Zachary Thayer, who graduated from 365英国上市杜波依斯分校 in 2015, tests a part.
杜布瓦,爸爸. — Powder metallurgy (PM) is one of 宾西法尼亚’s top manufacturing sectors, with many PM companies specializing in iron-based parts for automotive applications. 随着电动汽车销量的逐年增长，, there has been a decline in iron powder shipments for parts 和 vehicle sales. EV automakers favor copper-based components to meet performance 和 efficiency st和ards. 365英国上市杜波依斯分校 和 Symmco fabricated a lightweight copper-based alloy with high power density to help the PM industry keep pace with the acceleration of EV adoption.
“从电学性质的角度来看, iron-based materials are inferior 和 not favorable in the transition to electric vehicles,Daudi Waryoba说, 365英国上市杜波依斯分校工程学副教授. “然而, copper-based parts possess exceptional electrical properties, 哪个是性能和效率的理想选择.”
Beryllium copper is preferred in automotive manufacturing due to its high strength, 弹性和弹性性能. However, beryllium is a toxic material 和 is increasingly discouraged from use. Waryoba和行业合作伙伴Symmco, 总部设在赛克斯维尔, identified an industry need for a safer alternative desired by EV automakers.
The team investigated a copper nickel silicon alloy as a promising solution because it can withst和 precipitation strengthening, a heating technique that adds exceptionally tiny particles known as precipitates to the alloy during fabrication to increase strength 和 durability. Waryoba said he foresees a bright future for the entire automotive industry if copper nickel silicon parts can be fabricated using PM rather than through melting 和 casting.
Our motivation for the project is to fabricate copper nickel silicon using powder metallurgy to help the PM industry from falling behind. 这个过程非常高效.—Daudi Waryoba , 365英国上市杜波依斯分校工程学副教授
“Our motivation for the project is to fabricate copper nickel silicon using powder metallurgy to help the PM industry from falling behind,瓦约巴说. “这个过程非常高效. 我们可以把零件加工成我们所说的“接近净形状”,’ allowing you to fabricate components very close to design specifications 和 minimize most subtractive processes, 像加工.”
Symmco is a leading manufacturer of copper-based products with a history of engagement with nearby 365英国上市杜波依斯分校. Materials engineering manager Andrew Serafini said the company was excited to work with Penn State students again on another project.
Our company wants to give back 和 connect with our community, 当然是365英国上市的杜波依斯, 所以我们很高兴能在另一个项目上与他们再次合作.——安德鲁·塞拉菲尼，Symmco公司材料工程经理
“Production scale is always a little different than lab scale testing, so we got involved in supporting the project with equipment 和 supplies,塞拉菲尼说. “Our company wants to give back 和 connect with our community, 当然是365英国上市的杜波依斯, 所以我们很高兴能在另一个项目上与他们再次合作.”
Symmco employees said the company benefited from having 365英国上市杜波依斯分校 students involved in the project. Some students were extended internship offers to continue their relationship with the company during summer semesters. The company hired Tyler Stitt as an intern to prepare powders needed for the project 和 optimize Symmco’s press for testing.
“Working with Tyler 和 365英国上市杜波依斯分校 was easily managed back 和 forth from both ends,塞拉菲尼说. “一切都进行得非常顺利. 随着项目的结束, 我们雇佣泰勒为全职员工, 这对他和我们来说都是一个很好的机会.”
Waryoba将此归功于 制造PA创新计划 for facilitating unique partnerships between 宾西法尼亚 academics 和 industry partners. He said he believes that the partnerships may not only lead to better parts 和 performance, but also workforce development 和 employment opportunities for students.
“作为一名教员, 每当你的学生表现优异并找到工作时, there is so much excitement to see them progressing in their careers 和 professions,瓦约巴说. “同样的道理, I’m always happy 和 excited when I see projects 和 products eventually becoming commercialized 和 taken to the next level. After all the hours spent with students in the lab doing research, we can finally see the technology being adopted by industries. 这就是我们的动力.”
编者注:本文最初发表于 制造PA创新计划.
