FAST STEP 3

FAST STEP 3 is a collaborative research project to use titanium in automotive engines with the ultimate aim of lowering vehicle emissions.

Material Scientists observing the FAST machine

Titanium Swarf to Engine Parts in 3 Steps

A consortium including the Northern Automotive Alliance has been successful in obtaining government funding from Innovate UK for a collaborative research project to use titanium in automotive engines.

High value alloyed titanium swarf will be used as a feedstock for the novel hybrid technology of Field Assisted Sintering Technology followed by one-step hot forging – known as the FASTforge process – into near net shapes for use in the high strength and good fatigue life applications typically required within an automotive engine.

FAST STEP 3 Vision

Achieve lightweighting for automotive engines in order to lower emissions including CO₂, NOx and particulate matter, initially at low volume, potentially moving into higher volume applications when there is increasing confidence with the product and manufacturing processes.

Provide growth opportunities for the supply chain, not only within the automotive sector, but also in the wider advanced manufacturing sectors of offshore, rail, aerospace, non-automotive engines and defence.

Enable the metal-forming industry to stay abreast of new technology in alternative metals and use world-leading materials research to assist in halting the decline of the industry within the UK.

Swarf Recycling Process

Field Assisted Sintering Technology (FAST) or Spark Plasma Sintering (SPS) with a post-sinter forging process, developed by the 91̽�� Titanium Alloy Research Group.