RSP Technology, The Netherlands, announces that it has developed a superfast aluminum melt-spinning process that produces billets with an almost nano-grained crystalline structure that can be machined like conventional aluminum, but resulting parts will be as strong as titanium.
During the melt-spinning process, molten aluminum hits a fast-rotating wheel that almost instantaneously releases a continuous metal ribbon at room temperature. This ribbon is converted into flakes and finally into an extrusion product, after which a special heat treatment may be applied. The name “rapid solidification process” stems from the sudden temperature drop that takes place at a rate of more than 1,000,000˚C per second as the aluminum comes in contact with the wheel.
Thanks to the rapid quenching of the meltspinning process, grain sizes are very small (~2 microns). Intermetallic phases and non-soluble constituents are refined and homogeneously distributed into the matrix, and are characterized by a more favorable morphology. To a large extent, these factors contribute to the improved ductility of the alloy.
The natural maximum solubility imposes major limits to the content of alloying elements in conventional DC casting. However, the meltspinning process generates ultrafast cooling rates. This creates great flexibility, thereby allowing the production of new and exotic alloy compositions such as AlSi40%X or AlFe15%X. Thus, meltspinning is capable of providing custom solutions for applications that require special requirements.
Transmet Corp., Columbus, Ohio, a manufacturer and supplier of rapidly solidified metals, will be the sole U.S. contact for sales and service for RSP Technology billet products.
