Processing of high performance metallic and ceramic materials

该研究工具和仪器(RTI)应用于真空/惰性气氛烧结炉，具有石墨元素，最高工作温度为2,950°C。所需的设备将能够处理各种先进材料，以支持几个主要的面向工业的研究项目，包括正在进行的NSERC CRD、APC和Discovery补助金、Springboard创新补助金，以及波音公司资助的一项重大研究合同。该熔炉系统最初将用于支持以下项目：(I)开发和表征用于航空航天和石化应用的高性能陶瓷-金属复合材料(或金属陶瓷)，(Ii)为汽车工业加工TiAl金属间化合物粉末和部件，(Iii)通过表面渗硼提高钛和铁合金部件的硬度和耐磨性，以及(Iv)开发和表征来自可再生生物资源的新型碳和石墨泡沫。指定的设备对申请者研究先进材料开发至关重要，并在现有能力和能力的基础上极大地扩展。目前进展受到严重限制，因为我们仅限于一个老化和不可靠的设施，不能满足各种研究方案的业务绩效要求。对特定真空/惰性气氛炉的需求对概述的研究的成功既是直接的，也是至关重要的，最终将支持四个研究小组每年15至20个HQP的工作。

This Research Tools and Instruments (RTI) application is for a vacuum/inert atmosphere sintering furnace, with graphite elements, that has a maximum operating temperature of 2,950°C. The requested equipment will be capable of processing a wide variety of advanced materials, in support of several major industrially oriented research programmes, including ongoing NSERC CRD, APC, and Discovery grants, a Springboard Innovation grant, as well as a major Boeing-funded research contract. This furnace system will operate initially in support of the following projects: (i) development and characterisation of high performance ceramic-metal composites (or cermets) for aerospace and petrochemical applications, (ii) processing of TiAl intermetallic powders and components for the automotive industry, (iii) improving the hardness and wear resistance of Ti- and Fe-alloy components through surface boriding, and (iv) development and characterisation of novel carbon and graphite foams, derived from renewable bio-resources. The specified equipment is critical to the applicants' research into advanced materials development, and dramatically expands upon present capabilities and capacity. Progress is currently severely constrained, as we are limited to an ageing and unreliable facility that cannot satisfy the operational performance demands of the various research programmes. The need for the specified vacuum/inert atmosphere furnace is both immediate and vital to the success of the outlined research, and will ultimately support the work of 15 to 20 HQP per annum, across four research groups.