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.

A look at how bifilms are created during casting may offer clues to eliminating cracks, tensile fracture, fatigue failure, pitting, and stress corrosion cracking failures.

Molybdenum aluminum boride (MAB) phases have layered nanolaminate structures, suiting them for potential use in cutting tools, leading edges for hypersonic vehicles, high-temperature electrodes, and other demanding applications. This case study demonstrates a process for the production of MoAlB particulates and their incorporation in polymer-matrix composites.

With the opening of Testbed 80, the largest engine testing facility in the world, Rolls-Royce plans to use its unique capabilities to accelerate the journey toward sustainable aviation technologies supported by the intelligent use of materials.

This article provides a brief review of thermal spray technology along with examples of where and how it used in steelmaking equipment and operations.

Production techniques based on net shape forming from the liquid or semisolid state offer advantages in terms of manufacturing simplicity, cost, and energy consumption compared with current complex solid state forming processes. Engineering molten alloys to change their solidification process improves part integrity and alloy microstructure, leading to better component performance.

Synergistic performance can be achieved by integrating judgment-focused humans and prediction-focused AI agents. This article discusses general developments in this area and potential implications for materials innovation in semiconductor devices.

Understanding both the origin and procedures for removing inclusions in magnesium alloys results in castings with enhanced mechanical and corrosion properties. This article provides an overview of typical inclusions found in magnesium and its alloys, various techniques used to determine inclusion content, and methods employed to reduce inclusions and their influence on properties.

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.

The cost of electric power is the biggest expense involved in aluminum production. Proximity to economical power sources determined the location of major aluminum reduction plants. This article describes the development of the aluminum industry in the early part of the twentieth century.

AM&P spoke with Brian Donahue of Canvus to learn how this manufacturer upcycles end-of-life wind turbine blades into furniture for communities, parks, and schools.

This article addresses work to develop core technology for high pressure die casting in order to enable high volume and low-cost manufacturing of lightweight automotive components with complex hollow structural shapes. Although experimental verification of the concept using a part with simplified geometry looks promising, the technique requires further testing using commercial components with internal cavities of complex geometry.

Thixomolding is a method of molding semi-solid magnesium alloy pellets using equipment and processing methods similar to injection molding. Its commercial growth has been driven by its technical advantages, including enhanced precision, environmental cleanliness, and the ability to produce complex 3D shapes with high yields and minimal waste.

News about ASM members, chapters, events, awards, conferences, affiliates, and other society activities. Topics include: White House announces ASM as a member of the new Lightweight Metals Institute; Alcoa Cleveland heavy hydraulic closed die forging presses celebrated as an ASM Historical Landmark; Mitch Dorfman inducted into the Thermal Spray Hall of Fame; volunteer profile for Kathy Hayrynen.

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

Melt-injection of organic precursors may result in revolutionary technologies for producing ceramic reinforced metal-matrix composite castings.

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

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.

The hands-on experience provided during an Eisenman Materials Camp for students is a compelling way to excite young people to consider a STEM career. The volunteer-lead curriculum pairs a weeklong failure analysis project with many hands-on heat treating, metal casting, and materials characterization experiments. This article provides background about the Eisenman camp as well as the other student camps organized by the ASM Materials Education Foundation and discusses their benefits and long-term impact.

Automakers and aluminum producers make headway in lightweight vehicle development in the 1990s and early 2000s.