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SKF extends ball bearings range
New process can extract magnesium The US Department of Energy’s Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) is developing a process to extract naturally occurring magnesium from seawater. The US$2.7 million, three-year project has been announced by the US Department of Energy (DOE)’s Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy, also known as ARPA-E. “Demand for lightweight metals such as magnesium is growing, but it’s expensive and energy-intensive to produce them,” said Pete McGrail, the project’s lead researcher, PNNL laboratory fellow. “We expect our method will be 50% more energy efficient than the United States’ current magnesium production process. This will also decrease carbon emissions and the cost.” Magnesium is used in alloys that decrease weight and increase strength of key parts used in vehicles, airplanes, power genera-
tion equipment, industrial processes and buildings. But magnesium is about seven times more expensive to produce than the steel traditionally used in those applications. The process uses a new, titanium-based catalyst that regenerates an important chemical used in the magnesium extraction process. The catalyst will enable a more efficient process and use less energy. PNNL’s process will require temperatures of no more than 300°C, which is much lower than the 900°C required by the current processes. The project team plans to develop a prototype system that uses the new process. ARPA-E is providing US$2.4 million for the project, while PNNL’s project partners will provide the following cost-share matching US$210,000 from Global Seawater Extraction Technologies and US$60,000 from US Magnesium.
Alcoa develops ‘Magnaforce’ alloy
Alcoa’s wheel alloy. Alcoa has introduced new lightweight wheel alloy ‘MagnaForce’, which is purported to be 16.5% stronger on average than the industry standard in similar applications, Alcoa’s 6061 alloy. Alcoa expects to introduce a new wheel featuring the alloy in early 2014. Alcoa adds that it will use the material to manufacture wheels for commercial transportation. “Alcoa is making truck wheel history with our innovative aluminium material,” claimed Tim
Myers, president, Alcoa wheel and transportation products. “No manufacturer has produced a wheel with an alloy superior to Alcoa’s 6061 material. Our MagnaForce alloy today opens the door to production of the strongest, lightest wheels to increase fleet payload, improve fuel efficiency and enhance sustainability.” Alcoa invented the forged aluminium wheel in 1948, using an alloy it had developed for the aerospace industry.
SKF extends ball bearings range
The process can extract naturally occurring magnesium from seawater.
metal-powder.net
SKF has extended its Energy Efficient (E2) deep groove ball bearings to target larger electric motors up to 350 kW (500 hp). Customers are always looking for ways to conserve energy and reduce greenhouse gasses,” said Chiara Forlani, marketing manager for the electric motor segment in SKF. “This extension of E2 bearing sizes means even greater savings are now possible in many application and industries.”
SKF Energy Efficient bearings reduce friction losses by at least 30% compared to standard SKF bearings. The deep groove ball bearings are characterised by light to normal loads at relatively high speeds. and are suitable for applications such as electric motors, pumps, gearboxes and conveyors. The range provides improved internal geometry for reduced friction, a shield on both sides to protect the friction-reducing features and a new cage design.
November/December 2013 MPR
45
tion equipment, industrial processes and buildings. But magnesium is about seven times more expensive to produce than the steel traditionally used in those applications. The process uses a new, titanium-based catalyst that regenerates an important chemical used in the magnesium extraction process. The catalyst will enable a more efficient process and use less energy. PNNL’s process will require temperatures of no more than 300°C, which is much lower than the 900°C required by the current processes. The project team plans to develop a prototype system that uses the new process. ARPA-E is providing US$2.4 million for the project, while PNNL’s project partners will provide the following cost-share matching US$210,000 from Global Seawater Extraction Technologies and US$60,000 from US Magnesium.
Alcoa develops ‘Magnaforce’ alloy
Alcoa’s wheel alloy. Alcoa has introduced new lightweight wheel alloy ‘MagnaForce’, which is purported to be 16.5% stronger on average than the industry standard in similar applications, Alcoa’s 6061 alloy. Alcoa expects to introduce a new wheel featuring the alloy in early 2014. Alcoa adds that it will use the material to manufacture wheels for commercial transportation. “Alcoa is making truck wheel history with our innovative aluminium material,” claimed Tim
Myers, president, Alcoa wheel and transportation products. “No manufacturer has produced a wheel with an alloy superior to Alcoa’s 6061 material. Our MagnaForce alloy today opens the door to production of the strongest, lightest wheels to increase fleet payload, improve fuel efficiency and enhance sustainability.” Alcoa invented the forged aluminium wheel in 1948, using an alloy it had developed for the aerospace industry.
SKF extends ball bearings range
The process can extract naturally occurring magnesium from seawater.
metal-powder.net
SKF has extended its Energy Efficient (E2) deep groove ball bearings to target larger electric motors up to 350 kW (500 hp). Customers are always looking for ways to conserve energy and reduce greenhouse gasses,” said Chiara Forlani, marketing manager for the electric motor segment in SKF. “This extension of E2 bearing sizes means even greater savings are now possible in many application and industries.”
SKF Energy Efficient bearings reduce friction losses by at least 30% compared to standard SKF bearings. The deep groove ball bearings are characterised by light to normal loads at relatively high speeds. and are suitable for applications such as electric motors, pumps, gearboxes and conveyors. The range provides improved internal geometry for reduced friction, a shield on both sides to protect the friction-reducing features and a new cage design.
November/December 2013 MPR
45