Blog Archives

MetalTek Alloys

Why Certain Metals Offer Greater Wear Resistance

November 30, 2020

One regularly hears recommendations about material selection. Use this alloy for superior heat resistance. Or that for seawater corrosion.  Or this other one for a high wear application.  But what about the alloy actually makes it deliver that performance? In this installment, we will explore some simplified technical reasons – at the microscopic level –…

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AOD

What Is AOD (Argon Oxygen Decarburization)?

November 30, 2020

AOD stands for Argon Oxygen Decarburization, which is an advanced technology for the refinement of iron, nickel, and cobalt based alloys.  By melting a charge in a furnace, and then placing it into the AOD vessel, the metal producer is able to utilize lower cost charge materials, improve mechanical properties, recover nearly 100% of metallic…

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Investment Casting Process

Casting Processes: When To Use Which Method

November 30, 2020

There is more than one way to bake a cake. Ingredients, temperature, bake time, and how many you are serving dictate your approach. Making brownies for the third grade class is not the same as baking an elaborate wedding cake for 350 degrees.  The same is true when it comes to selecting a right metal…

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Bronze CC Parts

What Is The Continuous Casting Process?

November 30, 2020

Overview of Continuous Casting Continuous cast shapes are produced by introducing molten metal into a vertical or horizontal mold that has the ability for rapidly chilling the metal to the point of solidification. The rapid chilling in the mold ensures a fine, uniform grain structure in the solidified metal with higher physical properties than sand…

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Investment Casting Part

What Makes A Good Conversion To A Metal Casting?

November 25, 2020

There are often alternative ways to manufacture any given component.  Sometimes the first way chosen to manufacture a component is not the best way.  There may be a number of reasons for that.  Perhaps one has an expertise or bias for machining, or welding, or forging, or casting, or assembly.  Components may end up being…

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Jack Nuts

Manganese Bronze Material Profile

November 25, 2020

Grade HIGH TENSILE (C86300) Manganese Bronze Description Family of bronzes primarily known for its extremely high strength and ability to resist the corrosive effects of seawater and brine. Often referred to as Yellow Brass. Manganese Bronze Material Properties – Why select this material Tensile strengths range from 60,000 psi to 110,000 psi and are readily…

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Net Shaped Centrifugal Casting Parts

Near-Net Shaping Process: Featured Solution Examples

November 25, 2020

Think of a problem that you face in metal component design or application. Here are some near-net shape manufacturing examples of where leveraging the advantages of near-net shaping have helped MetalTek and a customer work together to solve an application challenge.  Maybe you will see a problem you are working to resolve. For more information…

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Non Ferrous Metal Casting

The History of Copper

November 25, 2020

The “Metals of Antiquity” were the only known metals until the 13th century – and there were seven of them (gold, copper, silver, lead, tin, iron, and mercury).  That number has since exploded to a current count of 91.  Copper is one of the earliest identified metals. There is evidence copper was discovered around 4000 B.C.,…

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Aluminum Bronze Casting

Aluminum Bronze Material Profile

November 25, 2020

Grade Aluminum Bronze Alloys Description A family of alloys containing aluminum as the principle alloying element, offering strength similar to medium carbon steel and possessing excellent corrosion resistance. Properties – Why select this material As aluminum content increases, hardness and tensile strength increase. The lower the aluminum content, the better the corrosion resistance. Applications –…

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Stainless Steel

What Makes It Stainless?

November 25, 2020

What Is Stainless Steel? It’s everywhere. Probably more than you notice. It’s a key material in food preparation and food processing equipment. When you are eating, that fork in your hand is probably made of it. It is likely to be the material your sink is made of. And if you watch HGTV you know that no kitchen is…

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