Blog Archives
Planned turnarounds are regular occurrences in the life cycle of a petrochemical plant. Every few years, a plant goes offline for a few weeks to upgrade capital equipment, perform regular maintenance, or improve worker safety. These activities cannot take place while a plant is operational. When properly executed, a planned turnaround limits the downtime and…
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Stainless steel is one of the world’s leading metals in various applications. It provides exceptional corrosion resistance, durability, and aesthetic appeal. While the name suggests that it is impervious to everything, stainless steel is still susceptible to problems metals face, like rust and corrosion. The critical difference is its longevity to withstand elements without showing…
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Aluminum does not rust but it can corrode. What is the difference between rust and corrosion? Rust and corrosion, while often used interchangeably, represent distinct phenomena. Corrosion is the broader term, referring to the gradual degradation of metal through chemical reactions. On the other hand, rust refers to the oxidation of iron-based alloys like steel,…
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One crucial property to understand in metalworking is thermal conductivity. The simplest definition of thermal conductivity is a material’s ability to transfer or conduct heat from one location to another efficiently. A more technical definition from Science Direct is, “Thermal conductivity can be defined as the rate at which heat is transferred by conduction through…
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Introduction Bronze is a copper-based alloy that has been valued throughout history for its versatility, durability, and attractive nature. Bronze is composed primarily of copper with various combinations of tin, zinc, lead, and aluminum. This combination also produces brass. Brass contains a larger amount of zinc than tin, while bronze contains larger amounts of tin…
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When considering the production of complex metal components, it is important to evaluate the costs associated with different metal casting methods. There are several factors that go into “all-in” costs. These factors include tooling and tooling maintenance, material costs and machining. Below is a comparison of the all-in costs of three popular metal casting processes:…
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Are you experiencing supply chain issues with your current metal manufacturing vendors? In today’s marketplace, long lead times, poor customer service, and material shortages are becoming the new normal for many companies. Feel free to pick your reason for why this is happening, but does it matter? You, as a customer, simply care about a…
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Investment casting (also known as lost-wax casting) is a common manufacturing process used to create metal parts with fine detail and tight tolerances. The investment casting method involves the creation of a tool, typically made from a high-grade aluminum alloy, that serves as a mold for wax. Hot wax or plastic is poured into the…
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What are the properties of metal and what are the key differences between them? Physical and mechanical properties are important considerations when choosing a material for a specific application. Below are the definitions of the physical properties of metals and mechanical properties of metals, along with a few examples. A material’s chemical composition and internal…
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What Is Low Alloy Steel? In general, there are two categories of steel: Low alloy steel has low percentages of alloying elements such as chromium and nickel compared to stainless steel. As a result, low alloy steel does not have the heat, wear, or corrosion resistance provided by stainless steel. However, low alloy steel provides…
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