The initial steps in the art of manufacturing cymbals are discussed from ancient times through the modern era, including copper smelting, alloying copper and tin, pouring the molten metal into ingots, and processing the ingots by hand-hammering or rolling a finished blank.

Lithium-ion batteries are an important enabling technology for electric vehicles. This article reports on a study in which an induction melting process was evaluated to produce LiFePO 4 (LFP) ingots as well as granules from low-cost precursors. The melt casting process can provide the benefits of utilizing various precursors, rapid reaction kinetics, homogeneous liquid composition, and scale-up readiness. More importantly, this process also offers the possibility of lower-cost battery materials at a similar or better performance level as compared to solid state methods. If successful, melt synthesis of battery cathode material could offer a novel application of the conventional casting process.

Among the structural materials developed in the 20th century, titanium and its alloys have played a leading role in improving component performance. This article provides background on the extraction and primary processing of titanium.

The early days of aluminum development occurred between 1886 and 1948, when the aluminum and automotive industries were both new and undergoing rapid changes in technology and scales of production.

The production and processing of advanced materials, namely metals and alloys, began in the Old World about 8000 years ago and developed over many millennia, providing a lasting legacy for modern civilizations. This article gives a brief overview of the production and processing of ancient bronzes and silver in the Old World, and also mentions post-processing problems including corrosion and embrittlement, owing to long-term burial before archaeological recovery.

An industry pioneer shares a historical overview of the early days of single crystal superalloy development.

The titanium industry was launched in the 1950s and required the efforts of numerous metallurgical engineers and research laboratories, nearly a dozen corporations, and titanium metal producers, along with hundreds of millions of dollars.

This article, the first in a two-part series, explains how powder metallurgy presents a cost-effective alternative to conventional titanium fabrication processes. It reviews the characteristics of different types of titanium powders and compares and contrasts near-net shape (NNS) production techniques, including conventional press-and-sinter, cold isostatic pressing (CIP), hot isostatic pressing (HIP), CIP-sinter, and CIP-sinter-HIP (CHIP). Other titanium production methods are covered in Part 2, which is scheduled for the October 2012 issue of AM&P .

A chance discovery is enabling significant efficiency gains in titanium conditioning, one of the most costly steps in titanium metal production.

Among the structural materials developed in the 20th century, titanium and its alloys have played a leading role in improving component performance. This article discusses development of new production techniques, specifications, economic aspects, and applications that have enabled the current applications of titanium alloys.

This communication is a response to the April 2015 Metallurgy Lane article, Titanium, Part II, by Charles Simcoe. This present piece offers differing historical evidence about the development and commercialization of titanium alloys, including discussion of the patent office proceedings that resulted in the Ti-6Al-4V alloy patent.

Monel 400 was used as a decorative building material from 1905 to the mid-1930s, when it was replaced by stainless steel. This article discusses the development and commercialization of this short-lived architectural metal, also known as nickel alloy 400.

The conclusion of this article series reviews the lasting impact of Ford’s extensive use of aluminum on some of its most popular, high-volume vehicles. It addresses future prospects for aluminum auto body sheet (ABS) production and challenges associated with electric vehicle development.

When the Big Three automakers started thinking about replacing steel sheet with aluminum, they found an industry vastly different from the Alcoa-dominated world of the pre-war era. This article describes developments from the period after World War II thorough the early 1970s.

Despite decades of research, fundamental questions still exist regarding the role of microtexture on the deformation, fatigue, and fracture behavior of titanium alloys. This article describes the microstructural evolution processes that result in microtexture formation, while Part II of this series will further elaborate on the effects of microtexture on deformation behavior.

In North America, renewable power sources and gas turbines are often in the news, but globally, steam turbines generate the largest portion of electricity, and they will remain a predominant power-generation technology for many decades. Because steam turbines represent a preponderance of our power-generation base, it is essential to continue to drive turbine technology development. Until now, the main technical barrier limiting large efficiency improvements was the temperature constraint imposed by available materials. Today, the game is changing. Due to advancements in materials, we now have a chance to make unprecedented improvements in steam turbine power plant efficiency by raising the inlet temperature hundreds of degrees through the use of new tailored superalloys.

Beryllium won a lengthy competition as the material of choice for the mirrors on the James Webb Space Telescope, set to launch in 2018. This article documents the development history leading up to that decision. It took decades to perfect powder atomization and HIP'ing processes to make optical-grade beryllium components homogeneous, isotropic, polishable, thermally and dimensionally stable, and above all, predictable.

A microscope using differential interference contrast inspects grains and inclusions on heat treated aluminum parts to help predict the performance of the metal.

High-strength, corrosion-resistant steel is proposed as a cost-effective alternative to titanium alloys due to its high specific strength, high fatigue strength, good toughness, and corrosion resistance.

A scientific study of two copper coins from 1851 and 1853 reveals well-preserved symbols of a growing, newly independent Chile nation.