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A D V A N C E D M A T E R I A L S & P R O C E S S E S | F E B R U A R Y / M A R C H 2 0 1 7
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METALS | POLYMERS | CERAMICS
SOME LIKE IT HOT
A new record was set for the world’s
most heat resistant material by re-
searchers from Imperial College Lon-
don, UK. Using their new laser heating
technique, the team discovered that
hafnium carbide melts at a blistering
3958°C—the highest melting point ever
recorded for any material. Research-
ers applied their method to HfC and
another refractory ceramic, tantalum
carbide, as individual compounds as
well as in mixed compositions. They
discovered that while the melting point
of Ta0.8Hf0.20C was consistent with
previous research at 3905°C, each indi-
vidual compound exceeded previous
records, with TaC melting at 3768°C.
Until now, technology to test the melt-
ing points of these compounds was not
available. This work paves the way for
both materials to be used in more ex-
treme environments, such as fuel clad-
ding in nuclear reactors or heat shield-
ing for next-generation hypersonic
space vehicles.
www.imperial.ac.uk.
COMPOSITE TECHNOLOGY
GETS CONDUCTIVE
A team of researchers from the
Universities of Surrey and Bristol, UK,
and Bombardier, Canada, demonstrat-
ed that growing carbon nanotubes on
the surfaceof carbon fibers incomposite
materials significantly enhances their
electrical and thermal conductivity.
The discovery could provide significant
benefits in the aerospace industry, from
enhancing de-icing to lightning protec-
tion. “The aerospace industry still relies
on metallic structures, in the form of a
copper mesh, to provide lightning strike
protection and prevent static charge
accumulation on the upper surface
of carbon fiber composites,” explains
Thomas Pozegic, research associate at
Bristol’s Advanced Composite Centre
New research paves the way for more innovative heat shields. Courtesy of NASA.
BRIEFS
Largo Resources Ltd.,
Canada, will
produce, qualify, and sell its aero-
space-certified vanadium products
via
Glencore International AG,
Swit-
zerland, the exclusive offtaker of va-
nadium product currently produced
from the Maracás Menchen Mine.
High strength, low alloy vanadium
steels are rapidly replacing traditional
steels as demand surges for stronger,
lighter products for advanced appli-
cations.
largoresources.com.
Under a multiyear, $1 billion con-
tract launched in January,
Arconic,
New York, will serve as sole supplier
to
Airbus,
France, for specific appli-
cations, including some wing, fuse-
lage, and structural components. In
addition to its proprietary alloys, Ar-
conic plate products will be featured
on every Airbus platform, including
material from the company’s new
thick plate stretcher. Arconic’s most
significant share gain in the contract
is the A320 family, Airbus’ highest
growth program.
airbus.com, arconic.com.
Vertically grown carbon nanotubes on
the carbon fibers (horizontal black lines)
enhance the composite’s electrical (e-)
and thermal (q) properties.
Magna International Inc.,
Canada, in cooperation with the
U.S.
DOE,
Washington, and partners
FCA US,
Auburn Hills, Mich., and
Grupo Antolin,
Spain, developed a new, ultralight door architec-
ture that achieves 42.5% mass savings compared to today’s aver-
age production door. Themodule could be applied to roughly 70%
of the light vehicle market.
magna.com.
Airbus A320
Ultralight door module achieves 42.5%mass savings.