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Consortium to push forward PIM technology PENNSYLVANIA S t a t e Univ e r s i t y in t h e U S A h a s l a u n c h e d an industrial consortium to m a t u r e t h e technology of p o w d e r injection moulding (PIM). The m u l t i - s p o n s o r body aims to improve quality, consistency, complexity and o t h e r p r o p e r t i e s of compon e n t s m a d e from metal, cem e n t e d carbide, intermetallic or ceramic powders. The consortium will look a t how to develop powders a n d binders, how to e x p a n d the existing choice of possible injection m o u l d a b l e materi-
Japanese firms show interest in NdFeB magnets US CARMAKER General Motors (GM) is looking for a p a r t n e r in J a p a n to produce neodymium-iron-boron (NdFeB) powder following t h e company's increasing sales of the p r o d u c t in t h a t country. According to Roskill's Letter f r o m J a p a n GM sold 3 0 0 t o n n e s of NdFeB powder to J a p a n in 1991, rising to 400 t o n n e s in 1992. The c o m p a n y is also not, as was reported in March's Metal Powder Report, ceasing p r o d u c t i o n of anisot r o p i c M a g n e q u e n c h NdFeB powder a t its p l a n t in Anderson, Indiana, USA. GM h o p e s
EPMA updates guide to EC health and safety regulations
als, a n d h o w to i m p r o v e processing equipment and c o m p o n e n t performance. Pennsylvania State University aims to bring t o g e t h e r s p o n s o r s involved in all asp e c t s of PIM. T h e s e will include powder makers, chemical companies, e q u i p m e n t m a n u f a c t u r e r s , PIM p a r t s producers, and part end users.
A subscription fee of $35 000 per year gives s p o n s o r c o m p a n i e s first h a n d access to all of the research conducted by t h e consortium. Twice yearly meetings of
to commercialize this p r o d u c t this year. GM's negotiations to find a j o i n t v e n t u r e p a r t n e r in J a p a n h a v e b e e n u n s u c c e s s f u l because t h e c o m p a n y w a n t s to keep p a t e n t a n d sales rights to Magnequench. Potential partners are also concerned a b o u t possible c o m p e t i t i o n from Asahi Chemical Industry, which is developing s a m a r i u m - i r o n - n i trogen bonded permanent m a g n e t s a n d neodymium-titan i u m - n i t r o g e n magnets. J a p a nese consumers have reservations a b o u t t h e use of anisotropic Nd b o n d e d magnets because of t h e i r loss of m a g n e t i s m over 100°C, which l i m i t s t h e i r p r a c t i c a l uses, a l t h o u g h J a p a n e s e firms Seiko
that are classifiedas dangerous substances or dangerous preparations. Examples include powder mixes containing nickel and other metals. A six page section covers the steps that firms that handle or manufacture metal powders should take to minimize the risk of fire or explosion. This section also discusses the factors effecting the severity of reactions of metal powders. The guide also includes guidelines on E C directives such as Threshold limit values, m e a s u r e m e n t of workplace atmospheres and new safety requirements for machinery sold in the EC.
THE EUROPEAN Powder Metallurgy Association (EPMA) has updated its guide to health and safety regulations impos e d on firms operating in or supplying m a t e r i a l s a n d p r o d u c t s to t h e E u r o p e a n C o m m u n i t y ( E C ) . The 46-page guide details statutory obligations under EC legislation as h e a l t h a n d safety restrictions are being h a r m o n i z e d t h r o u g h o u t t h e EC. The guide gives examples for t h e p r e p a r a t i o n of Kate Alexand~, EPMA; EC m a t e r i a l s safety data sheets a n d EC labels for tel: + 44- (0) 743-248899; metal a n d alloy p o w d e r s fax: + 44- (0) 743-362968.
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MPR April 1993
the body will give m e m b e r r i m s , s t u d e n t s a n d researchers t h e o p p o r t u n i t y to interact, to allow t h e t r a n s f e r of technology, a n d to get guidance. Dr Randall M. German, one of t h e leading researchers involved in t h e consortium, says that several c o m p a n i e s from t h e USA, Europe, C a n a d a a n d J a p a n have e x p r e s s e d i n t e r e s t in joining t h e body. G e r m a n says t h a t some of t h e most i n t e r e s t i n g topics t h a t the c o n s o r t i u m will be looking into include w h a t he
Epson a n d Hitachi Metals say t h a t t h e h i g h - t e m p e r a t u r e performance of t h e s e m a g n e t s can be improved. Nd m a g n e t s are also less expensive to produce t h a n s a m a r i u m - b a s e d types. Hitachi Metals h a s been making anisotropic bonded Nd m a g n e t s u n d e r a GM licence since 1 9 8 7 . GM granted t h e licence u n d e r t h e condition t h a t it was to be t h e sole source for t h e s e m a g n e t s ' raw material powder. M i t s u b i s h i M a t e r i a l s is c o n t i n u i n g its r e s e a r c h into Nd magnets, b u t t h e c o m p a n y will n o t b e a b l e to b e g i n p r o d u c t i o n using its hydrogen t r e a t m e n t process until it h a s resolved p a t e n t rights with GM a n d S u m i t o m o Special Metals.
US firm makes PM alloys for highly ductile parts US FIRM Ceromet of Anaheim, California, says it h a s developed powder metallurgy (PM) alloys a n d processing techniques to make p a r t s t h a t are more ductile a t high s t r e n g t h s t h a n conventional PM parts. C o m p a r e d with conventional PM nickel or infiltrated steels, the alloys have superior mechanical properties that allow t h e m to be u s e d in c o m p o n e n t s t h a t are traditionally m a c h i n e d from wrought materials, the c o m p a n y says. Whereas c o p p e r infiltrated PM s t e e l s have tensile s t r e n g t h s of over 0.5 MPa, t h e new PM m a t e r i a l s have tensile s t r e n g t h s of above 1 MPa~
Certm~t; tel: + 1-714-9705500; fax: + 1-714-777-4649.
calls 'direct injection,' where powders are moulded using a m e t a l binder. This process has some similarities with die casting a n d can be used to make steel parts. The c o n s o r t i u m will also make t h e technology b e t t e r k n o w n a n d will a d v e r t i s e m e m b e r c o m p a n i e s in journals, p r e s e n t a t i o n s a n d conferences.
Dr Karl F r a n k Hens, Program Director, Particulate Materials Center, Pennsylvania State University; tel: + 1-814-863-8207; fax: + 1-814-863-8211.
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DEVELOPMENTS in mechanicai alloying will be presented at the 2nd International Conference on Structural applications of Mechanical Alloying on 2022 September 1993. The event, which will take place at Vancouver Renaissance Hotel in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, will look at powder making processes, consolidation, working and heat treatment and the characterization of alloys for use in high performance applications. The conference will also feature recent research into nickel-base super alloys, high temperature aluminium comosites, i n t e r m e t a i lics, n a n o c r y s t a l l i n e and amorphous materials, a n d reaction materials. The organizers say t h a t t h e e v e n t will be of interest to researchers, fabricators and end-users. Presenters will include representatives from bodies such as NASALewis Research Center, M a x Pianck Instlt0t ~ Eisenforschung, University of Science and Technology Beljing and the UICs Defence Research Agency. ASM M e m b e r Serm:cvs Center, ASM International; tel + 1-216-338-5151, mat 703; fax: + 1-216-3384634.