The post 6 Advantages of Stainless Steel Pipes first appeared on IQS Newsroom.
]]>Steel tubing has a variety of uses in many industries from industrial manufacturing to art. One use for steel tubing is the use of steel plumbing, which replaces traditional plastic pipes with stainless steel pipes. Although stainless steel piping is more expensive than plastic piping, it provides many benefits over plastic pipes, including:
Low corrosion: Stainless steel has a low corrosion rate. The metal will retain its rust-free appearance for many years, even when water is constantly inside the tubes. The metal is unlikely to leach into the water, and the metal contamination rate for stainless steel is nearly nonexistent.
Appealing appearance: Stainless steel pipes are attractive and look like modern, sleek décor. It is possible to leave stainless steel pipes exposed inside a building and have that add to the decorative aesthetic of the room, rather than detract from it like a plastic pipe would.
Smaller pipes: Steel pipes are highly efficient, and it is possible to use a smaller diameter of pipe made from steel than pipes made from other materials. The mass flow rate for stainless steel pipes is much higher per diameter than many other materials. This can save on the cost of the pipes without sacrificing flow rate.
Strong: Stainless steel is strong and will resist damaging factors that can ruin other pipes, such as tree roots, human error, and extreme weather conditions.
Recyclable: Unlike plastic pipes, steel pipes are 100 percent recyclable. When the pipes are no longer needed, they can be melted down and turned back into other useable metal pieces in other industries.
Durable: Stainless steel pipes will not weather over time. The pipes will look and act the same in 20 years as they do today. The pipes will not sag and require much less support than plastic pipes.
more expensive than plastic piping, it provides many benefits over plastic pipes, including:The post 6 Advantages of Stainless Steel Pipes first appeared on IQS Newsroom.
]]>The post A Tour of a Steel Mill first appeared on IQS Newsroom.
]]>If you have never experienced the wonder of a steel plate mill, you are missing out. The manufacturing of steel is a fascinating process that starts with the melting of the steel into ingots and ends with the completed steel plate, which is used for a variety of uses, from building construction, to road work, to ship-making. Travel along with this virtual journal of steel plate manufactures to discover just how steel plates are created.
Forming ingots
Scrap steel is melted down to create the ingots that will eventually turn into steel plates. The scrap is melted in a blast furnace or in an electric furnace, depending on the factory. When the scrap is melted and mixed, the factory may add additional metal to change the consistency of the metal. After melting, the metal is poured into ingot molds and allowed to cool.
Slab creation
Ingots are placed into a forge that flattens the metal by applying great pressure. Some factories heat the metal before expanding, while others keep the steel cold. Cold and hot pressed steel offers different properties in the finished slabs. After forging, the ingots are stretched into a slab-length rectangle.
Heating
The slabs travel through a heater to make them pliable and ready to roll to a new size. Some steel mills skill the heating process and complete a cold roll to expand the metal.
Rolling
Rollers stretch the metal to the desired thickness and width. Most steel slabs are thinner than 3 inches. The size of the finished plate will vary by factory.
Cutting
Heavy-duty metal cutters cut the steel plates into the desired shape. Depending on the factory, the finished shape can be rectangular, square, round, or a customized shape. After cutting, the metal is cooled to retain the shape.
Finishing
After cooling, the metal receives a final treatment. This could be a galvanized coating, another chemical rinse, paint, or some other coating desired by the customer. Different factories will apply different coatings to the metal. After the metal is dry, it is shipped off to the customer.
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]]>The post Clever Uses for Titanium Foil first appeared on IQS Newsroom.
]]>Razors: Right now, titanium razor are extremely popular around the world. Since titanium is such a durable and expensive metal, it is the perfect material for high-end, precise razors that can cut through hairs easily and effectively. Typically, thicker foils are used to make the razors, which are stamped out of the foil with a die press.
Windscreens: Foil made of titanium is also used in windscreens. The screens are used to protect different products from the effects of the wind. You may see these screens used to protect camping stoves, paint jobs, water heaters, or other places where wind can cause problems.
Camera shutters: A camera shutter controls the movement of light inside a camera to expose the film and create a photo. Foil made from titanium is often used to make camera shutters because it is thin enough to fit inside even the smallest camera, but strong enough to withstand years of use.
Metal screens: Thicker foil is used to create metal screens for different machines and processes. Titanium is often used in aerospace planes and ships, and the metal is ideal for protecting the electronic components or other delicate pieces of a system.
The post Clever Uses for Titanium Foil first appeared on IQS Newsroom.
]]>The post Potential Dangers for Titanium first appeared on IQS Newsroom.
]]>Bio-accumulation: Titanium is a naturally-occurring material present in many plants and other materials that we eat everyday. According to a 2001 study published in the Oxford University Press, humans ingest about .8 milligrams of titanium each day. Normally this is not a problem, but if the body has a high concentration of silica, for any reason, the metal tends to cling to the cells containing silica. Even so, it is not likely that any person will ever ingest enough titanium to pose a health risk.
Fire hazard: Titanium oxide, the powdered form of the metal, can pose a fire hazard under certain conditions. When the powder or metal shavings are present, they are highly flammable. The shavings are also flammable in the air, which can most a danger when moving the shavings from one place to another. If the powder is heated in the air, it can also explode. A special Class D powder is necessary to extinguish a titanium fire.
Dangers with chlorine: Dry chlorine gas will cause the titanium powder to ignite. Titanium cannot be used in the same area as places with dry chlorine gas to avoid fires and injuries to humans.
Liquid oxygen: When titanium comes in contact with liquid oxygen, it can ignite. This causes a fast, high temperature burn that is difficult to ignite. This unique property of titanium makes it impossible to use near liquid oxygen, so it cannot be used in liquid oxygen systems as used in many aerospace components.
The post Potential Dangers for Titanium first appeared on IQS Newsroom.
]]>The post How Does the Hole Get Inside Hypodermic Needles? first appeared on IQS Newsroom.
]]>First, the factory takes a long stainless steel billet and heats it to a pliable temperature. The factory then rolls the billet into a cylindrical shape. The factory then punches a hole through the center of the billet to create a tube. This seamless tubing is ideal for creating hypodermic needles.
The factory then stretches the tube through a die. This makes the tube longer and thinner, transforming a thick metal tube into the tiny tubes necessary to form needles of various sizes. The factory will run the tube through the die several times while hot, then one or more times while cold to give the tubes extra strength, even in their tiny size. If you have ever tried to break a hypodermic needle, then you know how strong they can be!
The factory finally cuts the tiny tubes to the desired length. The length will vary depending on the use for the needle. Some suppliers for hypodermic needles provide a wide range of needle widths and lengths, while others create only one or two types of needles. After manufacturing, the factory will clean and sterilize the needles before packaging them into the medically-approved packaging required by law. After packaging, each needle package is sent to another store for retail sales. Usually, a factory will not sell the products directly to the final consumer.
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]]>The post Aluminum Alloy Advantages first appeared on IQS Newsroom.
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Photo Courtesy of Metal Associates
There are many industries that are affected by the advantages of aluminum alloys. Aluminum alloy cables are ideal to replace copper wires for a number of applications. Aluminum alloy cables have a reduced heat and pressure qualities. Compared to pure aluminum, aluminum alloys have 30% superior tensile strength and elongation capabilities. These alloys are also preferred over copper in some situations where connection stability is vital. Aluminum alloy conductors will maintain a reliable and stable connection even through long periods of overload and overheating. Aluminum alloy cable can support weight their maximum payloads with lengths up to 13123 ft. The higher tensile strength of aluminum alloys are preferred over copper’s 9022 ft. capabilities in certain situations.
Photo Courtesy of Metalmen
One very essential factor of aluminum alloy cables is the corrosion resistance attributes. These components are resistant to electrochemical corrosion. There has also been a recent innovative announcement to make aluminum alloys with a unique design which will lower the chance of hydrogen charging and stress corrosion cracking by providing cathodic protection. Another interesting development is to manufacture aluminum alloys with a micro-porous surface. This surface will offer a more effective means to transferring heat energy. Micro-porous aluminum alloy could be more than 10 times efficient at heat transfer compared to conventional methods such as micro-channel heat sinks. It will be interesting to see how many new aluminum innovations will be discovered when the LM3I is fully operating.
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]]>The post Tungsten Carbide vs. Titanium first appeared on IQS Newsroom.
]]>Titanium is another popular metal and is recognized as a staple material for a large number of industries. Although Tungsten Carbide and Titanium have similar properties there are distinct advantages with Tungsten Carbide. Tungsten Carbide has a melting point of 5200°F while Titanium has a melting point of 3000°F. Tungsten Carbide has a hardness of 9 Mohs and Titanium is only a 6 on the Mohs hardness scale. In terms of density Titanium is signify less than Tungsten Carbide. Titanium has a density of 4.506 g/cm³ and Tungsten Carbide has a density of 15.63 g/cm³.
Titanium does offer superior tensile strength of 434 MPa compared to Tungsten Carbide’s 344.8 MPa. When weight is a critical factor then Titanium is a superior choice because Tungsten Carbide is four times heavier than Titanium. However Tungsten Carbide is the clear choice for applications involving industrial machining such as cutting, tooling and abrasive processes. Tungsten Carbide rings are considered a better choice compared to Titanium rings because the superior hardness levels of Tungsten Carbide makes the ring virtually unscratchable.
Newer alloys involving tungsten carbide and nickel-silicon-boron mixtures have recently hit the market and these innovations have been proven to offer superior abrasion resistance in applications involving oil and gas production. Examples of these improved products include drill bit holders, mud motors, stabilizers and kicker pads. These alloys are also engineered for versatile welding capabilities and require lower voltage and heat levels. Another update of the Tungsten industry is there has been a crack down on illegal Tungsten mining in Columbia. The Columbia government has recently closed a Tungsten mine which was run by the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Columbia. Previously this Tungsten went to several major multinational technology and automotive companies.
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]]>The post Embossing Machines for Varying Applications first appeared on IQS Newsroom.
]]>Industrial embossing machines, on the other hand, are able to emboss custom designs onto a wide range of materials from paper, cardboard, and plastic to aluminum and steel plates. Machines used to emboss credit cards, membership cards, and IDs includes an alphabet and number wheel for names and addresses to be easily changed. Commonly used on leather, many companies utilize these often compact table top machines to emboss their logo onto a wide variety of products such as coats and hand bags. Leather is probably the best material to use if decorative designs are desired, and it is often thermally heated to allow for easier embossing.
To emboss harder materials such as aluminum or steel, an industrial embossing machine is required. Pressure as well as heat are employed in these embossing processes as the metal sheets pass through rollers with customized patterns. The machines that do this work are made specifically for embossing hard surfaces, but other embossing machines are versatile and multifunctional, able to emboss a variety of surfaces paper, pvc, cardboard and leather. Though most are multifunctional like this, it is best to consult with a representative of a manufacturer of these and other marking machines in order to discuss which option would work best for your specific application. For more information, contact a manufacturer near you today.
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]]>The post A Brief History of Titanium first appeared on IQS Newsroom.
]]>Titanium in its purest form could not be mined until 1910, because the mining process is difficult and required tools unavailable until the early 1900s. Once the metal was isolated on its own, the metal was used for industrial purposes. However, it was not until the 1950s that titanium was used as a widespread material for aerospace and submarine military use. TheSoviet Unionwas the first country to commission the use of the metal for the aerospace industry, which in part, sparked some of the controversy that lead to the space race.
From the 1950s to today, this metal has a variety of uses in many industries, from airplanes, to jets, to industrial machinery, to jewelry, and spaceship construction. The process of mining and using titanium-based metals has changed over the years, but since about 1932, when the Kroll process of mining and refining the metal was created, the process has remained pretty much the same. A second process of harvesting the metal was invented around 2006 where the metal powder is melted under high temperatures to form the metal into the desired shape, such as armor, titanium wire, airplane sheeting, and other uses.
Titanium has a long a varied history, and still remains one of the most popular metals due to its high strength, flexibility, and surprisingly lightweight shape for its strength. Recently, the metal has even been used for decorative purposes, such as for household decorations and jewelry.
The post A Brief History of Titanium first appeared on IQS Newsroom.
]]>The post Steel Service Centers Benefits to the Steel Manufacturing Industry first appeared on IQS Newsroom.
]]>A steel service center is a somewhat new concept to the world of manufacturing. In the 1930s, less than 10 percent of all steel traveled through the hands of a steel service center. Today, up to 45 percent of all steel products travel through steel service centers. This is largely due to the implementation of Material Requirements Planning programs that require the delivery of production-ready metals to complete manufacturing processes sooner. Most metal manufactured and used in the United States has encountered a steel service center at one point in the production process.
While there are a few disadvantages of using a service center, such as increased costs, and additional processing time, there are also many benefits to using a service center. These benefits include:
Faster order completion
Less factory space
Lower equipment expenses and maintenance costs
Precise order specifications
Greater product variety
All of these benefits add up to help many manufacturers and factories complete their orders without hassle or trouble. The benefits provided by service centers outweigh the cost of using a third party in many cases. In the future, it is likely that more and more factories will continue to take advantage of the services that a steel center can provide to the manufacturing process.
The post Steel Service Centers Benefits to the Steel Manufacturing Industry first appeared on IQS Newsroom.
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