Kobe Steel Ltd., Japan, reports that it has recently developed a new die-forging method that increases the fatigue strength of crankshaft material by 20% compared with conventional forging. As a result, long-stroke crank throws of higher reliability and lighter weight can now be commercially mass produced for diesel engines in ships. In engine development, ships are using larger propellers that rotate at slower speeds, driving the need for low-rpm propellers with high output.
Induction preheating system with process feedback enables shorter heating times, faster production
Ambrell, an AmeriTherm Company, Scottsville, N.Y., has sold an Ekoheat 35 kW/30 kHz induction heating system to a fastener manufacturer to preheat blanks prior to forging. The solution includes a custom-built coil, along with an optical pyrometer and controller for quality control. The client determined that a new modern system with process feedback from Ambrell’s Application Lab would allow shorter heating times and faster production rate.
Jean Duval Educational Fund with ASM Foundation
The Duval family established an educational fund with the ASM Materials Education Foundation in honor of Mr. Jean Duval’s accomplishments during his long, productive, and innovative career as chairman and CEO of Aubert & Duval (Paris, France). The Jean Duval Educational Fund is designated for educational activities to encourage young people to enroll in materials science or other STEM professions for their lifelong career.
Fluid-enhanced crystal engineering increases thin-film conductivity by a factor of ten
A team from the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Accelerator Laboratory and Stanford University, Calif., have developed a printing process they call FLUENCE-fluid-enhanced crystal engineering-that for some materials results in thin films capable of conducting electricity ten times more efficiently than those made by conventional methods. The printing method is fast and works with a variety of organic materials.
Strong thermal management composite made of graphite ligaments in titanium powder
Engineers at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tenn., have succeeded in consolidating ground graphite foam ligaments in titanium powder to make disks up to 7 inches in diameter with bulk thermal conductivity of 240 W/m-K, as well as high strength. The ground ligaments are about 500 microns thick and range in length from 100 to 200 microns.