Effect Of Heat Treatment And Laser Surface Treatment On: Fill & Download for Free

Here I described the benefits for the consumers and to know more visit this article.IntroductionNanomaterials are finding their way into consumer products more and more. Consumer product manufacturers gain a huge benefit by introducing small amounts of nanomaterials in their products. The introduction of such nanomaterials either enhances the existing properties or gives rise to new properties.Key benefits from nanotechnology are seen in materials such as:AdhesivesLubricantsAbrasivesFood packagingManufactured devicesSurface treatmentsArchitectural surfacesGlassesAdhesives, Lubricants and AbrasivesThe field of industrial materials - often complex particles dispersed in polymers or other solvents - is an important area of nanotechnology development. In international markets, companies like NanoGate are leading the way in designing and producing fluids and waxes with enhanced properties derived from nanoscale additives. Nanotechnology can make a big impact in these products, which typically involve small amounts of a specialty product that has a larger impact on a manufacturing or operating system.The interfacial phenomenon of adhesion, lubrication, and abrasion can be incorporated into materials systems using nanoparticle properties. Examples include nanoparticle cross-linking agents in adhesives, hard abrasive nanoparticles for fine polishing of engineering surfaces, and spherical nanoparticles such as molybdenum sulphide for lubricating surfaces.Food PackagingThe freshness of foodstuffs and the contamination of packaged foods with allergens such as nuts and wheat is a topic of increasing public concern. The use of nanotechnology in food packaging can offer a number of advantages to overcome these issues, either by using advanced materials to lengthen the shelf life or “smart” packaging which can detect when specific substances are present. However, it is also critical to ensure that consumers are aware of any nanotechnology-based packaging to enable them to make an informed decision when purchasing foods and beverages.Surface TreatmentsNanoscale properties are evident only in the surfaces of bulk materials. The development of new surface properties for familiar materials is an exciting growth opportunity for nanotechnology firms. Local and international companies are developing surface treatments which enhance and exploit the surface properties by leveraging nanoscale features. Laser, plasma and chemical treatments are particularly important in this regard.Many material properties relate to the surface of a material rather than the bulk material, enabling a modification in performance with a coating system. Nanoparticle coatings often make use of the transparent nature of nanoparticles to incorporate an engineering property to a material without altering its appearance.Nanotechnology coatings enable the modification of polymeric, metallic, and ceramic materials to impart properties such as electrical conductivity, scratch and wear resistance, crazing resistance, environmental durability improvements, adhesion enhancement, change in refractive index, to name a few.GlassA thin coating of nanomaterial on a glass has the following effects:The amount of light that transmits through the glass could be controlledUV absorptionAllowing only light while cutting-off heat, thus helping in energy savingTintingSelf-cleaning

I have worked closely with SLM (Selective Laser Melting; the most common method for 3D printing of metals) technology for almost 4 years and my short answer is: No, not in the near future, there are still some fundamental problems to overcome in terms of the 3D printing of metals. These problems are generally not reported in the media.To expand up upon that answer I'll briefly list what are (in my own opinion) the biggest obstacles for SLM in terms of directly competing with CNC:- Surface finish: This is a big one, and one of the things I get asked most about. The parts produced by SLM are very impressive, however in terms of surface finish for a part which may have to connect accurately or form part of a precise mechanical system it is simply not good enough. The surface of SLM formed material is inherently rough due to the attachment of partially melted metal particles, and the layer-by-layer way in which it is formed.- Support Structures: All overhanging surfaces must be attached to the build plate by support structures which (in general terms) hold the overhanging sections in place during building and provide a heat transfer route to avoid overmelting of the metal power. These structures must be removed and although they are generally designed to be broken off easily they leave a notably poorer underside surface finish to the SLM processed part where they have been attached.- Deformation due to residual stress: This is dependant on the material, but in general SLM manufactured components are prone to high levels of residual stress (caused by the very localised heating and cooling inherant with the process) which can cause them to deform significantly upon removal from the build plate. This can be mitigated somewhat with heat treatments, but still poses a major problem.- Inconsistency of material structure within the part: The thermal history of the SLM processed material varies hugely depending on the geometry being built. For example a thin walled section may cool much slower than a thick section. This has a huge impact on the microstructure and therefore the mechanical properties of the material. Research is being carried out on these effects, however they remain one of the great unknowns of the process.- Cost, build time, metal powder: SLM machines cost a round the £500,000 mark (depending on manufacturer etc. I'm not a salesman so i don't have precise figures). This is an expensive machine considering it really doesn't build that quickly. Deposition rates are tricky to generalise, as depend on the material and the geometry, however it is not uncommon for parts to be building for several days and well over a week for larger pieces. Additionally although the metal powder feedstock can be re-seived and reused it is not cheap to produce in the first place and although SLM is often pitched as a "green" technology, the energy required to atomise the power and the waste from this process are rarely taken into consideration.I would however like to conclude by maybe adding that although I don't think SLM will replace CNC in the near future, I would like to see it become a complementary technique, a further tool for engineers and designers to call upon or the right application where CNC is inappropriate.

Heat treatment can be defined as a combination of heating and cooling operations applied to a metal or alloy in its solid state to obtain desired conditions or properties.Heat treatments can be used to homogenize cast metal alloys to improve their hot workability, to soften metals prior to, and during hot and cold processing operations, or to alter their microstructure in such a way as to achieve the desired mechanical properties.Thermal treatments of metallic alloys are also used to alter the surface chemistry of a material. This is achieved by diffusing Carbon, Nitrogen and other gaseous or solid material in to the surface of the component. These processes are used to give defined surface hardness and to improve wear, corrosion and fatigue resistance.The parameters and processes that can effect the composition and material properties of metal components include the following:Alloy typeHeatingCoolingWork inputTimeAtmosphereSurface platingSurface diffusionTo ensure that any metal component is suitable and adequate for the designed purpose, it may need to be exposed to a selected range of conditioning and finishing treatments. The treatments are conducted in such a way so as to ensure that the required combination of these parameters are carefully controlled to achieve the desired finished component.The heat treatment of metals involves raising the temperature of an alloy, often through a prescribed thermal profile, to a defined temperature. The material is then held at this temperature for a period of time before being cooled either at a prescribed rate or under rapid quenching conditions to a fixed temperature.Treatments are carried out in furnaces and ovens where, in addition to the changes in temperature, gases are used to control the atmosphere for the process. Controlled atmospheres are either used to reduce the effects of oxidization or to provide an enriching atmosphere for surface chemistry effects, on the component being treated.Heat Treatments are classified by their purpose:General treatmentsHomogenizationThis treatment is used prior to hot working processes and is performed to equalise temperatures throughout an alloy or to reduce the coring effect caused by the non-uniform chemical composition.AnnealingAnnealing covers a variety of heat treatment processes used to soften alloys and increase their ductility as an aid to cold working.Normalizing Stress RelievingThermal treatments performed to remove internal stresses within components following welding, casting or rapid cooling.Treatments which alter the surface chemistry of an alloyCarburising, nitriding, carbontriding and nitrocarburizingIn these processes the surface layers of the alloy are both hardened and strengthened by exposing the component to an enriched gaseous atmosphere of species carbon or nitrogen while the material is subjected to an elevated thermal profile prior to quenching. Similar component properties can be achieved using other surface molecular components with processes such as Ion Implantation – Chemical Vapour Deposition (CVD), Physical Vapor Deposition (PVD), Boriding and Aluminizing.Treatments which change the phase structure of an alloyHardeningMetallic alloys can all be work hardened but specifically steel-alloys can also be hardened through heat treatment. The harden-ability of a steel-alloy is dependent on its carbon or other alloys content. The higher percentage carbon alloys can achieve a greater degree of hardness.The hardening process is achieved by heating an alloy to a predefined temperature and then quenching in oil, water, air or a special polymer quenchant. The temperature and quenching parameters are dependent on the type of steel being processed.TemperingTempering usually follows the hardening process and is used to remove much of the brittleness of the alloy while retaining the components hardness.To understand how successful these processes may be and the temperatures at which the treatments should be performed, it is necessary to study the phase diagram of the particular alloy.Induction hardeningRapidly heating using an induction coil immediately followed by quenching in a quench jet can also harden medium and high carbon steels. This process can also be carried out using alternative hot flame impingement or laser technology heating techniques.I hope it helps you …Thank you