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U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

RESEARCH ON WORKABLE REFRACTORY ALLOYS OF TUNGSTEN, TANTALUM, MOLYBDENUM, AND COLUMBIUM

Technical Report ·
OSTI ID:4841688

Tungsten- and tantalum-rich alloys of the W-Ta-MoNb system were studied for high-strength structural applications above 2500 deg F. Twenty specific compositions, including binary, ternary, and quaternary alloys were investigated. Several homogeneous and contamination-free ingots of each alloy were melted by use of a specially designed comsumable-electrode vacuum-arc melting unit. Special techniques were developed for the impact extrusion of the alloys, and all alloys were successfully extruded at 2500 to 4000 deg F. Creep and tension tests were conducted on the as-extruded samples at 3000 deg F in vacuum. The hightemperature strength of the tungsten-rich alloys was increased considerably by the addition of columbium, and the high-temperature strength of the tantalum- rich alloys was appreciably increased by additions of molybdenum and tangsten. One alloy (88.6 W-5.7 Mo-5.7 Nb) had a tensile strength of 62,000 psi at 3000 deg F; several other alloys had tensile strengths in excess of 50,000 psi. The strengths were attained by a combination of solid-solution strengthening and strain hardening. On the basis of results of the investigation, the tungsten- and tantalum-rich alloys of the W-Ta-Mo-Nb system offer excellent promise as wrought materials for structural applications at very high temperatures. (auth)

Research Organization:
Crucible Steel Co. of America, Pittsburgh
NSA Number:
NSA-15-028049
OSTI ID:
4841688
Report Number(s):
WADD-TR-61-134
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English