Rapid phase transformation and high thermal gradients that occur during quenching can cause distortion, which can lead to costly hard machining and rejection.

BNP Media has announced the launch of the Process Heating & Cooling Show, an interactive conference and exposition where executives and engineers from various industries – including oil and gas, electronics, pharmaceuticals, food, beverages, packaging and plastics – will learn from thought leaders and discover new technologies and trends exclusively for the process heating and cooling sectors. This new event will be held June 16-17, 2021, at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont, Ill.

Solar Atmospheres of Western PA (SAWPA) can now offer in-house metallographic testing with the purchase of a Zeiss AxioVert A1 inverted materials microscope, accompanying Axiocam digital camera and Zen Core materials-analysis software package. The AxioVert A1 system allows for reflected brightfield, darkfield, polarized and circular contrasting techniques, along with a 50x to 1000x magnification range. The additional Axiocam and Zen Core materials-analysis software features automated determination of material grain size.

The aerospace industry is increasingly adopting metal additive manufacturing (AM) for both flight safety-critical aircraft parts and non-critical flight parts.

Solar Atmospheres purchased and commissioned a Hitachi scanning electron microscope (SEM). The FlexSEM1000 II will allow the commercial heat treater to meet customer needs, such as strict requirements for low-level contamination from carbon, oxygen and/or nitrogen post heat treating. In addition, the SEM will enable Solar to fulfill materials characterization and microstructural determination requests beyond basic metallography and hardness testing. This investment is a response to the changing needs of Solar’s customers.

The AbrasiMet XL Pro large abrasive cutter reduces sample size, removes material damage quickly and provides consistency and repeatability in cutting large samples for production environments.

Simulation software can help manufacturers improve quality for direct energy deposition (DED) metal additive-manufacturing processes.

Graphi-Coat 623 is a patented titanium diboride-based coating that significantly inhibits the oxidation of most commercial grades of graphite to 2000°F (1093°C).

Two digital Rockwell/ Superficial Rockwell benchtop hardness testers, with fully automated load/ unload procedures, are capable of providing highly accurate readings.

NSL Analytical Services, an independent testing laboratory, has been acquired by May River Capital, a Chicago-based investment firm. NSL Analytical, which opened in 1945, serves over 1,700 customers globally from two locations in Warrensville Heights, Ohio. The company provides a range of analytical testing for quality control, failure analysis, product performance and material selection and characterization. These services include metallurgical evaluations and mechanical testing.