A 3D printer at ORNL's Manufacturing Demonstration Facility was used to print an unusual crack-free alloy for use in turbines that operate at extreme temperatures.
Researchers at Oak Ridge National Laboratory and the National Energy Technology Laboratory have developed and 3D printed the lightest crack-free alloy capable of operating without melting at temperatures above 2,400 °F. This milestone could enable additively manufactured turbine blades to better handle extreme temperatures, reducing the carbon footprint of gas turbine engines such as those used in airplanes.
The National Science Foundation (NSF) has awarded a $445,000 grant to a research team to investigate the fatigue behavior of additive manufactured (AM) nickel-titanium shape memory alloys (SMAs), which can "remember" their original shape after deformation. The grant will fund the acquisition of equipment to assess the dynamic stiffness and longevity of materials under external forces.
The demand for large-scale components, weighing at least 10,000 lbs., has surged across sectors such as aerospace, defense, nuclear, oil, gas, renewables, and construction. However, traditional manufacturing techniques like casting and forging have declined in the U.S., leading to supply chain shortages as production increasingly shifts overseas. Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) researchers are initiating advanced manufacturing technologies to revitalize the production of these large metal parts via powder metallurgy-hot isostatic pressing (PM-HIP).
The global PM industry was in full force as individuals from 27 countries visited the WORLD PM2024 Congress in Yokohama, Japan, to “Make a better world with PM.” The biennial World Congress included presentations on the latest PM technologies, suppliers introducing cutting edge products and services, and networking events to welcome the international community.
Minnesota-based Niron Magnetics has opened a commercial pilot plant to develop “Clean Earth Magnets” that are developed from iron and nitrogen. The company says the magnets have the potential to be used in electric vehicles, wind turbines, audio products, and defense applications.
GKN Powder Metallurgy has developed a new generation of Porous Transport Layers (PTL) for Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) electrolysis. The solution is designed to revolutionize hydrogen production by increasing efficiency while reducing overall environmental impact.
As the demand for large-scale metal parts continues to rise across sectors such as clean energy, aerospace, and defense, the Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) is spearheading research, supported by the Metal Powder Industries Federation and the Electric Power Research Institute, to re-establish U.S. manufacturing dominance in this area. Through advancements in powder metallurgy-hot isostatic pressing (PM-HIP), paired with additive manufacturing (AM) techniques, ORNL is offering what it considers a high-precision alternative to traditional casting and forging methods.
The 2024 Excellence in Metallography Award has been selected, and this year's winning paper is "Impact Resistance of a Free Sintering Low Alloy Steel Produced by Powder Bed Fusion Using a Laser Beam”, by Thomas F. Murphy, FAPMI, Christopher T. Schade, FAPMI, & Kerri M. Horvay, Hoeganaes Corporation. The paper was selected from among the highly qualified manuscripts that were presented at the PowderMet2024/AMPM2024 conference in Pittsburgh and critically evaluated for the prestigious award. The paper is available for download on the APMI website. It is also included in Advances in Additive Manufacturing with Powder Metallurgy—2024 and published in the fall issue of the International Journal of Powder Metallurgy. The authors will be officially recognized during PowderMet2025 in Phoenix, Arizona, June 15–18, 2025.
Proceedings of the 2024 International Conference on Powder Metallurgy & Particulate Materials and 10th annual conference on Additive Manufacturing with Powder Metallurgy, June 16-19, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania have been released. The fully searchable PDF format preserves the technical papers’ original color in all figures.
The U.S. Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS), a government agency responsible for export control and treaty compliance, has announced a new ruling regarding the export of advanced manufacturing technologies, specifically focusing on metal additive manufacturing equipment and software.
The American Gear Manufacturers Association (AGMA) is looking to form a working group under the Cylindrical Gear Rating Committee to create bending load capacity and pitting resistance information for powder metallurgy (PM) gears. If you are interested in joining this AGMA working group, please email the American Gear Manufacturers Association (AGMA) at tech@agma.org or call (703) 838-0057 for further details.
Recipients of the 2023 Distinguished Service to Powder Metallurgy Award
The Metal Powder Industries Federation is seeking nominations for the MPIF Distinguished Service to Powder Metallurgy Award. This award recognizes those who devoted the major part of their working careers to one or more segments of PM, and whose long-term contributions and achievements deserve special recognition for outstanding and distinguished service.