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Induction Melting
Induction heating takes place when an electrically conducting material is placed in a varying magnetic field. The conducting material can either be the melt stock or the crucible in which it is to be melted.
Induction melting and vacuum sintering are used in powder production and for the manufacturing of other alloys. Typical melted products produced in this manner by Reading Alloys include aluminum-cobalt, nickel-magnesium, and calcium-magnesium. These lines are also useful for research and short production runs.
Hydride-Dehydride
Reading Alloys has expanded its powder metal capabilities with the addition of a new Hydriding/Dehydriding facility. The Hydride/Dehydride (HDH) process for powder production is an effective method for production of a variety of specialty powders such as vanadium, titanium, and niobium for pressed parts and laser-forming spray applications, as well as coating applications for the electronic, military, automotive and aerospace industries.
Hydrogen impregnation (hydriding) into the grain structure of metals enables sizing of non-crushable materials into an infinite range of particle size distributions. Since hydriding is totally reversible, powders can be produced from high-purity feed stock without compromising the starting chemistry. Reading Alloys can customize the particle size and distribution of powder products using a broad variety of powder processing equipment.
Cold Isostatic Pressing (CIP)
Reading Alloys’ cold isostatic pressing process consolidates materials into workable forms for further processing. Powder raw materials are blended, packed into a rubber press bag and sealed. At very high pressures, the material is compacted to a solid shape exhibiting 65-85% of theoretical density.
Powder Crushing, Milling & Screening
Reading Alloys powder processing services include crushing, milling and screening to create high-purity metals and fine powders. We also perform custom processing, toll sizing, toll hydriding, size reduction, pulverizing, grinding, custom blending, and agglomeration activities. Powder particle sizes range from 325 mesh (45 microns) to 50 mesh (300 microns). A stainless steel V-blender is used to ensure homogeneous blends.
Metal hydrides are milled and screened to produce fine powders. After the powder has been sized, interstitial hydrogen is subsequently removed using vacuum and heat to produce finished metallic or alloy powders. This process is done to eliminate any oversize particles or fine fractions. The powders are solid and angular in morphology and can also be magnetically screened and acid washed to remove any ferro-magnetic contamination.
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