AerMet® 100, produced by Carpenter Technology Corporation, is a precipitation hardening alloy based on an iron-cobalt nickel mixture strengthened with carbon, chromium and molybdenum. The alloy is equal in strength to 300M high strength steel but with better fracture toughness and stress corrosion cracking resistance. This makes it ideal for use in aircraft components where weight-savings and reliability in severe environments are critical, such as the landing gear for carrier-based military aircraft.
Archives for October 2007
I outsource my heat treating. How do I decide if I should bring it in-house?
There are a lot of factors to consider in this decision and every situation will be unique. A vacuum furnace is a large capital investment and there are other costs associated with setting up in-house that must be taken into account (see our Articles page). You also gain improved turn-around-time and important intangibles such as […]
Is brazing the same as welding?
No. Welding involves the melting of the base metal and may take place with or without a filler metal. Brazing involves the melting and re-solidification of a filler metal to form a joint between two base metal components. There is some diffusion of the filler metal into the base metal during brazing but no melting […]
Can a vacuum furnace be used for both hardening and tempering?
Yes, it can, but there are some issues to consider. A standard vacuum furnace heats its load most effectively at temperatures above 1200°F (650°C), the start of the “red heat” range when radiant heating becomes most efficient. Below 1200°F (650°C), temperature uniformity within the furnace becomes a concern. Tempering operations for many alloys take place […]
World Leader in the Processing of Landing Gear Components
Vac Aero Press Release
VAC AERO’s Ontario Thermal Processing Division continues to support aircraft landing gear programs large and small.
VAC AERO’s heat treating operation in Oakville, Ontario continues to maintain its position as a world leader in the processing of aircraft landing gear components. VAC AERO is now heat treating critical landing gear components for many large commercial aircraft programs including Boeing 777, 777LR, 747-800 and Airbus A380 (commercial and freighter versions). New contracts for processing Boeing 787 and Airbus A320 landing gear components will be underway this year.
HVOF Coating Applications for Modern Gas Turbine Engines
In order to maximize efficiency in modern gas turbine engines, manufacturers have developed methods of obtaining minimal clearance between rotating turbine blade tips and stationary engine casings. One method utilized involves allowing the tips of the turbine blades to wear into a rub tolerant surface on the casing. This ensures that when the blades are fully extended due to centrifugal forces during engine operation, only a minimal leak path will exist for the hot gas across the tips of the blades.
In order to minimize blade tip wear, engine manufacturers are now designing blade tips with wear resistant coatings. VAC AERO has developed an HVOF CoCrAlY coating that fulfills this application.
SiC-Reinforced Aluminum Alloy Coatings Produced by Cold Spray Process
Metal matrix composites are becoming increasingly popular for industrial applications as diverse as aerospace, automotive and electronics. The composites consist of an alloy matrix reinforced with ceramic particles to enhance mechanical properties. Aluminum alloys are especially popular as a matrix material. The addition of relatively inexpensive silicon carbide (SiC) particles to an aluminum alloy matrix improves strength, elasticity, wear resistance and corrosion resistance. These composites are used widely for high performance structural components in aerospace and automotive applications. Current techniques for fabricating the composites include casting, extrusion, powder metallurgy and thermal spray deposition