IBC Advanced Alloys Corp. (“IBC” or the “Company”) released a white paper and presented a preliminary analysis of IBC’s proprietary Beralcast® alloys as a cost-effective high performance alloy solution for advanced optical applications at the recent SPIE Optics + Photonics 2013 Conference in San Diego.
The white paper confirmed that significant cost savings are potentially achievable with the mirror design selected for the study.
The paper and analysis were presented in conjunction with Inrad Optics Inc. (OTCBB:INRD) as a part of a memorandum of understanding (“MOU”) announced in October 2012 in which Inrad Optics agreed to evaluate the technical and commercial viability of IBC’s Beralcast® alloys as integrated components and substructures of Inrad Optics’ advanced optic products. Under the terms of the MOU, the parties agreed to collaborate on a range of projects and to evaluate the viability of Beralcast® alloys as cost-effective substrate material for components of precision optical systems.
Inrad Optics Vice President of Operations, Jack Duich, presented the paper at the SPIE Optics + Photonics Conference where he was supported by Chris Huskamp, IBC’s Director of Aerospace and Automotive Business Development. The paper covered both technical and engineering aspects as well as the attractive financial and cost implications for incorporating Beralcast® alloys into precision optical systems.
“The Inrad Optics/IBC presentation was both well attended and well received,” said Chris Huskamp, “and generated encouraging interest amongst the attendees. The limitation to the use of strong, rigid, thermally stable materials is cost,” continued Huskamp, “which is in turn driven by material, buy-to-fly ratios, labor and machining. We showed clearly how the use of Beralcast® alloys as a substrate for optical mirrors can reduce the cost of beryllium aluminum mirrors. For the mirror design that was presented, the breakeven between machined billet and Beralcast® mirrors was a factor of two. The Beralcastv option offered a cost saving of approximately 50% at a production quantity of ten. Based on this initial work, material stability and optical surface characterizations will be completed for Beralcast® alloys with our partner.”
Inrad Optics is a vertically integrated photonics manufacturer offering crystal-based optical components and devices, custom optical components from both glass and metal and precision optical and opto-mechanical assemblies. Its components and photonic devices are used in a wide variety of defense, aerospace, laser, medical, process control and metrology applications. Inrad specializes in applying advanced manufacturing systems to crystal, glass and metal substrates.
Beralcast® alloys can be used in virtually any high performance application requiring complex, lightweight and high-stiffness parts and can be substituted for aluminum, magnesium, titanium, metal matrix composites as well as pure beryllium or powder metallurgy beryllium-aluminum. Beralcast® alloys are more than three times stiffer than aluminum with 22% less weight and can be precision-cast for simple and complex three-dimensional stability. These high modulus alloys are ideal for high performance industrial and high tech components as well as for a wide range of aerospace applications.
About IBC Advanced Alloys Corp.
IBC is an integrated manufacturer and distributor of rare metals (beryllium) based alloys and related products serving a variety of sectors including aerospace, automotive, telecommunications and a range of industrial applications. IBC has 83 employees and production facilities in Indiana, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania and Missouri. IBC is creating a dynamic global advanced alloys company. IBC’s common shares are traded on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol “IB” and the OTCQX under the symbol “IAALF”.