Titanium Tube Bending 2

[mighoser]

Hi I'm looking for a thermoplastic material called Ceraban. Apparently we used to use it 40 years ago and I'm trying to find more information about it. The only thing I could find was in a old patent. See below. Apparently it is a liquid and then cures but it can be liquefied again using temperature. Any help would be appreciated.

"This result is achieved lby rst lling the spaces 19 with `a matrix of suitable liquefied thermoplastic material before the forming operation and while the `structural element assembly S is in sheet form, as for example Ceraban. When the thermoplastic material has solidified in the intercellular spaces 19, ythe structural element 4assembly S, together with the infused reinforcing matrix of thermoplastic material, may be formed or shaped as a solid sheet without internal disassociation of the sheets or change in wall thickness. The formed assembly S- is thereafter heated to allow the thermoplastic matrix material to liquefy and run out of the intercellular `spaces i9, to thus leave the formed :structural assembly S in its original open cellular condition"

 

[mighoser]

No this isn't the same as Cerrobend though the name is quite similar.

 

[EdStainless]

Do you have any info on properties? Melting point?
I am sure that there are other thermoplastic resins that would do the job.

If you are looking back 40 years it will take trips to libraries looking at paper.
Same reason that I have a wall of books, very little old stuff is available digital.

= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
Plymouth Tube

 

[Compositepro]

Apparently it was a registered trademark of Cuxson, Gerrard & Co Ltd. They are a medical materials/devices company in the UK. They are still in business. Contact them.

http://www.cuxsongerrard.com/

It would probably be more productive to write down the properties of the material you need for your application and ask where you can find it now. Do you need a eutectic metal alloy or just wax?

 

[EdStainless]

I guess I should go back and ask the first question, Why do you need it?
With modern CNC mandrel bending equipment I wonder what kind of forming you are doing where a low melting point filler would be needed.

= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
Plymouth Tube

 

[tbuelna]

The quotes in the OP talk about using the thermoplastic material to form metal panels rather than bending tube. In fact, the description provided from the patent text sounds like the material was intended to be used to form honeycomb aluminum panels without collapsing the core.

If you need to make a tube bend in titanium, the best method is mandrel bending if the ratio of bend CLR to tube OD is not too small, and the tube wall is not too thick. If the ratio of bend CLR to tube OD is small, you can produce it by hydroforming the part in two mirror-image halves from sheet, and then trim and butt weld them together. This is a technique used to produce thin wall metal ducts in aerospace. The tools used for hydroforming are often made from a metal like kirksite or cerrobend, so that the tool can be melted down and reused after a job is finished.

 

[mighoser]

The titanium tube is cast in molten uranium and historically the "ceraban" was left inside the tube. I'm doing to a FA on these shields and trying to sort out the really long cracks that I'm observing and possible corrective actions. Some say that the "ceraban" acts as a heat sink but at this stage I'm just trying to understand what effect it may or may not have. See attached macro images. There is sliding wear this shown but this is well understood.

 

[EdStainless]

What is the Ti alloy? CP?
The micro (last pic) looks a bit odd. Any comments on that?

= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
Plymouth Tube

 

[mighoser]

Its the 3Al-2.5V alloy. The last pic shows ID cracking and is quite puzzling. Clearly some tensile stresses acting to open these cracks. The cracks appear to be nucleating...??? I'm going to get these polished and etched to see if there is any sign of alpha case.

 

[mighoser]

Anyone else have any thoughts based upon the pictures.

 

[tbuelna]

mighoser-

Thanks for providing more details of the process used for this component. I've never heard of this type of process before and I'm intrigued. I'd love to learn more about how you cast titanium alloy using molten uranium and thermoplastic tooling. I've only seen titanium cast using a vacuum investment process, where the tooling was ceramic and small section internal features were sometimes made using molybdenum cores.

 

[mighoser]

tbuelna,

We are actually casting uranium. The Ti tube is permanently surrounded in Uranium and acts as channel for passing radioactive pills inside (shielded position). Hope this clarifies the application.