Scientific News

Cutting-edge science: neutrons to the aid of European industry

April 2010 - Stone cutting is nothing new – even our prehistoric ancestors knew how to cut stones. Nonetheless, this ancient industry has recently come under scrutiny from scientists using very modern techniques – beams of high-energy neutrons.

Like many other European industries, Europe’s stone-cutting industry is under threat from cheaper international competition. To help protect over 500 000 jobs, therefore, the EU has launched a research project (Pro-Stone) to develop better, longer-lasting stone-cutting tools.

Stone is cut with fast-rotating steel discs. During use, these discs get very hot and are subject to high and uneven stress, which can cause them to suffer metal fatigue and to crack. As part of the Pro-Stone project, the effectiveness of incorporating titanium-nickel (TiNi) alloy inserts into the discs was tested. When the disc reaches a particular temperature, the ‘smart’ alloy insert is activated, exerting a large, compressive stress close the cutting edge of the disc, which should prevent any cracks from growing and protect the disc from metal fatigue.

Researchers at ILL and their Czech collaborators used high-energy beams of neutrons to map the three-dimensional stresses around the inserts. The stress was investigated both at ambient temperature and at 130 °C, above the activation temperature of the alloy insert. The results show that the insert causes a dramatic change in the stress experienced by the stone-cutting disc.

Through careful placement of smart inserts in cutting discs, therefore, it will be possible to improve the performance and lifetime of stone-cutting tools, giving the EU stone-cutting industry a new, competitive edge.

Photos