Processing of high performance metallic and ceramic materials

该研究工具和仪器（RTI）应用程序用于真空/惰性气氛烧结炉，采用石墨元件，最高工作温度为2，950 °C。所要求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计划，包括正在进行的NSERC CRD，APC和Discovery赠款，Springboard创新赠款以及波音公司资助的主要研究合同。该熔炉系统最初将用于支持以下项目：（一）高性能陶瓷-金属复合材料的开发和特性（ii）用于航空航天和石油化工应用的TiAl金属间化合物粉末和部件的加工，（iii）通过表面渗硼提高Ti和Fe合金部件的硬度和耐磨性，以及（iv）开发和表征衍生自可再生生物资源的新型碳和石墨泡沫。指定的设备对申请人研究先进材料开发至关重要，并大大扩展了现有的能力和容量。目前进展受到严重限制，因为我们的设施老化，不可靠，无法满足各种研究方案的业务性能要求。对指定的真空/惰性气氛炉的需求对于所概述的研究的成功既直接又至关重要，并且最终将支持四个研究小组每年15至20名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.