QinetiQ adds alloy powders to its nano range

News
October 20, 2007

October 20, 2007

000431QinetiQ Nanomaterials Ltd (QNL) is to commission a new small scale production plant in Farnborough, UK, in October 2007 for its range of nanopowders produced by the plasma vaporisation process – the so-called Tesima® process.

‘The new rig will enable QNL to produce around 50g pre-production samples for evaluation and testing by customers far more quickly than was possible on its far larger Tesima® nanopowder plant capable of capacities of up to 5 tonnes/year’, stated Dr Ian Clark.

In the QNL process a feedstock material is fed into a high temperature plasma (typically in the temperature range 4,000°C to 9,000°C) which acts as a clean heat source. The feed-stock material is vaporised on contact with the plasma and is carried away from the hot zone on a gas stream.

The vapour is rapidly quenched, the material then condenses and rapidly solidifies to form nanometer sized powder particles which are carried through to a collection system. By controlling the process parameters a range of materials can be produced in a range of particle sizes. Pure metals, passivated metals (with a thin oxide layer), oxides, nitrides and other alloys and compounds can be produced.

000433QNL recently announced the development of TesimorphTM ES-25 – an experimental magnetic stainless steel powder with a particle size of 25 nanometres. This is many times smaller than anything currently available, and is considered to be of particular interest to the MIM community where smooth flows and therefore finer detail can be achieved in micro MIM parts. The company stated that TesimorphTM ES- 25 is only the beginning of producing more complicated advanced alloy materials ranging from steels to shape memory alloys.

www.QinetiQ.com

News
October 20, 2007

In the latest issue of PIM International…

Download PDF

Extensive MIM, CIM industry and sinter-based AM industry news, plus the following exclusive deep-dive articles and reports:

  • INMATEC Technologies: Celebrating 25 years as a driving force behind Ceramic Injection Moulding
  • A year of change: Turbulence in China’s MIM industry as markets evolve
  • Ceramic Injection Moulding: The impact of variotherm and conformal cooling technology on part quality and process capability
  • The Additive Manufacturing of multi-material and multi-functional ceramic components

The latest news from the MIM, CIM and sinter-based AM industries

Don't miss any new issue of PIM International, and stay up to date with the latest industry news. Sign up to our fortnightly newsletter.

Sign up

Join our community

Discover our magazine archive…

The free-to-access PIM International magazine archive offers unparalleled insight into the world of MIM, CIM and sinter-based AM from a commercial and technological perspective through:

  • Reports on visits to leading part manufacturers and industry suppliers
  • Articles on technology and application trends
  • Information on materials developments
  • Reviews of key technical presentations from the international conference circuit
  • International industry news

All past issues are available to download as free PDFs or view in your browser.

 

Browse the archive

 

Looking for suppliers of materials, production equipment and finished MIM, CIM or sinter-based AM parts?

Discover suppliers of these and more in our advertisers’ index and buyer’s guide, available in the back of PIM International.

  • Metal powders
  • MIM, CIM & AM parts producers
  • Binders & feedstocks
  • Feedstock mixers
  • Furnaces & furnace supplies
  • Atmospheres & gas generation
  • HIP systems & services
  • Injection moulding machines
  • AM technology
  • Debinding systems
View online
Share via
Copy link
Powered by Social Snap