[ New Material Developments ]
[ New Material Developments ]
like tantalum and niobium that have a high melting point. Both are socalled refractory metals, whose melting point exceeds 3,000 degrees Celsius. They are corrosion-resistant and temperature-resistant and are therefore hard to process using conventional procedures. The cold spray system avoids these restrictions because the melting process is unnecessary. As a result, it is even possible to process challenging materials reliably and without a protective chamber. Material efficiency is another benefit. As almost all the powder is bonded in the component, the buy-to-fly ratio, that is to say, the ratio of starting material to the final product, is almost one. This significantly reduces the material costs, particularly with high-cost alloys like C-103. The process also opens up new design opportunities and options. Wall thicknesses starting at 0.5 millimeters are feasible, so that fine, light structures can be formed, which are still extremely robust. Combining cold spray with tantalum and niobium alloys therefore offers a solution that overcomes material restrictions and enables components that are both able to withstand mechanical stress and can be produced cost-effectively.
The thruster shown was produced using Cold Spray with tantalum and niobium alloys, providing a solution that overcomes material limitations. Image copyright Impact Innovations
In cold spray, metal particles accelerated to supersonic speeds bond to the surface in their solid state through kinetic energy alone. Image copyright Impact Innovations
Powder expertise for toughest demands Impact Innovations often works with alloys like C-103, a niobiumbased alloy with tantalum, hafnium and titanium, as part of research and development projects for the aerospace sector, for instance. This extremely expensive alloy is viewed as the preferred material for jet engine components in the aerospace sector.“ C-103, however, is subject to strict export controls,” Jan Kondas, an R & D engineer at Impact Innovations, explains.“ Thanks to TANIOBIS’ experience as a German and European supplier of tantalum or niobium and the corresponding alloys, we’ ve still been able to reliably use the material and deploy the process in a stable manner.”
> 90 % material utilization Impact Innovations has been able to display the efficiency of its EvoCSII system in tests with a demonstrator. Deposition rates of more than ninety per cent have been achieved when using the TANIOBIS powders – an unusually high figure compared to other additive processes.“ Our collaboration shows how crucial the correct powder quality is for the success of our cold spray systems,” Jan Kondas explains.“ We’ ve been able to achieve outstanding deposition efficiency and demonstrate how suitable the technology is for challenging high-temperature applications.” Together, the two companies have revealed new possibilities to manufacture large-sized structures with complex geometries without the disadvantages of conventional forming and welding processes. Users in the defense and energy industries are benefiting from the possibility of specifically coating components with different materials or completely forming them. The process can also display its strengths in repairing large components that would be disproportionately expensive to replace. Cold Spray is not only an addition to established additive technologies, but is a genuine alternative in many cases.
About TANIOBIS GmbH
TANIOBIS GmbH, a subsidiary of JX Advanced Metals Corporation, with its headquarters in Goslar, Germany, is a leading global producer with over 60 years of experience in processing high-quality tantalum and niobium-based materials. The company manufactures solutions for a wide range of applications and sectors, including: electronics( with a focus on capacitors and semiconductors), automotive, energy, aviation, chemistry, and medical technology.
About Impact Innovations
Impact Innovations is the global technology leader in industrial cold spray equipment. In addition to its R & D services, the German corporation manufactures industrial cold gas spraying systems for users in multiple sectors. Its goal is to establish cold gas spraying as a viable technology for surface coating and additive manufacturing. Key clients include the aerospace, defense, electronics, automobile, energy and household goods sectors.
www. stainless-steel-world. net Stainless Steel World March 2026 41