Flame Spray invests in a HIP from Quintus Technologies
Quintus Technologies, Västerås, Sweden, reports that advanced thermal spray coatings specialist Flame Spray SpA, Roncello, Italy, has invested in a QIH 122 M URC® Hot Isostatic Press (HIP). The new HIP was reportedly purchased in order to meet the growing demand for the densification and heat treatment of additively manufactured aerospace parts, amongst others.
“Hot Isostatic Pressing is identified as one of the most promising technologies for the future,” stated Alessandro Zanini, Flame Spray Aerospace Key Account Manager. “Our investment in the Quintus HIP allows us to provide a more complete range of special processes to our customers while satisfying the needs of the aerospace industry for high quality, reliability, and repeatability.”
The QIH 122 M URC is said to streamline the workflow by integrating the ability to stress relieve, HIP, heat treat, and age parts in a single cycle. The combination of High Pressure and Heat Treatment (HPHT) in one system enhances efficiency and reduces per-unit processing costs.
The Uniform Rapid Cooling (URC®) capability, offering a cooling rate of 500K/minute, is said to minimise thermal distortion and nonuniform grain growth, producing finished parts with optimal material properties.
The press features a hot work zone of 660 mm in diameter and 1,750 mm in height. It operates at a maximum pressure of 2,070 bar (30,000 psi) and a maximum temperature of 1,400°C, explains Quintus.
Zanini added, “The press will also be used to fulfil the needs of many other markets in which we operate, for example, energy and turbo gas. Its size permits us to process not only blades, vanes, and small parts, but also medium-sized items.”
Installation of the new press is expected to take place in Flame Spray’s facility in Morra De Sanctis, Italy, in September 2020. The plant, which opened in 2014, specialises in vacuum heat treatment and surface coating of aerospace and IGT (industrial gas turbine) components. It has received Nadcap certification for both the application of coatings on aerospace components and for heat treatment in 2019.
