MagnaTech Is Awarded Phase I SBIR Option

On 15 November 2010 MagnaTech was advised that they had been granted a Phase I Option to continue work that they had completed in August to develop a carburization process to protect martensitic stainless steels against wear and corrosion under adverse operating environments. A Phase I Option provides funding for an additional six months of research extending the concept developed during the prior six month Phase I program. This work demonstrated that improved surface protection against wear and corrosion was possible by carburizing Pyroware 675 in less than half the time required in conventional processing. The surface of the stainless steel was improved without any sacrifice in the mechanical properties required of the alloy. The new six month extension of the work includes a continuation of the carburizing cycle that was developed and will also include developing a sister nitriding process to determine which process, carburizing or nitriding will provide the best surface protection at the lowest cost. The program is for a six month period. The Phase I Option is normally a prelude to a Phase II contract that extends the contract for two additional years of development designed to demonstrate the practicality of the technology developed for commercial application. At the end of the two year program, a plan to commercialize the technology is enacted. MagnaTech has applied for patent protection of both the carburization and the nitriding process that has been developed.

MagnaTech Gains Sole Ownership of Phosphorus Iron Alloy Patent

In 2003 MagnaTech and Procedyne  were awarded a Patent that nanoalloyed phosphorus with iron powder to formulate the  popular 45P and 80P powders that are used in advanced designs of fractional horsepower motors. The modern car today contains close to 100 of these motors for many electrical requirements, such as window wipers, sensors and rotor or stator segments. Procedyne recently decided that renewal of this patent was not in their interest because they have other opportunities to pursue. MagnaTech therefore has just paid the maintenance fees and now maintains sole ownership of the patent. MagnaTech is currently exploring further opportunities for development of this technology because there is a problem with excess phosphorus in waste water. Therefore MagnaTech is exploring ways to alleviate the problem of contamination of our fresh water supply and the restoration of the environment. MagnaTech welcomes partners that may wish to contribute to this venture. Contact Ken Moyer at moyer@snip.net for additional information.

Magnatech Submits Proposal for A Phase II NAVAIR SBIR

Hi: It was just two short weeks ago that we received an e mail giving us the opportunity to provide a Second Phase proposal to continue the work that we have pioneered to carburize surfaces of martensitic stainless steels.  We have demonstrate  that we can carburize a surface to a depth of 1 mm and a hardness of greater than 58 HRC in less than half the time required for an equivalent depth  by conventional carburizing. MagnaTech has already applied for a patent to protect the technology that was developed. If the Navy accepts the proposal MagnaTech will continue their effort to improve the process and to scale up the process for application to surfaces of Navy components such as tailhook shoes and helicopter gearing for advanced aircraft. The immediate objective is to improve the wear resistance of the tailhook shoe without sacrifice of corrosion resistance. If Magnatech is successful in being awarded patent protection and successful in being awarded a Phase II SBIR contract, upon the completion of the two year effort, MagnaTech would establish a production heat treat shop to carburize or nitride first Navy parts, then those required by the Department of Defense and the commercial sector. In addition, MagnaTech would consider selective licensing of the technology. Any interested parties should contact Ken Moyer at moyer@snip.net or call 856-786-9061. Now that MagnaTech may have established this line of research, MagnaTech is concentrating on developing technology that will improve the environment by converting  sewer water to valuable product. Again Ken Moyer is interested in talking with interested partners regarding this technology.

Good News At Magnatech

Magnatech has just been advised by NAVAIR that they may proceed to write a proposal to petition for a Phase II SBIR award. If accepted Magnatech will receive an award of $750,000 for two years to scale up and commercialize a process to carburize stainless and low alloy steel tailhooks. Magnatech has already applied for patent rights to the technology that has been developed. The process developed will provide a carburized surface of a given hardness for a given depth in less than half the time that is required by those using presently developed carburizing processes. Magnatech is currently contacting interested parties that require surfaces that require wear resistance regarding the usage of the newly developed technology.

MagnaTech Applies for Second Patent

MagnaTech recently completed two Navy contracts. These contracts were to improve the wear and corrosion resistance of tail hook components. One of the contracts involved development of a carburization process to improve the wear resistance to scuffing and gouging of these components while maintaining corrosion resistance. The alloy carburized was Pyroware 675. The feature of the development was that higher carburizing temperatures were used that are not considered practical because grain growth may result.  The MagnaTech process permits deposition of carbon on the surface at higher concentration, and owing to the higher deposition temperature, diffusion to a required depth of hardness occurs in less than half the time required of traditional processes. The process is also cleaner and more friendly to the environment.

MagnaTech shortly will file a second patent regarding a new alloy that they developed to satisfy the same requirements. The alloy developed is a powder metallurgy powder, water or gas atomized using conventional equipment. The atomized powder  is then nitrogen alloyed to produce alloys containing as much as 0.8 % nitrogen. The nitrogen is alloyed within either a vacuum furnace, using a partial pressure of nitrogen, or in a fluid bed. After consolidation into a part of net shape, the nitrogen alloyed part may be further carburized or nitrided to harden the surface to a specified hardness for a specified depth of hardness. A further feature of the process is that instead of nitrogen alloying the powder, conventional martensitic stainless steels may be carburized or nitrided in similar fashion. In many cases, through hardening to specified hardness may be accomplished owing to the deposition concentration and the diffusion that occurs from carburizing or nitriding at the higher temperatures.

MagnaTech now wishes to proceed to exploit the developments described briefly above. For more detailed information regarding the practice of these innovations please contact moyer@snip.net.

Revisiting the Iron Phosphorus Alloys

MagnaTech has recently learned of a new possible way of economically creating sintered iron phosphorus alloys. These alloys are currently used where higher strength is required, compared with traditional iron-carbon, and iron-copper-carbon sintered powder parts. In addition, the iron phosphorus alloys have improved resistivity for AC magnetic applications. Also, when sintered properly, these alloys exhibit higher permeability and lower coercive force than most soft magnetic alloys. MagnTech would like to discuss the research that they intend to propose in December to interested parts fabricators that wish to improve their sintered parts at reduced material costs. Interested parties may contact Mr. Moyer at moyer@snip.net.

Magnatech Submits Proposal to the Defense Logistics Agency

Today MagnaTech submitted a proposal for research to improve casting performance. The proposal takes a proprietary technology developed by MagnaTech and proposes a process that is designed to eliminate surface flaws by nanoalloying the surface to provide a hard, corrosion and wear resistant surface with improved fatigue strength. Further modification of the process will permit microstrucure refinement and improved strength and toughness of the casting. MagnaTech has two investment casting houses participating in the program. For those interested in further details and possible participation contact Mr. Moyer at 856-786-9061.

Nanoalloying

Magna-Tech is currently in the process of extending the technology that they have recently developed to use nanotechnology to enhance wear and corrosion resistance of martensitic stainless steels. The same processing technology can also be used to through harden martensitic stainless steel parts to provide higher strength and improved toughness. Currently there are problems with skin effects that happen when steel is cast into molds. Magna-Tech believes that the process we have developed can overcome these troublesome conditions that affect the fatigue strength of castings. Magna-Tech is in the process of obtaining patent protection for the innovative process and is currently seeking financial backing to exploit the developed technology. Interested parties, either seeking a license or investment opportunities, may gain additional information by contacting Ken Moyer at moyer@snip.net.

MagnaTech Finds Partner for Casting Research

MagnaTech now has a partner to co-operate in producing cast specimens to define the mechanical properties of cast 430 C stainless steel in preparation to assisting the foundry to serve the Defense Department as a future supplier. The Department of Defense is currently under the gun attempting to find sufficient foundrys with satisfactory technology to deliver castings on time that are of high quality. MagnaTech intends to use its patent pending process to innovate a   modified 430 C cast alloy using nanotechnology to create a surface that is more corrosion and wear resistant. Currently the industry has difficulty with skin effects that cause premature failure. Anyone interested in the new technology that has been developed  please contact moyer@snip. net for additional information.

Current Events

Today we met with our patent attorney to discuss filing a patent that deals with nitriding. Currently we have applied for a sister patent dealing with carburization. We would like to discuss the content of these patents with interested parties that may have need of these novel technologies.
In addition, MagnaTech has a patent dealing with alloying of iron powder with phosphorus. The maintenance fee on this patent is due and MagnaTech would like to contact any party that may have an interest prior to the patent expiring and becoming public domain.
MagnaTech still is looking for a foundry to partner with to compete for a Broad Agency Announcement dealing with casting development and technology. If interested contact Ken at 856-786-9061 or by e mail at moyer@snip.net.

All In A Day

Today was unusual because I went to the shore, in the rain, to view a boat failure. Seems that the individual had a propeller shaft replaced almost a year ago. He was out with his family on Sunday and there were tremendous vibrations, and he made a call for help. He finally made it back to port. On checking out the problem, the propellor was removed and the shaft was found to almost be fractured across the diameter. Since the fracture was not complete, we could not see the surface in detail. However, it appears that the problem is probably fatigue from an incident that happened almost a year ago. He wants the manufacturer to look at the problem first and then if he wants furthur work he will contact us.

On a second topic, MagnaTech is looking for a casting shop, specifically in the production of stainless steel castings to partner with on a Broad Agency Announcement (BAA). The proposal is due in September so MagnaTech will require the partner shortly if they are to prepare the proposal. There are ten areas of research of interest to the government. If you are a decission maker in a foundry, MagnaTech would appreciating initial contact to explore whether a viable proposal can be made.

Return of an Old Customer

Yesterday is the kind of day that we like. Right now we are in a transition period where we are waiting decisons beyond our control. While so, we are not as busy as we have been for the last six months. Therefore when an old customer called and asked for some help in resolving a technical problem, we not only gained the job, we also gained an immediate job. Back in the early 90s, this customer had been a main stay. We did his gas analyses--carbon, nitrogen, oxygen and sulfur--using our Leco detectors. We also did research using his powder to develop a grade of stainless steel, and also developed his phosphorus iron powder. The customer grew,  hired their own metallurgist and purchased their own Leco detectors. Since then MagnaTech has been contacted several times when this company has had problems which they could not resolve. MagnaTech is always proud to serve where they can. Being a good member of the community is good relations and just the right way of life.

Today's Hot Topics

    MagnaTech is a company that has been in business for 26 years. Our purpose is to assist companies in research in specialized areas of powder metallurgy, magnetic materials and applications,  low alloy and stainless steels, and  surface coatings and processes. During our existence MagnaTech has been awarded one patent and is currently apply for two more from work recently completed on two Department of Defense SBIR Phase I contracts. In the past 10 years MagnaTech has been favored in receiving  five SBIR Phase I contracts. In the 26 years of business MagnaTech has been instrumental in the growth of many small starter companies to multimillion dollar companies.

    MagnaTech has several problems. One is that people do not answer telephones in the current age. With return call systems, calls are screened and if the person is not known, then the individual contacted is discourteous to not return the call. We realize that people are being plagued with unwanted calls and that they are overworked, but at least people in past jobs were courteous to return a call. One company that is currently a multimillion dollar company grew and thrived because they made one call and it was answered promply for the benefit of both parties. In addition, people today do not bother to answer e mails either, owing to the volume of SPAM that they wade through every day. How can people establish a business relationship, if there is no communication?

    MagnaTech is therefore establishing their BLOG in the hopes that the content will be sufficiently interesting to establish contacts to mutual advantage. MagnaTech currently has completed two Department of Defense, Navy Air Phase I Sbir contracts and is currently moving for patent protection in respect to the innovative technology that has been developed. MagnaTech expects to be offered an opportunity to participate in a Phase two effort. The technology is in the field of wear resistant coatings, specifically involving carburizing and nitriding. MagnaTech has already petitioned the Patent Office for one patent. The second is currently being constructed. MagnaTech is seeking prime contractors that will help transfer this technology into commercial practice.

    More recently a BAA has been issued regarding research in casting technology. It appears that so much of this industry has been either ceased or transferred to China that the Defense department is either experiencing long time for delivery or faulty parts. They have recently issued the BAA with ten specific research areas in mind. MagnaTech has not done extensive work with foundries, however, MagnaTech may have equipment and ideas that have not been considered. MagnaTech is therefore seeking a partner to participate in participating in this technology. The ideal partner would be a small foundary that does not have the time for research but would like to expand and have casting capability to produce castings of reasonable quality.

    MagnaTech would welcome your correspondence. We reply normally within one day to all telephone calls, e mails and other correspondence. We welcome problems that you neither have the time nor the expertise to handle, specifically in the areas cited above.