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Purdue Designs New Approach to Sculpt Metal Parts and Pieces

Purdue University researchers have adopted a new approach to make exotic metals more affordable and easier to manufacture and process.

The new process applies a designer surface-active agent to the surface of a metal, making it easier to cut and shape the material into various parts and pieces.

Exotic or advanced metals are mainly used in aircraft, medical instruments, cars, solar panels, military equipment and other applications.

According to the researchers, conventional methods of using advanced metals in manufacturing is exorbitantly expensive as they are difficult to sculpture.

“What we have created is a new way to approach the machining of these metals that has the potential to change manufacturing system processes,” said professor Srinivasan Chandrasekar.

“Our solution is showing great promise in making these metals more affordable to manufacture and process by making them easier to machine.”

The researchers used common alcohols on an aluminum surface and were able to cut the metal more easily, with at least 50% less force.

This also led to the production of a smoother end surface with fewer cracks and tears compared with aluminum without the alcohol treatment.

According to Chandrasekar, the same approach can also be utilized for other metal systems such as stainless steel, tantalum, copper, iron and even nickel alloys.

Each metal system requires a specific designer agent since alcohols do not interact with other metals in the same way as they do with aluminum.

The same team had previously demonstrated the application of metal marking inks and glues to make gummy metals such as aluminum, stainless steels, copper and tantalum much easier to cut for industrial applications.

Details

  • 610 Purdue Mall, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA
  • Purdue University