Aerospace Industry Increasingly Turns to PVD Coatings to Replace Hard Chrome (US)

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Thermal barrier coatings protect the engines of military aircraft – like this F100 engine, but are also applied in civil aircraft

The search for a suitable replacement to hard chrome on aerospace components has been a key supply chain priority for aircraft manufacturers. This is because of the documented health risks to workers and the impact on the environment from exposure to hexavalent chromium, a carcinogen that occurs during the chrome plating process and the most toxic form of chromium. As a result, chromium is a highly regulated chemical in major markets worldwide. In the European Union, hexavalent chromium falls under the domain of the EU regulation, REACH Continue reading→

Framatome, champion du zirconium (US)

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Chaque année, la France en importe près de 23 000 tonnes d’Afrique du Sud (59% de ses importations totales), et dans une moindre mesure du Mozambique (20%) et du Sénégal (6%)

Extrait du zircon, le zirconium est très prisé par l’industrie nucléaire. “Compte-tenu de sa très bonne transparence aux neutrons, les alliages au zirconium servent surtout de gaines isolantes autour des crayons de combustible des réacteurs dans les centrales”, précise Mathieu Leguérinel. En France, c’est Framatome qui produit le zirconium et le hafnium. Cette filiale d’EDF (anciennement dans le groupe Areva) a développé un savoir-faire dans l’élaboration de ce métal dès les années 1960. Le volume de zirconium qu’elle produit représente 21% des exportations dans le monde. Pour maintenir son rang face aux géants du secteur (tels les américains Westinghouse et ATI), le groupe peut s’appuyer sur sa filière de transformation. Les éponges de zirconium produites à Jarrie (Isère) sont fondues à UgineContinue reading→

Outstanding radiation resistance of tungsten-based high-entropy alloys (US)

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APT analysis of the HEA irradiated to 8 dpa with 3-MeV Cu+ at 1050 K. –  (A) to (D) 3D distribution of Cr, V, Ta, and W. (E) to (H) 2D compositional maps of Cr, V, Ta, and W using a slice of 25 nm by 1 nm by 20 nm. (I) to (L) Top-down view showing the location of three different GBs and the corresponsing elemental segregation. Reconstruction side-view (M) and top-view (N) with 25 at % Cr isocomposition surface showing Cr-V–rich precipitates inside grains. (O) Compositional partitioning between the precipitate and the matrix. ppts, precipitates.

A body-centered cubic W-based refractory high entropy alloy with outstanding radiation resistance has been developed. The alloy was grown as thin films showing a bimodal grain size distribution in the nanocrystalline and ultrafine regimes and a unique 4-nm lamella-like structure revealed by atom probe tomography (APT). Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and x-ray diffraction show certain black spots appearing after thermal annealing at elevated temperatures. TEM and APT analysis correlated the black spots with second-phase particles rich in Cr and Continue reading→

Australian Outstanding Metallugist Sir Rupert Myers : Inspiring scientist with a passion for education

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A materials scientist, academic and distinguished university administrator, Emeritus Professor Sir Rupert Myers was in 1948 one of the first two people to be awarded a PhD from an Australian university. As UNSW’s second vice-chancellor, he was instrumental in establishing the university’s character and presence in the academic world. After developing processes for producing uranium powder and converting plutonium compounds into metal as a metallurgist in England, Sir Rupert joined UNSW in 1952 as the foundation chair of metallurgy. In 1961 he became pro vice-chancellor and then in 1969 he became vice-chancellor, continuing in that role until 1981. The politicalContinue reading→

3D printing technology enhancing logistics for Army (US)

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A Soldier holds a cap used to protect the fire extinguishing system housed in the wheel wells of Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected vehicles. Without the cap, MRAPs are deemed non-mission-capable. Soldiers in Korea saved 1,472 operational days for their MRAPs by 3-D printing the caps for about $2.50 each. (Photo Credit: Sam Curtis)

FORT MEADE, Md. — As 3D printing increases both in the field and at depots, the Army’s Center of Excellence for Additive and Advanced Manufacturing is slated to reach initial operating capability this year at Rock Island Arsenal, Illinois.  Lt. Gen. Aundre Piggee, the Army’s deputy chief of staff, G-4, outlined the Army’s current 3D printing capabilities at the 2019 Military Additive Manufacturing Summit and Technology Showcase Feb. 6, in Tampa, Florida.  At the summit, defense, academia, and industry officials were privy to the latest additive manufacturingContinue reading→

La spectaculaire réussite d’Aperam Alloys (FR)

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Spécialiste des alliages spéciaux, Apéram Alloys, à Imphy, est l’un des leaders mondiaux dans son domaine. Ils sont utilisés dans une quarantaine de pays. La société est nominée pour les Trophées des réussites 2019, dans la catégorie “international”. Rester compétitif sur le marché mondial. Tel est le défi permanent d’Apéram, spécialiste des aciers inoxydables, électriques et spéciaux. Des productions issues de minerais purs ou du recyclage de matériaux, à savoir les déchets des productions de l’entreprise elle-même ou d’autres clients. « Notre terrain de jeu, c’est le monde », insiste Frédéric Mattéi, directeur général de la division alliages et spécialités, et président d’Apéram Alloys Imphy. «

Sukhoi Inspects 48 Superjets for Cracks in Uncertified Titanium (US)

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Some six weeks after Brussels Airlines prematurely ended SSJ100 operations due to what it called long downtimes and aircraft complexity, Sukhoi Civil Aircraft (SCAC) found itself embroiled in another scandal, this time involving the alleged use of poor quality titanium parts in roughly a quarter of the active Superjet fleet. On Wednesday, Russian media reported that about 50 aircraft might have developed micro cracks in landing gearContinue reading→

NETL-Supported Scale-Up of Nickel Superalloy Component Manufacturing Processes for Advanced Ultrasupercritical Technology Moves Forward (US)

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The U.S. Department of Energy’s National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL), in partnership with Energy Industries of Ohio Inc., is set to scale up the fabrication of components made from advanced nickel superalloys that will help bring advanced ultrasupercritical (AUSC) power plant technology to the level of readiness for commercial-scale demonstration. ConventionalContinue reading→

Arconic To Split Into Two Separate Companies (US)

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Aluminum-parts manufacturer Arconic Inc. said it plans to spin off one of its two main business units after rejecting a $10 billion offer for the entire company and abruptly replacing its chief executive. Arconic on Friday didn’t say whether it would aim to divest the aluminum-sheet rolling or aerospace-components unit. The company said smaller businesses that don’t fit into either unit would be sold. “We did not receive a proposal for a full-company transaction Continue reading→

Kobe Steel to increase production capacity of steel powder plant (US)

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February 7, 2019 – Kobe Steel, Ltd – TOKYO, February 7, 2019 — Kobe Steel, Ltd. plans to invest approximately 1.8 billion yen to increase the production capacity of its Steel Powder Plant in Takasago, Hyogo Prefecture in western Japan. The production capacity of steel powder products will increase to 110,000 metric tons per year, from the current 96,000 metric tons per year. Mass production is scheduled to begin in the April–June quarter of 2021. Kobe Steel’s steel powder products are mainly used in powder metallurgy to make automotive sintered parts such asContinue reading→