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THE USE OF NIOBIUM IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF AIR-CAST NICKEL-CHROMIUM ALLOYS FOR HIGH-TEMPERATURE SERVICE

Journal Article · · J. Inst. Metals
OSTI ID:4793496

Difficulty is frequently encountered in air-casting nickel-base creep- resisting alloys hardened with titanium and aluminum, because of the formation and entrapment of oxide films. Exploration of alternative hardening mechanisms has shown that the addition of 3 to 4 at.% niobium to a low-carbon nickel- chromium-base alloy containing 20 to 30 at.% chromium can result in marked precipitation-hardening at 750 and 850 deg C. Further, stressrupture tests at 815 deg C have revealed that a useful level of creep-resistance is thus obtained. A conspicuous feature of these alloys is that when niobium is added to the molten nickel - chromium-base charge, the normal oxide skin is immediately replaced by a mobile, apparently clean surface, which is retained throughout the subsequent casting procedure. This observation suggests that alloys of this type would be particularly suitable for aircasting. A systematic study was made of the effects of combined additions of niobium, molybdenum, and tungsten to a low-carbon nickel- -chromiun-base alloy and, from the results obtained, a composition was developed (EPE 10) that can readily be cast in air. The alloy has properties similar to those of the titanium- and aluminum-hardened alloy Nimocast 90. (auth)

Research Organization:
International Nickel Co. (Mond), Ltd., Birminghan, Eng.
NSA Number:
NSA-16-015216
OSTI ID:
4793496
Journal Information:
J. Inst. Metals, Journal Name: J. Inst. Metals Vol. Vol: 90
Country of Publication:
Country unknown/Code not available
Language:
English