MagnaTech Begins Second Year of NAVAIR Contract

Well, it is a new year and new years bring changes. Last year was a good one for MagnaTech, and we are looking forward to further expansion this year. In addition, this is a year of transition for our present Navy contract. To date, we have been using cylinders to define the surface and core properties of the carburized alloys. We have also spent the past year understanding why and how carburization results from our process. We now have a good understanding, and we are preparing to commercialize our technology. We are preparing a slide show that describes what we are doing and how the technology can benefit you, our customers. We should be prepared to accomplish this objective by spring, not too far away. In addition, as I said, this year will be a year of transition. Now that we have the surface and core properties defined and understand the mechanisms that result through our technology, we now have to demonstrate the wear and the corrosion resistance under simulated practical conditions. We are now underway on this transition, and we intend to have initial test results by next month. In addition to these activities, there is more and more interest in magnetic testing of iron nickel and iron cobalt alloys. MagnaTech is one of the few laboratories other than producers and large companies that are prepared to do these tests. Therefore, in addition to doing tests to determine direct current properties, MagnaTech is considering adapting their test facility to report core losses to a frequency of at least 400 Hz. These objectives kick off a very ambitious expansion for the first part of this year. We are excited about these opportunities and challenges and look forward to serving you, our customers, with the information that you require to improve your products.

MagnaTech Salutes You Our Customers for a Great Year

The year 2012 was a great year for MagnaTech because, you, our customers helped us to grow and to serve you better.On the 10th of January, our first good news was received. At that time MagnaTech was notified by the Navy that a two-year Phase  II contract was awarded to develop a protective surface for the hook points of aircraft landing on present day aircraft carriers.  MagnaTech has now been working on this contract for a year, and we have developed four alloys that are of interest for continuing work. The requirements of the program are to provide a hardness of greater than 60 HRC to a minimum depth of 1 mm on a ferrous hook point . To date, we are on schedule, the Navy is pleased with the progress, and we are prepared to forge into the future. Currently we are building the load capacity to carburize 80 hookpoints. In addition, we are in the process of designing a test apparatus to simulate wear and corrosion resulting from landing conditions on aircraft carriers. At the end of this year we need to be prepared to commercialize the process.
In conjunction with commercialization. MagnaTech filed for patent protection for the technology developed  over two years ago. Just prior to Christmas, MagnaTech was informed that the patent has been granted. MagnaTech has other patents pending that protects similar technology in respect to nitriding.
MagnaTech has also been preparing a marketing and  business plan to establish a company to commercialize the new technology. The financial section of the business plan is completed, and we are working on the executive summary of the document now. MagnaTech is also in the beginning stages of developing a marketing plan to commercialize the new technology.
In conjunction with all this activity, MagnaTech has also hired a new employee to assist in growing the new company. This person has done a remarkable job and has done much to provide the kind of friendly service that you expect.
 MagnaTech also continues to increase its consulting and testing service, in particular to those that are making ribbon and metal injection molded magnetic parts for demanding magnetic properties. Magnatech is already servicing four producers that require testing and consulting service in respect to their technology, and we also expect to gain three additional customers this coming year.
Overall ,MagnaTech is happy with our growth. We have yet to receive any complaints regarding service delivery and downright tender loving care for you, our most valued customers and friends As usual, a hearty thank you for considering us for testing and consulting on your critical processing. May this new year continue to build on these relationships. Fair Winds!

Second Year of Phase II Contract Funded

Life continues to be on the fast track for MagnaTech. Last Friday MagnaTech was notified that the second year of its current Phase II Department of Defense NAVAIR contract has been funded. As of next year, MagnaTech will have completed a year scaling up an innovative high temperature carburizing process to provide hardness, corrosion and wear resistance on hook points for advanced Navy aircraft. MagnaTech is up to speed on this contract, and now has capability of  carburizing a lot of 120 preforms in simulation of carburizing surfaces of hook points, To date MagnaTech has demonstrated that they can apply a surface hardness  greater than 60 HRC to a minimum depth of 1 mm in two hours. MagnaTech is awaiting issuance of a patent in respect to the new technology. MagnaTech continues to work on development of the process, and  can accomplish the task on martensitic stainless and low alloy steel preforms. MagnaTech is currently designing a test apparatus to test the carburized hook points under simulated service conditions.
MagnaTech also continues to provide services for testing of hi mu 80 and 50 Ni /50 Fe alloy ribbon forms. These items are currently used for inductors for mHz frequency applications. MagnaTech  believes that we have developed a powder and an insulative coating sufficient to improve the remnant magnetization, coercive field and  permeability of the alloys, as well as lower the core losses required of these important components of modern inverters for automotive applictions for either hybrid or electric vehicles. Customer interest in the testing capability for determining the soft magnetic properties continues to increase.
If you, as  producers of parts requiring  testing or development of coating technology to improve your  products, have need of our innovative technology, MagnaTech would be interested in partnering with you to improve your products.

An Update On Activities

Last week Moyer of MagnaTech attended an A06 Magnetic Test Methods meeting in Atlanta, Georgia. This committee is responsible for writing and maintaining all ASTM specifications regarding magnetic materials and the testing thereof. MagnaTech tests nickel base alloys according to ASTM A596, and since the specification was due for review, Moyer agreed to study the specification to determine whether any revisions are required. Two magnetic powder metallurgy specifications pertaining to iron and nickel iron are also due for review. Since these specifications were written by Moyer, he agreed to study these specifications for changes also.
MagnaTech is also about to submit a proposal for the use of its patented carburizing and nitriding processes to extend to forging grade alloys (tool steels) to improve the life of forging dies. The cost of construction of a forging die is expensive, which often precludes the option of producing a quality part using forging technology.
MagnaTech is currently interested in preparing a proposal for the Department of Energy to explore research to produce iron-nitrogen permanent magnets to replace expensive iron neodymium boron magnets currently required for the electric car. Development of this technology is a possible alternative to the present gasoline propelled vehicle that is being blamed for contributing to the pollution of the atmosphere. Also required are improved low loss magnetic materials for passive inductors. As an alternative to submitting a proposal for the development of iron nitrogen permanent magnets, MagnaTech may elect to develop a soft magnetic alloy for this application. MagnaTech has been active in this activity in the past.
In addition to the above, MagnaTech is winding up its first year of a two-year Phase II SBIR contract to scale up its patent pending processes to improve wear and corrosion resistance of hook points for the Navy. The contract is on schedule, and MagnaTech expects to be prepared to commercialize the technology at the end of the two year contract. The second year of the contract, in addition to scaling up the process, is also to develop a test method to certify the improved wear resistance of the surfaces that have been carburized or nitrided. MagnaTech personnel are interested in talking with interested parties about the new carburizing and nitriding technology.  Magna-Tech is also interested in talking with prospective partners regarding new innovative technology for development.

Forging Die Modification

MagnaTech is currently conducting a Phase II research study with NAVAIR to improve the wear and corrosion resistance of hook points used to arrest the speed of Navy jets when they land on the decks of aircraft carriers. The thrust of this research is to scale up patent pending processes of high temperature nano carburizing and nitriding. Although the present research is designed to provide wear and corrosion resistent hook points, MagnaTech is persuing additional research to adapt the technology to other applications.
The Department of Energy, in conjunction with various industries, has drawn up road maps to assist them in research to help the industries to grow and become more competitive. One of these industries is the forging industry.
In their road map, one of the key items requiring investigation is the improvement in the life of expensive forging dies. Currently there is confusion as to what is the average life of a die, and also what can be done to improve die life. Since forging dies are subject to extremes in temperature, shock and abrasion, MagnaTech believes that this newly developed processes may assist greatly in the improvement in forging die life, without adding costly additional processing to the die. Simply by modifying current heat treating procedures, nano alloying and diffusing of carbon or nitrogen to the surfaces of these dies could result in extensive improvement to dies currently, or soon to be placed, into service. MagnaTech is searching for partners to explore use of the developed technology  for cost effective improvement of die life in individual applications of interest to interested companies seeking to develop their processing for their most troublesome dies, regarding life and performance.

MagnaTech Returns to the Powder Metallurgy Industry

MagnaTech was established 27 years ago to develop processing and material development, mainly for magnetic applications. At that time metal injection molding development was a dream to many, and a good friend made the statement that parts would be made by this process when all other processes failed. Furthermore, he said, parts will never be larger than the size of a dime.
Today, not only has the development of parts made using metal injection molding grown into a fledgling industry, but the promise of improved properties resulting from the technology is becoming reality.
MagnaTech has evaluated some of the magnetic parts made using this technology and we have not been too impressed. However, MagnaTech has just begun working with a new customer who intends to use metal injection molding technology to fabricate some of its parts. MagnaTech has just received the first set of these parts for evaluation. Actually, they are not the parts themselves, but metal injection molded rings that received identical processing as the parts. Prior to this shipment of rings, the rings that have been evaluated were distorted and discolored. Rings of this nature are always suspect because the discoloration suggests impurities and the distortion suggests stress. Both are detrimental to obtaining the magnetic properties required for the application. However, the rings just received are shiny and are not distorted. MagnaTech therefore looks forward to evaluation of these rings and a long term relationship with our new customer.

Do You Need Help Heat Treating or Testing HyMu 80 Alloy?

HyMu 80 is a nickel base alloy that has as principal alloying elements 80% nickel, 4.2 % molybdenum and remainder iron. The alloy is used primarily for transformer cores, tape wound torroids, laminations, and for shielding to protect electrical components from stray magnetic fields. Its value is that it provides low initial and maximum permeability, with low hysteresis losses. The alloy is available in bar, sheet or wire.
When sold to the user, the material is accompanied by a certification that states  the material satisfies the required properties. The problem is that once the material is altered, such as by machining, stamping or other mechanical operation, the certified properties no longer apply. The user then must provide a heat treatment that restores the magnetic properties to the properties originally certified. Heat treating may be a problem because there are different furnaces, atmospheres and proceedures that may not provide the heat treatment required to restore the original properties of the material. In addition, testing becomes the second problem. Equipment for testing is expensive, and unless you are a large company it is difficult to justify its purchase. In addition, the tests available also are fraught with error, and repeatability between laboratories is not good. The problem is that hysteresigraphs and other similar test equipment are composed of an ammeter to measure the current to define the applied field. The measurements required to calculate the applied field are at the extreme lower end of the ammeter and therefore are prone to maximum error. In addition, the flux meter also requires the most sensitive scale for measurement of the magnetic induction. It too is at a scale where the error is maximum. Throw in zeroing capability of a hysteresigraph and you have a third major error. Therefore, couple sensitive heat treatment with high risk of measurement in testing and you may have a problem. MagnaTech has worked with many customers to resolve the headaches that result after the material has been received and altered. MagnaTech can help you to resolve your heat treating inconsistities, and also can provide accurate test results that are within 3% error. If you are having a problem either heat treating or testing this magnetic alloy, please consult MagnaTech to resolve your problem.