Anton Paar Revetest3 coating scratch tester enables automatic detection of critical loads
May 23, 2017
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Anton Paar USA, Ashland, Va., presents the third generation of the Revetest scratch tester, the RST3, the only scratch tester on the market that features automatic detection of critical loads. The critical load data is the basis for quantifying the adhesive properties of different film-substrate combinations by using different sensors (acoustic emission, penetration depth, friction force) and video microscope observations.
New easy-to-use software enables all critical loads to be detected automatically. The operator only needs to set up some threshold values and start the automatic analysis of critical loads.
Indenter tips in the indenter holder can be changed easily and quickly. Tips of different diameters and angles are available. The same indenter holder can be used for different kinds of tips, such as spherical tips, Berkovich tips, or Vickers tips.
With an even more compact footprint than earlier models, the RST3 is designed for evaluating hard coatings with a typical coating thickness of several microns, applying forces in the range 0.5 to 200 newtons. It is possible to carry out scratch tests in a wide variety of testing modes, including simple scratch testing, advanced scratch testing (with pre-scan and post-scan), scratch map, scratch map by stage, user-defined scratch, etc. In addition, the instrument automatically synchronizes the recording of all sensor signals with the whole scratch image in perfect focus. In this way, the measurement curve can be analyzed exactly parallel to the scratch picture on one page. Anton Paar holds the patents US 12/324, 237, and EP 2065695 for the synchronized panorama mode.
Due to its unique force sensor control, the Revetest scratch system detects every surface deviation, and the active force feedback corrects this deviation. By following the shape of the sample with total control of the desired load, RST3 is also capable of perfectly reliable measurements on uneven and curved surfaces.
http://www.anton-paar.com/us-en/products/details/revetestr-scratch-tester/
Anton Paar USA, Ashland, Va., presents the third generation of the Revetest scratch tester, the RST3, the only scratch tester on the market that features automatic detection of critical loads.
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Ultratech dual-beam laser spike anneal systems to treat FinFET for 10-nm nodes
May 21, 2017
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Ultratech Inc., San Jose, Calif., announces that it has received a multiple system follow-on order for its LSA101 dual-beam laser spike anneal (LSA) systems. Ultratech's millisecond anneal systems will be used by its customer for expansion of 10-nm FinFET production.
The key differentiators over competing tools, and the basis for choosing Ultratech's LSA101 dual-beam systems, are its annealing capability with a low overall thermal budget, and the flexibility and extendability for use with existing and future nodes. Ultratech plans to ship the first LSA101 system in 2Q17 and the second system in 3Q17 to the customer's facility in Asia.
As the industry scales to smaller dimensions, millisecond anneal technology has continued to enable critical applications around transistor fabrication for multiple annealing steps for the front-end-of-line (FEOL) as well as those in middle-of-line (MOL). Ultratech's global customers have benefitted from the extendability of the LSA systems across multiple production nodes including both planar and FinFET technologies.
This existing customer selected Ultratech's LSA101 dual-beam system for expansion because of its low thermal budget capability, which is a key differentiator from other millisecond anneal tools, and is an enabler for advanced processing steps beyond the FEOL.
LSA101 with the dual-beam option expands the process space by adding a second low-power laser beam that adds process flexibility and enables millisecond annealing with a low thermal budget process and is built on the customizable Unity Platformâ„¢. Inserting a millisecond anneal step post-junction formation, such as gate stack formation, silicide or post-silicide anneal, has been shown to improve leakage and device reliability, while reducing contact resistance and improving both performance and yield. Compared to competÂing millisecond annealing technologies, LSA with dual-beam offers the lowest thermal budget millisecond anneal process, along with superior within-die uniformity for different layouts. The LSA101 delivers high flexibility and extendability for advanced annealing applications, and is currently in high-volume production for planar and FinFET logic devices.
www.ultratech.com
Ultratech Inc., San Jose, Calif., announces that it has received a multiple system follow-on order for its LSA101 dual-beam laser spike anneal systems for expansion of 10-nm FinFET production.
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Oxford Instruments to sell Industrial Analysis business to Hitachi High-Technologies
May 14, 2017
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Oxford Instruments plc, England, announces that it has agreed to sell its Industrial Analysis business to Hitachi High-Technologies Corp. for a consideration of $100 million on a cash and debt-free basis. Hitachi will acquire the companies, assets, and liabilities that comprise the Industrial Analysis business.
The Industrial Analysis business is a leading global provider of handheld and benchtop instruments based on X-ray fluorescence (XRF), laser induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) and optical emission spectroscopy (OES) technologies for analyzing materials in a broad range of industrial applications. Headquartered in Oxford, England, the Industrial Analysis business has research and development and assembly operations in Finland, Germany, and China, and sales and support operations in a number of countries around the world.
The transaction is subject to regulatory approval in Austria, confirmation of receipt by the relevant regulator of the share transfer filing in China, and completion of a pre-sale reorganization to carve out the relevant businesses. Assuming satisfaction of these conditions, the transaction is expected to close in the second quarter of the 2017/18 fiscal year. Proceeds will be used to reduce existing borrowings. The current Industrial Analysis management team will transfer with the business.
www.oxfordinstruments.co.uk
Oxford Instruments plc, England, announces that it has agreed to sell its Industrial Analysis business to Hitachi High-Technologies Corp. for a consideration of $100 million on a cash and debt-free basis.
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Struers introduces high-capacity Rockwell and entry level Vickers hardness testers
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Struers, Cleveland, Ohio, announces that it will launch nine new Duramin hardness testers this year, beginning with the Duramin-170, a high-capacity hardness tester; and the Duramin-4, an entry level Vickers hardness tester.
The new Duramin range is said to represents the latest generation of highly successful hardness testers. With 30 years of experience within hardness testing, Struers is committed to constant improvement by listening to our customers and understanding their evolving needs.
The Duramin-170 is a dedicated Rockwell tester with a load range between 1.0 and 250 kgf. It is suitable for fully automatic Rockwell testing, Jominy testing, and Rockwell testing of large samples. This is a high capacity Rockwell tester, with a motorized test head, optional motorized XY-stage, and an embedded PC. Duramin-170 is particularly suitable for Rockwell testing of large or tall samples or for fully automatic Jominy testing.
Duramin-4 is a manual micro and micro/macro hardness tester. This entry-level range of microhardness testers primarily targets Vickers testing, but can also be used for Knoop and Brinell testing. The Duramin-4 testers are equipped with a combination of manual and automatic features to ensure easy operation. Duramin-4 is available in two load ranges; 10 gf to 2.0 kgf, and 1 kgf to 62.5 kgf. It has an automatic six-position turret, manual XY-stage and Z-axis, and manual indent evaluation via an eyepiece.
www.struers.com
Struers, Cleveland, Ohio, announces that it will launch nine new Duramin hardness testers this year, beginning with the Duramin-170, a high-capacity hardness tester; and the Duramin-4, an entry level Vickers hardness tester.
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Siemens and Chromalloy form joint venture to cast turbine blade components
May 13, 2017
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Siemens AG, Germany, and Chromalloy Gas Turbine Corp., Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., have entered a partnership to form a new joint venture called Advanced Airfoil Components, which will cast turbine blade and vane components for power generation. Both partners are investing approximately $130 million in combined value to create a new production facility in the United States.
The location is being finalized, and multiple southern states are under evaluation. Groundbreaking is scheduled to take place later this year, and is scheduled for completion in the fall of 2018. The stand-alone manufacturing plant will supply only to Siemens. Start-up part qualifications and production shipments are in process at Chromalloy's existing facility.
"The decision to form a joint venture and a new production facility continues our strong commitment to the United States as a business location," says Willi Meixner, CEO of the Siemens Power and Gas Division. "Siemens and Chromalloy already have a long-lasting supplier relationship, and our new joint venture will exclusively supply Siemens with casting components for our gas turbines. We will continue our established key casting supplier partnerships and all the existing long-term agreements will be executed."
"Continuing to build our partnership is very important and shows the value we place in each other's capabilities and expertise," says Chromalloy president Carlo Luzzatto. "Chromalloy continues to be a leader in providing innovative, high-technology manufacturing capabilities for gas turbine engines. And we are going to bring those capabilities to help create and grow this new business with Siemens."
Siemens has more than 60 manufacturing sites and approximately 50,000 employees in the United States, where Siemens has invested $40 billion over the past 15 years.
www.siemens.com/press/PR2017050293PGEN
www.chromalloy.com
Siemens AG, Germany, and Chromalloy Gas Turbine Corp., Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., have entered a partnership to form a new joint venture called Advanced Airfoil Components, which will cast turbine blade and vane components for power generation.
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One Minute Mentor: Solubility of Nitrogen in Expanded Austenite
May 12, 2017
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The graph shows the solubility of nitrogen in expanded austenite (γN) as a function of the imposed nitrogen activity (aN) in a gas mixture of NH3 and H2 for the stainless steels and temperatures indicated in the legend.
Fully nitrided and denitrided conditions are indicated by aN = ∞ and aN = 0, respectively. The master curve can be applied for estimating the surface content of nitrogen for a gas mixture of known nitrogen activity aN = K(T) · K, with K(T) the temperature-dependent equilibrium constant of ammonia dissociation.
Volume 4D, Heat Treating of Irons and Steels ⇒ Heat Treated High-Alloy Steels ⇒ Low-Temperature Surface Hardening of Stainless Steel ⇒ Physical Metallurgy of Expanded Austenite
The graph shows the solubility of nitrogen in expanded austenite (?N) as a function of the imposed nitrogen activity (aN) in a gas mixture of NH3 and H2 for the stainless steels and temperatures indicated in the legend.
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Message from the President: Thermal Spray Characterization Wrap-Up
May 10, 2017
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It was great to see so many of you at the Thermal Spray Characterization: Materials, Coatings and Processes event held in Charleston last month. I've received a lot of very positive feedback from the attendees of this event. A big thank you again to Rick Bajan and the organizing committee which made this event possible.
As the weather warms and we head into the summer months, I wanted to remind everyone of two more exciting events on the horizon. In June we'll be in Dusseldorf for our flagship event, the International Thermal Spray Conference and Exposition (ITSC), where we expect well over 300 technical presentations. Our partners at DVS, the German Welding Society, always do a fabulous job hosting the international community, and I'm certain this year will be no exception. In September, we'll visit the GE Research Center in Niskayuna, N.Y. for a Thermal Spray Solutions and Suspensions Symposium (TS4). The GE facility is a great venue and should provide a top-notch setting for this meeting. This is the second time that TSS will hold an event on solution and suspension thermal spray, as there is a great deal of interest and research in this area right now.
This spring has been very exciting as we are undertaking a number of new initiatives within TSS and in parallel with ASM. Those of you that follow my monthly President's Message have been hearing about the ASM renewal. I was fortunate enough to attend a summit for the ASM Affiliate Societies in April. Things are moving forward and the renewal is gaining traction. Not only will these various initiatives create tremendous value for ASM and TSS members, but will also help to ensure the long-term financial viability of this organization.
Doug Puerta
President, ASM Thermal Spray Society
It was great to see so many of you at the Thermal Spray Characterization: Materials, Coatings and Processes event held in Charleston last month. I’ve received a lot of very positive feedback from the attendees of this event. A big thank you again to Rick Bajan and the organizing committee which made this event possible.
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Spray Tips: Coating Structures
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The angle of impingement of the spray stream is a source of porosity, because of shadowing. The diagram illustrates the type of shadowing generally associated with coatings sprayed at angles below 45° from the optimal normal angle of incidence.
Coating porosity decreases (i.e., density increases) as the angle of spray approaches 90°, that is, normal to the surface being coated. It follows that more advanced coating systems are sprayed with tighter tolerances on fixture alignment.
Plasma coatings may be sprayed at ±15°, whereas low-end coatings may be sprayed at ±30°. The diagram shows how surface protrusions build up and then shadow interstices or voids adjacent to protrusions and behind them. These protrusions produce even more shadowing, particularly as the angle of incidence is lower relative to the surface, that is, <90°.
Volume 5A, Thermal Spray Technology ⇒ Thermal Spray Processes and Coatings ⇒ Coating Structures, Properties, and Materials ⇒ Coating Structures
The angle of impingement of the spray stream is a source of porosity, because of shadowing. The diagram illustrates the type of shadowing generally associated with coatings sprayed at angles below 45° from the optimal normal angle of incidence.
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Retech Systems develops hybrid plasma arc melting system for titanium aluminides
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Retech Systems LLC, Ukiah, Calif., reports that, after years of research and development between Retech and partner Ti-Solutions GmbH of Germany, Retech has been granted patents for a hybrid plasma-arc melting plus cold-wall induction system for titanium aluminides. The single-operation process converts raw materials into ingots that exhibit excellent homogeneity and a fine crystalline structure. This system solves a number of the typical issues associated with conventional melting and, ultimately, the atomization of titanium aluminide powders.
On May 18 at the ITA Europe 2017 conference in Amsterdam, Retech engineers will present "Advances in the Systems and Processes for the Production of Gamma Titanium Aluminide Bars and Powder." The paper will focus on the successful system and process development for ingots with lengths up to 1000 mm and diameters 53, 80, 100, and 200 mm. Additionally, the company's experience with powder production equipment and associated processes for selected gamma titanium aluminide alloys will be presented.
All developments have focused on cost-effective production for both product forms and, as such, an economic analysis will also be discussed.
"This is another example of Retech's commitment to developing real, viable solutions to the problems of today while being focused on tomorrow," says Rob Haun, Director of Product Development. "These systems and the process knowledge further support our efforts to facilitate the continued implementation of titanium aluminides in markets from jet engines to automotive turbochargers."
Retech, a Seco Warwick Group company, actively works with partners and customers to develop equipment and process solutions to meet and exceed expectations; this includes upstream elements as well as downstream components.
www.retechsystemsllc.com
Retech Systems LLC, Ukiah, Calif., reports that, after years of research and development between Retech and partner Ti-Solutions GmbH of Germany, Retech has been granted patents for a hybrid plasma-arc melting plus cold wall induction system for titanium aluminides.
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Optomec and partners develop cost-effective copper inks for printed electronics
May 7, 2017
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Optomec, Albuquerque, N.M., announces significant improvements in the ability to effectively print and post-process copper and copper/nickel (i.e., Constantan) inks on its Aerosol Jet systems. The availability and support of these new, cost-effective inks from a number of qualified suppliers will enable new classes of electronic devices, helping to expand industrial use of 3D printed electronics for consumer electronics, medical devices, Internet of Things, and other electronic applications.
Copper and copper-nickel (Constantan) inks from Applied Nanotech Inc., Intrinsiq Materials Inc., PV Nano Cell Ltd., and Kuprion Inc. have been successfully printed using Optomec Aerosol Jet technology. Copper is a well-known material in the electronics industry for manufacturing components and printed circuit boards, while the Constantan alloy is an established standard for critical sensing elements such as thermocouples and strain gauges that are the building blocks of the Industrial Internet of Things.
To help drive the adoption of these copper inks, Optomec offers print recipes, as well as specialized hardware, to shield these oxygen-sensitive materials during the printing and curing process when necessary, though in some cases the printed copper inks can be cured thermally in conventional ovens already used in the electronics industry; or through newer techniques such as flash-lamp photonics or laser-based curing systems.
www.optomec.com
Optomec, Albuquerque, N.M., announces significant improvements in the ability to effectively print and post-process copper and copper/nickel (i.e., Constantan) inks on its Aerosol Jet systems.
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