Can-Eng Furnaces awarded contract for austenitizing and molten salt quenching system
August 1, 2017
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Can-Eng Furnaces International Ltd., Niagara Falls, Ontario, has been awarded a contract to design and build a 1500 lb/hr mesh belt furnace system for the austenitizing and molten salt quenching of unique components for drivetrain systems. This contract was awarded by a repeat Mexico-based client who has purchased several Can-Eng multi-facility heat treatment lines.
The system incorporates several technological advancements for continuous atmosphere processing of products requiring carbon diffusion and quenching by a molten salt system. The new austempering system includes automated bin-dumping loading, mesh belt atmosphere hardening furnace, salt quench, post quench wash and rinse system, mesh belt temper oven, and endothermic gas generator.
This new project is a result of Can-Eng's commitment to its customer's success, years of teamwork, and mutual cooperation, yielding a custom engineering project integrating the customer's focused needs with Can-Eng's robust Continuous Mesh Belt Heat Treatment System technology.
The project is scheduled to be commissioned early 2018 in Mexico's centralized automotive manufacturing corridor. Can-Eng's mesh belt heat treatment design team continues to focus globally on the design and development of mesh belt heat treatment technology, servicing the increasingly stringent and demanding global automotive industry. These systems continue to lead the industry in up-time reliability, energy efficiency, and soft handling features.
www.can-eng.com
Can-Eng Furnaces International Ltd., Niagara Falls, Ontario, has been awarded a contract to design and build a 1500 lb/hr mesh belt furnace system for the austenitizing and molten salt quenching of unique components for world-class drivetrain systems.
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Women in Engineering Profile: Ursula Kattner
July 27, 2017
Source: ASM International
This profile series introduces leading materials scientists from around the world who happen to be females. Here we speak with Ursula Kattner, physical scientist at the National Institute of Standards and Technology and recipient of the 2016 J. Willard Gibbs Phase Equilibria Award.
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Women in engineering profile: Margaret Flury
Source: ASM International
This profile series introduces leading materials scientists from around the world who happen to be females. Here we speak with Margaret Flury, principal materials engineer at Medtronic.
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High-strength magnesium sheet with high formability features low-cost alloying metals
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Japan's National Institute for Materials Science and Nagaoka University of Technology announce development of a high-strength magnesium sheet alloy that has excellent formability comparable to that of the aluminum sheet currently used in body panels of some automobiles. The alloy is composed of only common metals, and is expected to be a low-cost lightweight sheet metal for automotive applications.
Magnesium alloys are roughly 75% lighter than steels and 33% lighter than aluminum alloys. However, virtually no magnesium alloys are used in automotive bodies because of their high processing cost originating from the poor formability and low strength of magnesium sheet alloys.
The research team recently developed a new age-hardenable magnesium alloy: Mg-1.1Al-0.3Ca-0.2Mn-0.3Zn, named AXMZ1000. The newly developed alloy has excellent room-temperature formability comparable to that of medium-strength aluminum alloys. In addition, the new alloy is 1.5 to 2.0 times stronger than the aluminum alloy.
The excellent formability was achieved by adding very small amounts of zinc and manganese, which led to the formation of fine grain structures. The high strength was achieved by adding aluminum and calcium, which induced the strengthening of the alloy by the formation of atomic clusters.
The newly developed alloy is composed of only common metals, so the material cost is not expensive. Also, it can be rolled into sheets by simple processes and heat treatments typical for aluminum alloys. The alloy overcomes the long-standing issues for magnesium namely, low strength and poor room temperature formability. As the processing cost of the new material is expected to be low, there is good potential for practical applications in automotive bodies or casing of notebook computers and cell phones.
This study was published in Scripta Materialia on June 16, 2017. M.Z. Bian et al. A heat-treatable Mg–Al–Ca–Mn–Zn sheet alloy with good room temperature formability, Scripta Materialia (2017). DOI: 10.1016/j.scriptamat.2017.05.034
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Japan’s National Institute for Materials Science and Nagaoka University of Technology announce development of a high-strength magnesium sheet alloy that has excellent formability comparable to that of the aluminum sheet currently used in body panels of some automobiles.
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Ipsen invests $1 million in heat-treat industry by offering $50,000 credits for Titan furnaces
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Ipsen, Cherry Valley, Ill., announces that it will offer a $50,000 credit toward the purchase of a new Titan vacuum furnace (applies to the 2017 list price of any Titan model) to any company that trades in its old furnace. Ipsen will accept a trade in of any brand heat-treating furnace (vacuum or atmosphere) in any condition. To receive this credit, transactions must take place by October 31, and the new Titan furnace must ship from Ipsen's facility by December 31, 2017. Ipsen offers this credit up to a total of $1,000,000.
The Titan vacuum furnace comes complete with PdMetrics, an advanced predictive maintenance software platform, and it incorporates years of customer feedback to deliver user-friendly features, all while maintaining a global platform, small footprint, and short delivery times.
Available in several sizes and horizontal or vertical configurations, the Titan provides powerful performance for both experienced and first-time heat treaters. It is Ipsen's hope that this investment results in future growth and innovations – for you, your customers, and the industry as a whole.
www.IpsenUSA.com/Invest.
Ipsen, Cherry Valley, Ill., announces that it will offer a $50,000 credit toward the purchase of a new Titan vacuum furnace (applies to the 2017 list price of any Titan model) to any company that trades in its old furnace.
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One MInute Mentor: X-Ray Diffraction Patterns in AISI 316
July 20, 2017
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The graph shows X-ray diffraction patterns of nitrided (and carburized) stainless steel AISI 316. Carburizing was carried out in 20% CO-80% H2 gas atmosphere at 515°C (788 K) for five hours. X-ray diffraction analysis corroborates that the nitrogen content is significantly higher in the sample nitrided at the highest nitriding potential. The 111 Bragg reflections (peaks) are shifted to lower scattering angles, where the largest shift is observed for the highest nitriding potential.
The peak shift is caused primarily by dissolution of nitrogen, leading to a dilation of the fcc lattice; residual stress and stacking faults also contribute. Peaks originating from the unexpanded austenite are visible in the sample nitrided at KN = 0.293, indicating that the γN zone is not as thick as for the samples nitrided at high potentials.
Volume 4D, Heat Treating of Irons and Steels ⇒ Heat Treated High-Alloy Steels ⇒ Low-Temperature Surface Hardening of Stainless Steel ⇒ Gaseous Low-Temperature Surface Hardening of Austenitic Stainless Steel
The graph shows X-ray diffraction patterns of nitrided (and carburized) stainless steel AISI 316.
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Bodycote combines AM with powder metallurgy processes to produce complex parts
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Bodycote, England, introduces Bodycote Powdermet technologies, a group of additive manufacturing processes for the production of complex components via powder metallurgy.
Powdermet technologies incorporate new, patent-pending techniques that combine 3D printing with well-established net-shape and near-net-shape processes. They greatly reduce manufacturing time and production cost compared to 3D printing alone.
Powdermet technologies ensure complete powder consolidation, achieve structural homogeneity, and eliminate internal porosity and unconsolidated powder flaws. The process can produce components with varying surface features and thicknesses, with higher structural integrity than alternative production techniques. The need for brazing or welding parts to form larger structures is eliminated. Instead, the finished article can be produced as one seamless component and largely avoid the size limitations imposed by the constraints of 3D printing.
Different parts of a component can be formed from different alloys, presenting the ideal and most cost-efficient solution. Component design can be tailored to the actual requirements for performance, and not limited by subsequent machining operations.
According to Stephen Harris, Group Chief Executive, "The recent breakthroughs are truly game changing technologies for component design and manufacturing. Industry applications are wide ranging, with early adoption expected in aerospace, oil and gas, power generation, and mining."
Bodycote continues to invest in resources and capital for developments in additive manufacturing technology to create significant value for customers and meet future growth demands. In addition to its Powdermet technologies, Bodycote provides a full range of heat treatment, hot isostatic pressing, and electrical discharge machining services across North America and Europe, tailored specifically to support the needs of companies manufacturing metal components by 3D printing.
www.bodycote.com
Bodycote, England, introduces Bodycote Powdermet technologies, a group of additive manufacturing processes for the production of complex components via powder metallurgy.
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United Process Controls upgrades heat treating systems controls for axle manufacturer
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United Process Controls Inc., Bethlehem, Pa., is nearing the completion of a large, multi-year control systems upgrade project for a manufacturer of automotive axles. Planning and executing the phased migration started in 2014 and encompassed four Ipsen pusher furnaces, four Ipsen batch IQ furnaces, four parts washers, three temper furnaces, one preheat oven, four endo generators, and a SCADA system.
Given the number of furnaces, as well as secondary and auxiliary equipment, a key parameter of the upgrade project was the seamless switchover and deployment of new control systems without interruption or shutdown of production. Another requisite was to get more flexibility from the new controls to improve operational efficiency, traceability, preventive maintenance, and production throughput.
The solution from UPC included Protherm 700 controllers with new PLCs and Waukee Valve-Tronic Plus flow controllers on the furnaces, Protherm 470 controllers on the parts washers, and an AccuBlendor Plus endothermic generator control system supporting all furnaces. Furnaces were similarly outfitted with a number of sensors capable of generating volumes of data that are processed through the Protherm diagnostic tools, giving managers, operators, and maintenance techs the power to troubleshoot equipment as well as predict anomalies in the process. The use of redundant probes along with resident SAT thermocouples has dramatically increased equipment reliability and virtually eliminated scrap and/or rework.
The customer also implemented the Protherm 9800 platform to enable total data management, as well as remote control and diagnostics of the furnaces. In addition to its data management capabilities, the Protherm 9800 provides real-time data logging and storage functions that conform to CQI-9 requirements. In a future implementation, an add-on module will allow the company's personnel to preplan and route batches for processing within the production cell.
www.group-upc.com
United Process Controls Inc., Bethlehem, Pa., is nearing the completion of a large, multi-year control systems upgrade project for a manufacturer of automotive axles.
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Alcoa to restart three potlines in Indiana to supply Warrick aluminum rolling mill
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Alcoa Corp., Pittsburgh, announces plans to restart three of five potlines at its Warrick Operations aluminum smelter near Evansville, Indiana, an action that will further improve the competitiveness of the on-site rolling mill.
The process to restart the three lines, with 161,400 metric tons of annual capacity, will begin immediately and is expected to be complete in the second quarter of 2018. The three potlines will directly supply the Warrick rolling mill, which serves the North American market with flat-rolled aluminum for the food and beverage can packaging industry. The smelter's molten metal will supplement purchased scrap metal and other raw materials that the Warrick site will continue to procure.
"By restarting a portion of the Warrick smelter, we will provide an efficient source of metal for the co-located rolling mill and help it meet an anticipated increase in production volumes," said Tim Reyes, President of Alcoa's Aluminum business unit. "The action will enable us to more fully utilize the assets at this integrated site."
The smelter at Warrick closed in March of 2016. Two of the five smelting potlines will be classified as curtailed capacity and will remain idle. After this partial restart, Alcoa will have approximately 886,000 metric tons idled of its total smelting capacity of 3.4 million metric tons.
Alcoa Warrick Operations is comprised of the smelter and the rolling operations, which includes state-of-the-art casting, hot and cold rolling, slitting and coating capabilities. The operations also include the power supply for the smelter and rolling operations, consisting of a coal mine that fuels four generating units with a combined net capacity of about 750 megawatts. Three of those units are wholly-owned by Alcoa Power Generating Inc. A fourth unit, Warrick Unit 4, with 300 megawatts of net capacity, is owned in a 50-50 partnership with Vectren, a utility headquartered in Evansville.
www.alcoa.com
Alcoa Corp., Pittsburgh, announces plans to restart three of five potlines at its Warrick Operations aluminum smelter near Evansville, Indiana, an action that will further improve the competitiveness of the on-site rolling mill.
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Solar Atmospheres builds climate-controlled chamber for medical/aerospace heat treating
Source: ASM International
Solar Atmospheres of Western PA, Hermitage, has constructed a climate-controlled chamber for the daily operation of its new all-metal hot-zoned vacuum furnace.
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