57 / 82
CHTE UPDATE
7
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
5 7
of the potential strength toughness and cost benefits
of bainitic steels over martensitic steels. Furnace
manufacturers and commercial heat treat shops, in
order to satisfy customer requirements, must quickly
acquire knowledge and experience in the design,
validation, and control of heat treating processes
devised to produce bainitic microstructures in steel
alloys. According to Ferdon, “The unique benefit
that CHTE brings to applied research is the collective
knowledge, experience, material characterization
tools, and manufacturing resources that lie with-
in the materials science organizations of its member
companies.”
•
Additive manufacturing
is another hot area, and as
the technology improves to a point of reliably print-
ing metal products, it is important to understand how
heat treatments can be used in these processes.
RECENT PROJECTS
Following is a snapshot of some of the projects CHTE is
now completing:
CarbTool – Predicting Microhardness and Carbon Con-
centration Profiles.
Researchers at CHTE are perfecting car-
bon concentration profile predictions through enhance-
ments to CarbTool, its simulation software. This software
successfully predicts the carbon concentration profiles of
steel parts in both low-pressure carburization, also referred
to as vacuumcarburization, and gas carburization. Themod-
els being developed can be used to optimize industrial car-
burizing parameter processes, eliminating much of the trial
and error currently happening in the industry. This in turn is
saving heat treaters significant time andmoney (Fig. 2).
Studying Properties of Induction and Furnace Tempered
Parts.
For the past two years, CHTE researchers have been
working on a one-of-a-kind research project aimed at better
understanding the mechanical properties and microstruc-
tural features of steels that have been gas tempered and
induction tempered. This comparative, precompetitive re-
search aims to help heat treaters better understand the op-
timal technology they should use, especially because tem-
pering requires a balance between specified hardness and
tensile strength, while increasing toughness andmaintaining
a uniformmicrostructure (Fig. 3).
Additive Manufacturing – Researching the Behavior of
Metals and Alloys.
The growing field of additive manufactur-
ing (AM) allows manufacturers to create more complicated
and lighter weight parts with less wastedmaterials. Yet ques-
tions abound about how these materials will behave in their
environment. Will thematerials be durable?Will corrosionbe
a problem? How will the part withstand stress? Understand-
ing the processing, structure, property, and performance re-
lationship in the AM field is why WPI researchers are spend-
ing significant time and energy on this work.
Alloy Life Extension Project.
Goals include finding ways
to extend the service life of parts and fixtures, and reduc-
ing the energy associated with these processes. Recently,
muchof the center’s focus has beenonassessing thebenefits
of alumina forming alloys, which excel in high temperature
applications, as they oxidize more slowly than chromia
formers and are a barrier to carbon uptake.
CHTE MEMBERSHIP
CHTE members include furnace and heat treat equipment manufacturers, commercial heat treat shops, OEMs,
professional and technical institutions, and heat treat tool and supply providers. Current members include ALD
Vacuum Technologies GmbH, Amsted Rail, ASM International, Bodycote, Caterpillar Inc., Cummins, DANTE Solutions,
Deere & Company, Fiat Chrysler Automotive, General Electric Power, GKN Sinter Metals, H.C. Starck, Ipsen, Pratt &
Whitney, Sikorsky Aircraft, Surface Combustion Inc., Thermatool, Thermo-Calc Software, and The Timken Company.
For more information about CHTE, email Rick Sisson at
sisson@wpi.edu.
Fig. 2 —
CarbTool is an effective model to predict carbon concen-
tration profiles during low-pressure and gas carburizing.
Fig. 3 —
One of CHTE’s recent projects demonstrates the
benefits and limitations of induction tempering versus
furnace tempering.