IK4-AZTERLAN researchers have had an outstanding participation in these international events jointly held on May in the city of Mestre (Italy)
An international Congress that had the participation of around four hundred attendees from more than 30 countries within a technical framework focused on heat treatment technologies and advanced surface engineering.
IK4-AZTERLAN researchers presented two papers in the official program, sharing the results of two different knowledge areas and working lines from the metallurgical center:
The paper “Heat Treatment optimization of secondary AlSi10MnMg (Fe) test parts fabricated by vacuum assisted high pressure casting technology” presents the optimization of thermal treatments T4, T5, T6 and T7 of the new secondary alloy developed by IK4-AZTERLAN for manufacturing high ductility aluminum injected components. The results of this work show that it is possible to obtain high mechanical properties, fully comparable to the ones with conventional primary alloys for such high performance applications. This important development is directly linked to the activities of the Soundcast European project (No. 315506, FP7-2012-1), led by IK4-AZTERLAN.
A second work “Influence of Deep Cryogenic Treatment on the Mechanical Behaviour routes of a Cr-Mo-V hot work tool steel” was focused on the integration of cryogenic stages in the conventional heat treatment cycles and the influence of the process sequence on the mechanical properties of hot work tool steels. A detailed analysis of the performance of these steels under different process conditions has been done, that shows the importance of defining adequate treatment sequences, depending on the final application and requirements of the material and the failure modes associated to it.
The Congress allowed as well to confirm the development of cryogenic treatments applied to the industry with a specific working session dedicated to this technology, in which researchers from different European universities and research centers presented the results of their latest works. The increasing significance and the potential for further industrial applications was clearly stated in this international event.
IK4-AZTERLAN is the single European center with a specific knowledge area specialized in cryogenic technologies. A reference in the field of materialsŽ treatment at very low temperatures, with the capacity to provide comprehensive support to the industry: research activities into the fundamentals of the technology and its advanced applications, cryogenic treatments, design and manufacture cryogenic processors, advice for the implementation of the treatment process, and so on.
