality of surface preparation and coating application, and by thermal spray contractors to develop project work plans.
Comments should be received no later than March 1, 2019, and should be sent to [email protected], using “Draft #1 SSPC/AWS/NACE Thermal Spray Standard 2019â€as the subject line for the e-mail.
The Society for Protective Coatings, the American Welding Society, and NACE International announce a public review period for its proposed Joint Standard/Standard Practice, “Specification for the Application of Thermal Spray Coatings (Metallizing) of Aluminum, Zinc, and Their Alloys and Composites for the Corrosion Protection of Steel.”
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Buehler introduces programmable AutoMet grinder-polishers with intuitive touch screen
December 28, 2018
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Buehler, an ITW company, Lake Bluff, Ill., introduces the AutoMet family, semi-automatic grinder-polishers with advanced programming features such as method storage and z-axis material removal to ensure consistent results regardless of operator.
The AutoMet 250, AutoMet 250 Pro, and AutoMet 300 Pro grinder-polishers are ideal for customers in material testing or demanding environments who need to process a high volume of samples. They feature a brand new intuitive touch screen interface that is simple to learn and quick to operate. The AutoMet Pro models also include advanced programming features such as method storage and z-axis material removal to ensure consistent results regardless of operator.
The AutoMet supports complex lab applications and is also ideal for high throughput labs, especially in the automobile, aerospace, medical device, electronics, heat treat, metals, and other manufacturing industries.
Buehler’s non-programmable AutoMet 250 Grinder-Polisher offers push-button controls and digital readouts. All AutoMet models have been redesigned for a new look and feel, while retaining the reliability that comes with the Buehler name. Quick cleaning features like an adjustable water spout, 360-degree bowl rinse, and bowl liners save time and effort during daily cleaning.
Automation can be further improved by integrating the Burst Dispensing System, which also optimizes abrasive usage to save on consumables. Another new highlight of the AutoMet grinder-polishers is “Rinse and Spin,†which cleans polishing surfaces and the platen at the press of a button. Buehler also offers a complete line of compatible accessories (splash guard, recirculation tank, disposable bowl liner and more) and consumables (silicon carbide grinding discs, diamond grinding discs, polishing cloths and diamond suspensions and pastes) that are available in the online shop.
www.buehler.com
Buehler, an ITW company, Lake Bluff, Ill., introduces the AutoMet family, semi-automatic grinder-polishers with advanced programming features such as method storage and z-axis material removal to ensure consistent results regardless of operator.
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JSW USA restarts electric arc furnace, casts steel slab in Ohio steel mill closed for ten years
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JSW USA, Baytown, Texas, announces that it has restarted the electric arc furnace at its mill in Mingo Junction, Ohio, casting the first steel slab on December 14 after being closed for 3545 days. The reopening of the mill is expected to create 1000 jobs.
Mingo Junction is now the largest Connsteel Tenova EAF in North America. The first slab was cast on December 14, 2018. Now that the facility will be melting its own steel, JSW USA will be more cost-effective, ensuring the highest quality for customers in 2019.
Looking forward, JSW USA is already in the design process to install another EAF in Ohio. At the mill in Baytown, equipment is coming from all over the world to make JSW 100% melt and manufacture in approximately 18 to 24 months. As JSW works toward its goal of being completely melt and manufacture, the company has filed for a limited duration exclusion on the import of 10-inch and 12-inch slabs and API grades of steel that are not available in the United States. However, three U.S. mills have filed objections to the requests for exclusion. The U.S. Department of Commerce has not yet made a decision. Once the company completes both of the EAFs in Ohio and a third in Texas, JSW USA will become a three-million-ton flat rolled mill, a one-million-ton plate mill, and a 500,000-ton pipe mill.
According to John Hritz, President and CEO of JSW USA, “When all is said and done, JSW USA will be producing the highest quality, lowest-cost steel products in the country, whether made in Texas or in Ohio. This is all about installing the best technology in the world here in the United States and creating secure jobs for decades to come in our industry.â€
www.jswsteel.com
JSW USA, Baytown, Texas, announces that it has restarted the electric arc furnace at its mill in Mingo Junction, Ohio, casting the first steel slab on December 14 after being closed for 3545 days.
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Optomec acquires Huffman for its metal 3D printing systems for jet engine repair
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Optomec, Albuquerque, N.M., has acquired Huffman, the established leader in supplying 3D metal printing systems for additive repair of gas turbine components in the energy and aviation markets. Manufacturers of aircraft engines and industrial gas turbines use its metal deposition capabilities to restore worn or damaged components at substantially lower cost than new spare parts.
“Having used products from both companies, I know the complementary strengths of their portfolios and the value they provide to aerospace, defense, and power generation customers,†says Christopher E. Thompson, general manager product service, GE Power. “Optomec’s innovative and affordable solutions in this space, combined with the robust, production-friendly equipment, and intuitive user interfaces provided by Huffman, are sure to enable new leaps in free-form additive manufacturing for repairs, new part build, and hybrid manufacturing.â€
Both Optomec and Huffman deliver a form of metal 3D printing that is known as Directed Energy Deposition (DED; tradename LENS). LENS has distinct advantages over the more widely-known form of metal printing referred to as powder bed fusion (PBF), or selective laser melting (SLM). In particular, LENS is able to print full parts at a fraction of the time and cost of PBF/SLM, yet with better material and mechanical properties. Additionally, LENS is uniquely able to add metal to existing parts for repair and coating applications that extend the useful life of components.
http://optomec.com
Optomec, Albuquerque, N.M., has acquired Huffman, the established leader in supplying 3D metal printing systems for additive repair of gas turbine components in the energy and aviation markets.
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Advantest develops test capabilities for 5G medical devices, mobile electronics
December 15, 2018
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Advantest Corp., Tokyo, has developed advanced test solutions that enable 5G connectivity for such diverse applications as mobile electronics, medical devices, automotive systems, retail business, and big data.
“The product portfolio that we have – and are continuing to develop – is designed to meet the global market’s requirements for 5G in applications from next-gen smart phones to connected cars,†says Judy Davies, Advantest’s vice president of global marketing communications.
Wave Scale RF and Wave Scale MX cards help to create paths for testing 5G devices by delivering high-efficiency test solutions for the ICs used in both today’s and emerging LTE, LTE-Advanced, and LTE-A Pro smart phones, as well as LTE-M, WLAN, GPS, ZigBee, Bluetooth and IoT applications. The cards’ advanced architectures allow for highly parallel testing of multiple communication standards or multiple paths within each device, resulting in high multi-site efficiency and a much lower cost of test.
The company has announced eight new systems and enhancements the past year. These include three new members of the B6700 product family of burn-in memory testers: models B6700D, -S and –L, which are designed to boost parallel testing capacity and lower the cost of test for NAND flash devices.
www.advantest.com
Advantest Corp., Tokyo, has developed advanced test solutions that enable 5G connectivity for such diverse applications as mobile electronics, medical devices, automotive systems, retail business, and big data.
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Ford’s $45 million Advanced Manufacturing Center has 23 additive manufacturing machines
December 14, 2018
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Ford Motor Co., Dearborn, Mich., announces that it has opened an Advanced Manufacturing Center dedicated to developing advanced technologies for improving the company’s approach to building cars and trucks. The $45 million complex houses 100 experts working on integration strategies for various cutting-edge manufacturing technologies, including 3D printing, augmented reality and virtual reality robotics, and digital manufacturing.
It features 23 additive manufacturing machines, and Ford is working with ten AM manufacturing companies to develop applications with a range of different materials, from nylon powder to sand to carbon. One application currently under development has the potential to save the company more than $2 million.
The soon-to-be-released Ford Shelby Mustang GT500 features two 3D-printed brake parts, while the F-150 Raptor includes a 3D-printed interior part. The company believes that as this technology becomes more economical, the use of such parts will become more and more prevalent. Assembly line workers at the Michigan Assembly Plant, where Ford builds the Ranger pickup, use five different 3D-printed tools that played a critical role in the launch of the Ranger. In fact, the company says that these tools knocked off weeks from an already tight timeline.
Engineers are working on augmented and virtual reality to help in simulating and designing assembly lines. With specialized gaming equipment, engineers can configure a virtual reality production line without leaving the center, allowing engineers to identify potentially unsafe processes and fine-tune workflows long before an assembly line is built.
AR and VR can also allow manufacturing teams to work collaboratively in facilities around the world, meaning employees on different continents could work in the same virtual space, at the same time.
https://media.ford.com/content/fordmedia/fna/us/en.html
Ford Motor Co., Dearborn, Mich., announces that it has opened an Advanced Manufacturing Center dedicated to developing advanced technologies for improving the company’s approach to building cars and trucks.
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Triumph to manufacture fuselage frames for Gulfstream aircraft via stretch forming
December 13, 2018
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Triumph Group Inc., Berwyn, Pa., announces the selection of its Aerospace Structures business by Gulfstream to manufacture a new order of fuselage frames for the Gulfstream G500 and G600 aircraft via stretch forming.
Under terms of the agreement, which will run through 2020, Triumph Fabrications in Hot Springs, Arkansas, will produce the fuselage frames with stretch-formed extrusions that will then be machined into final configurations. The contract continues a strong relationship with Gulfstream. In recent years, Triumph has also provided various wing, fuselage, and componentry for the Gulfstream G280/G450/G550/G650 programs.
As original equipment manufacturers such as Gulfstream transition away from hydroformed frames in favor of the newer stretch-form technology, Triumph’s expertise with this technique provides a viable option for aircraft manufacturers.
http://www.triumphgroup.com
Triumph Group, Inc., Berwyn, Pa., announces the selection of its Aerospace Structures business by Gulfstream to manufacture a new order of fuselage frames for the Gulfstream G500 and G600 aircraft via stretch forming
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Massive precipitation of nanoscale AlTi particles strengthens multiple-metal alloy
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City University of Hong Kong (CityU) researchers report that they have developed a novel strategy to design new high-strength alloys that are also ductile and flexible. The strategy overcomes the critical issues of the strength-ductility trade-off dilemma, paving the way for developing innovative structural materials in future.
Multiple-principal element alloys, generally referred as high-entropy alloys (HEAs), are designed with equal or nearly equal quantities of five or more metals. They are currently the focus of attention in materials science and engineering due to their potential for structural applications. Yet most of the alloys share the same key detrimental feature: the higher the strength, the less the ductility and toughness.
Recently, a research team led by Professor Liu Chain Tsuan, University Distinguished Professor of the Department of Materials Science and Engineering at CityU, has found a breakthrough solution to this daunting decades-long dilemma -- by making high-entropy alloys both strong and yet also very ductile through massive precipitation of nanoscale particles. The research has just been published in the latest issue of the journal Science, titled "Multicomponent intermetallic nanoparticles and superb mechanical behaviours of complex alloys."
"We are able to make a new high-entropy alloy called Al7Ti7 ((FeCoNi)86-Al7Ti7) with a superior strength of 1.5 GPa and ductility as high as 50% in tension at ambient temperature. Strengthened by nanoparticles, this new alloy is five times stronger than that of the iron-cobalt-nickel (FeCoNi)-based alloy," says Professor Liu.
"Most conventional alloys contain one or two major elements, such as nickel and iron to manufacture," he explains. "However, by adding additional elements of aluminum and titanium to form massive precipitation in the FeCoNi-based alloy, both the strength and the ductility have significantly increased, solving the critical issue of the trade-off dilemma for structural materials."
Moreover, high-strength alloys usually face plastic deformation instability, known as the necking problem, meaning that when the alloy is under high pressure, its deformation would become unstable and very easily lead to necking fracture (localized deformation) with very limited uniform elongation. But the team has further found that by adding "multicomponent intermetallic nanoparticles," meaning complex nanoparticles made of atoms of different elements, it can greatly strengthen the alloy uniformly by reducing the deformation instability.
And they have found the ideal formula for these complex nanoparticles, which consist of nickel, cobalt, iron, titanium, and aluminum atoms. Professor Liu explains that each nanoparticle measures 30 to 50 nm only. The iron and cobalt atoms, which replace some of the nickel atoms, help to reduce the valence electron density and improve the new alloy's ductility. On the other hand, replacing some of the aluminum with titanium largely reduces the impact of moisture in air, to avoid induced embrittlement.
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/11/181127092520.htm
City University of Hong Kong (CityU) researchers report that they have developed a novel strategy to design new high-strength alloys that are also ductile and flexible by causing massive precipitation of nanoscale particles.
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