In his PhD thesis, the Industrial Engineer Daniel Salcedo-Perez has studied the process to forge mechanical components using nanostructured material. Specifically, he has been able to produce matrices to forge a set of mechanical parts like cogs and gears. “These functional nanostructured components have been produced free of faults, and this is something that had not been done previously," he pointed out. In his research conducted at the NUP/UPNA-Public University of Navarre, he focussed on the isothermal forge that uses temperatures higher than those of conventional forges. "Among the advantages observed," he points out in his conclusions, "we can point to better temperature control during the process, enhanced mechanical properties of the forged parts, and lower energy expenditure, because the preforms have to be heated to a lower temperature.”
In the development of the research he also conducted a comparative study on the conventional forging process in order to obtain mechanical elements with a submicrometric and/or nanometric structure. “In each component produced the optimum forging conditions (temperature, heat treatments) were determined by analysing the microhardness and the microstructure,” he explained.
His research made it possible to verify that the microhardness of forged mechanical components using predeformed material, "is much higher than in those produced from annealed material, and it was possible to achieve hardness increases of between 50% and 70% in the various mechanical components made, in contrast to the starting material in an annealed state." In this respect, there was also confirmation of an improvement in malleability and in the mechanical properties of the components produced in the cases in which isothermal forging was used rather than conventional forging.
Daniel Salcedo has a degree in industrial engineering specialising in mechanical intensification from the NUP/UPNA-Public University of Navarre (2009) and has been awarded a PhD in Materials Engineering and Manufacturing by the same university. He currently works as an assistant lecturer in the NUP/UPNA's Department of Mechanical, Energy and Materials Engineering. He is the author of two patents, in the sphere of his scientific activity he has participated in three research projects funded by public bodies, is the author of seventeen papers in international scientific journals and has participated in about fifteen international conferences.English translation by: WORDLAN email@example.com; 615740862.