a tribute to our visionary director - snam · a tribute to our visionary director ... in terms of...

www.snam.co.in

Volume - 2 I Issue - 4April, 2015

Private Circulation only

A TRIBUTE TO OUR VISIONARY DIRECTOROn 11th February 2015, we were rudely awakened to the sad news that our Founder & Director, Mr. T.V. Sivaraman had passed away. Shocking because he had a long disussion with the core team members for the new project on the anvi l the previous evening. He had a profound impact on the l ives of a lmost everyone at SNAM Alloys Group of Companies for the last 25 years.

What made Mr. Sivaraman so exceptional? From his early days he was able to create and nurture a vision around a product like Ferro Alloys, at an infancy stage. He foresaw a huge potential for the automotive and engineering foundries spanning across the globe to meet their critical needs. This ambition fuelled him to set-up a manufacturing unit in no time to cater to the burgeoning demands of the industries and also egged us to compete in the global markets with world-class product offering.

How can you measure his towering ability? Look at SNAM Alloys today. We have two state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities and a full-fledged R & D Centre in India. We sell in over 45 countries and have a significant presence in India. His contribution towards the welfare of the employees and their families have also left an indelible mark. His yeoman service will be missed and cherished by all associated with him.

The company’s quantum leap has been possible due his vision and a deep understanding of the importance of quality. Mr. Sivaraman’s success has been to weave the right DNA throughout the company. This success means that SNAM has the strength to continue making exceptional progress and this will be a true tribute to Mr. Sivaraman.

Mr.T.V.Sivaraman,1943-2015, an extraordinary visionary, amazingly persistent and a highly successful Director. RIP.

Mr.T. V. Sivaraman

Did You Know?

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Snam Alloys Private Limited

Manganese!Manganese causes micro-segregation, especially in heavy sections and also causes embrittlement. It encourages the formation of boundary carbides, which result in low ductility, low toughness and persistent pearlite.

These effects are mainly due to the detrimental effect on growth kinetics of ferrite during the decomposition of austenite in the stable system, in terms of the driving force for diffusion of carbon through the ferrite ring around the graphite nodules. It retards the eutectoid transformation and decreases the rate of diffusion of C in ferrite and stabilizes cementite (Fe3C).

An interesting fact to note is that copper can have a pearlite promoter role only when combined with a low addition of manganese.

NEWS

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SNAMOPT

A proprietary additive to be used during Magnesium treatment has been launched and proven in foundries, in the southern region of India. It improves Mg recovery, increases nodule count and nodularity. It also controls slag formation and reduces flare.

SNAM MELT MATE It is a user-friendly, melt trim calculator for accurate base metal composition and consistent metallurgical quality.

Snam Alloys at IEFX 2015

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Snam Alloys at IEFX 2015

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SNAM @ IFEX 2015, part of the 63rd IFC.We were at the 63rd IFC, and IFEX 2015 organised by the Institute of Indian Foundrymen, at the India Expo Mart, Greater Noida between 27th Feb and 1st March 2015. Our stall at I 05 in Hall 5 received considerable footfall and we had very interesting and fulfilling discussions with the foundry fraternity.

Our colleague, Mr. Kumar Kislay, presented a paper on the “Preconditioning of metal – Concept, Evolution and Present Day Practices” which was well received.

Technical Article at IFC

Technical Articles


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Technical Articles from SNAM published in theprestigious Indian Foundry Journal.

• “Heat retention in ladles – Techniques, benefits with mathematical validation” published in the January 2015 issue, Vol 61 No.1, of Indian Foundry Journal.

• “Effect of Sn on mechanical and microstructural properties of ISO250 grade grey cast iron”, published in the March 2015 issue, Vol 61 No.3, of Indian Foundry Journal.

Rare Earth and its application in Cast Iron FoundryThe foundry industry uses rare earth for increasing the quality of the casting product. The source of rare earth can be the following:• Ferro Alloys used for metal treatment.

• Cast iron scrap

• Foundry returns

• Alloying with Misch Metal

The rare earth find application in the followingprocess steps of a foundry:

• Preconditioning the base metal

• Nodulizer for FeSiMg treatment

• Inoculation.

Preconditioning the base metal

Cerium, a major rare earth element, forms nuclei on combining with Sulphur and Oxygen in the melt. This nuclei is stable even at higher temperatures and hence improves the nucleating potential of the otherwise “dead” metal. This will in turn improve the response of the metal towards subsequent inoculation.

Rare earth as Nodulizer:

In ductile iron, the rare earth elements find various applications. Rare earth elements act as nodulizer (especially Cerium) on their own, neutralizes the deleterious elements (tramp elements which may reduce nodularity and cause chilling tendency), and provides nucleation sites for graphite. This helps improve the Nodularity, Nodule count and reduces the Carbidic and Shrinkage tendencies in the castings. The rare earth elements like Cerium, Lanthanum, Yttrium and Praseodymium can be used at foundries, of which Cerium & Lanthanum find maximum feasible application. The amount of rare earth elements required in the metal is dependent on various factors like, casting requirements, casting section thickness, presence of subversive/deleterious elements etc. It should usually lie in the range of 0.005% to 0.02% in the melt.

Rare earth as inoculants:

Rare earth based inoculants are very common in ductile iron castings as it helps in chill reduction and improvement in Nodule count. Normally used as a late stream inoculant, it helps reduce the micro-shrinkage tendencies in the castings, reducing the section sensitivity and boosts graphitization during the later stage of solidification.In grey cast iron, rare earth based inoculants find application, particularly for low Sulphur grade cast iron – creating a potent and very stable Al-La micro-nuclei. This helps reduce undercooling and improve machinability of the castings. It also helps reduce the tendency for undesired forms of graphite structure in the castings.

In the next issue, we will discuss more on the advantages and disadvantages of using rare earths in the foundry.8


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Rare Earth in Everyday Life


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INDUSTRIALSAND

COMPOSITION & FORMS

PROPERTIES

• These are products with high purity silica• Has close controlled sizing• Composed of Si & O2• Chemical formula SiO2• Exists in different shapes, and in crystalline and amorphous forms • For industry products, sand with over 95% SiO2 is used• Has high hardness• Is chemically inert• High melting point• Transparent to translucent

APPLICATION

AP

PL

ICA

TIO

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Sand is nothing new to the foundry men, but it finds different functions in various industries. In this, article we discuss on how, why and by what way it is helpful to the manufacturing industries.

GLASS MAKINGCHEMICAL PURITY IS THE REASON FOR COLOUR, CLARITY & STRENGTH

HIGH FUSION POINT, LOW THERMAL EXPANSION & CHEMICAL INERTNESS

DE-OXIDIZING, GRAIN REFINEMENT & FLUXING AGENT

SILICA REDUCED TO SILICON IN ARC FURNACE TO PRODUCE SI PRECURSOR & FILTERING AGENT

HIGH PACKING DENSITY, FLEXURAL STRENGTH, DURABILITY & ANTI-CORROSIVE

BRIGHTNESS, REFLECTANCE, COLOUR RESISTANCE & OIL ABSORPTION

LESS THERMAL EXPANSION, REGULATES DRYING & SHRNKAGE, IMPROVES STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY

RESISTATNCE TO DEGRADATION, CHEMICAL INERTNESS & SIZE DISTRIBUTION

PERMEABILITY, HARDNESS, STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY, CRUSH RESISTANCE AT HIGH PRESSURE

USED IN SPORTS FOR ITS INERTNESS, PARTICLE SIZE DISTRIBUTION, PERMEABILITY & COMPACTION

METAL CASTING

METAL PRODUCTION

CONSTRUCTION

PAINT & COATINGS

CERAMICS & REFRACTORIES

FILTRATION

OIL & GAS RECOVERY

CHEMICAL PRODUCTION

RECREATIONAL PRODUCTS

Keep watching this space for more details on sand, especially on how it affects various parameters important to a foundry.

Rare Earth in Everyday Life

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New upgraded facilities at our R & D Centre

We have upgraded our R&D facility at Hosur with the following:

• TESCAN™VEGA3 Scanning Electron Microscope, with EBSD and EDS, capable of magnifications up to 1000000X and able to analyse chemical compositions at various points in casting in advanced defect analysis.

• DUCOM™Tribotester for studying and evaluating the tribological behaviour of materials at temperatures ranging from ambient temperature to 400 °C.

• A portable ATAS for increased delivery of thermal analysis services to our customers.

• An Inductotherm™ Quick-Trak 5kg push-out induction furnace for quick trials

• LECO C-S Analyser for very accurate measurement of Carbon and Sulphur values up to 4 decimal points.

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Crossword

Across:1. ____ is the major source of carbon in a foundry (4)2. ___ pertains to 10-9 or 1/1000000000 (4)3. A yellow precious metal used in making jewellery (4)4. _________ is used to increase nucleation site in cast iron (9)5. The mineral from which metallic elements can be extracted profitably (3)6. ___ is a metal which cries on being beaten or deformed (3)

Down:1. ______ is an important non-metallic element found in cast iron (6)

2. The degree of roundness of the graphite nodules in ductile iron is called __________ (10)

3. _____ is the most common binder for no-bake sand moulding process (5)

4. _____ is the material added to the part to allow for surface preparation or precise dimensioning by machining (5)

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VISIT US @ HALL NO.13STAND C 39

VISIT US @ HALL NO.13STAND C 39

Snam Alloys at GIFA 2015

SNAM will be exhibiting at GIFA 13th International Foundry Trade Fair with Technical Forum, at Düsseldorf, Germany being conducted from 16-20th June 2015.

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EDM Activity - GIFA 2015


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Tech Quest

Tech Quiz1) Ferrous materials when exposed to moisture is prone to what?a) Shearingb) Bendingc) Rustingd) Shrinking

2) Which among the following elements is a ferrite stabiliser?a) Copperb) Phosphorusc) Manganesed) Silicon

3) Which among the following is not found inFe- C equilibrium diagram?a) Ferriteb) Pearlitec) Martensited) Graphite

4) Steadite is a eutectic of Ferrite and Iron Phosphide. What is its melting temperature?a) 15380Cb) 7230Cc) 11450Cd) 10480C

5) In Si-Mo grade ductile iron what is the maximum Mo percentage?a) 2%b) 4%c) 0.5%d) 5%

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ANSWERS TO CROSSWORD

Answers: 1. c, 2. d, 3. c, 4. d, 5. a

Snam Alloys Private LimitedUnit 1

Kariamanickam Village

Nettapakkam Commune

Pondicherry - 605 106, India

Unit 2

Damalacheruvu Village

Pakala - 517 112

Andhra Pradesh, India

R&D Centre

138, SIPCOT Industrial Complex

Hosur - 635 126

Tamil Nadu, India

www.snam.co.in

Ph: +91 413 2695 111 Fax: +91 413 2695 123 Email: [email protected] / [email protected]

WE VALUE YOUR FEEDBACK!Dear Readers! We would like to thank you for your continued support to us. With the launch of the fourth and present issue of the SNAM Quarterly Newsletter, we have completed one year and before we step into the second year, we would like to know how we have done so far. We seek your feedback on the content of SNAM Newsletter, and how you find the routine sections of Tech Quiz, Crossword, Did You Know!, and the technical articles.

Snam’s Global Network

Please write to us at [email protected] with your valued feedback.

a tribute to our visionary director - snam · a tribute to our visionary director ... in terms of...

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