Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), Richland, Wash., is developing a titanium-based catalyst that regenerates an important chemical that will enable a more efficient magnesium extraction process that should cut magnesium production costs in half. PNNL is partnering with Global Seawater Extraction Technologies and Utah magnesium plant owner U.S. Magnesium LLC.
Volume rendering on mobile devices
Bruker microCT (Kontich, Belgium) introduces a newly developed volume rendering application for mobile devices operating under iOS, such as iPad, iPhone and iPod Touch. It is now available as a free download on the App Store. Any 3D results obtained using SkyScan scanners can be sent to a mobile device for realistic visualization by real-time volume rendering with the possibility of 3D object manipulation, virtual cut, adjustments of object’s opacity and colors, etc.
Nitrex compact nitriding system to treat aluminum extrusion dies in Bulgaria
Nitrex Metal, St. Laurent, Quebec, Canada, has sold a compact nitriding system to Altest Ltd.at its Bulgarian plant to nitride aluminum extrusion dies. The NXK-412 system has a capacity of 880 lb., and is supplied with Nitreg technology, a neutralizer, and an ammonia purification system. Altest opted for a nitriding system with a higher capacity than their current requirements to keep pace with expansion plans that will see its extrusion capacity double by next year.
Critical Materials Survey
The U.S. Defense Logistics Agency is requesting assistance on identifying materials critical to military and essential civilian needs. To ensure consideration of all materials important to the U.S. Department of Defense, the agency is seeking survey responses to be received before the end of July from organizations and experts who are concerned with availability of critical materials.
MGI Webinars
NIST is hosting the following webinars to report on the recent Materials Genome Initiative Grand Challenges Summit and to solicit feedback from interested parties. The Summit had break-out sessions on five materials technology areas and is conducting a one-hour webinar for each. They anticipate 20 minutes for the break-out chairs to report the findings of the Summit, followed but a 15 minute feedback session where attendees can offer comments and ask questions. Email the links below to sign up.




