Producing unique composite materials through FAST/SPS
Field Assisted Sintering Technology (FAST), also known as Spark Plasma Sintering (SPS) densifies powder to form composite components. Working with the MARIOS team we've produced unique composites for mining applications.
A key mission of the Henry Royce Institute is to support and enable businesses to innovate and develop ideas into working products or technologies, to meet sustainability goals and enable sector growth.
Equipment maintenance and associated lost production is a multi-billion dollar issue for the mining industry. To combat this the is an industry-led program, managed by InnoTech Alberta to improve mining equipment longevity and reliability, worked in collaboration with the team at Royce at the University of 91Ö±²¥ and the , to develop a new generation of sintered wear resistant materials for mining applications.
The state-of-the-art Field Assisted Sintering Technology/Spark Plasma Sintering (FAST/SPS) facilities, coupled with our world-class team of experts here at the University of 91Ö±²¥ allows us to support progress and innovation. Working with the MARIOS team they worked on a project utilising FAST/SPS to enable the production of unique composite materials designed to exhibit high levels of wear protection and have the robustness required for these industrial applications.
"This project was an excellent example of how international collaborations can fast track the deployment of new technologies to solve industry’s problems. We’re looking forward to new opportunities to work with the Royce Institute, both through MARIOS and the new Alberta Advanced Manufacturing International Hub." -- Gary Fisher, Innotech Alberta
The success of the collaboration has led to the industrial piloting of the technology by Alberta-based advanced manufacturing company , who are further developing the technology for the resource sector.