Manufacturers of components made of plastics, polymers and metals may be able to reduce time and energy costs significantly with direct thermal systems developed by researchers in the Metals and Ceramics Division. The direct thermal systems use a non-conventional heating method that permits the application of thermal energy to locations where heat is needed to manufacture or assemble components. It reduces the number of steps in manufacturing or assembly of components, results in huge savings in production cycle time and improves product quality. The technique is expected to play a major role in the production of electric power steering systems, which will improve fuel efficiency and eliminate environmental problems associated with traditional power steering fluid used in today's automobiles.
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