Applications of Superalloys

Seminar II – SS 07

Alireza S. Akbari
Institut für Metallkunde und Metallphysik
RWTH Aachen
 Contents

 General background on development of superalloys

 Iron base superalloys (characteristics – applications)

 Cobalt base superalloys (characteristics – applications)

 Stellites (applications)

 Nickel base superalloys (general classification –

characteristics)
 Introduction to selected Ni-base superalloys (Inconel –
Hastelloy – Monel)
 Some notes on superalloys
 Development of superalloys since 1940
 working temperature: 600°C – 1150°C
 resistance against high mechanical loads
 high oxidation and corrosion resistance

increase of high-temperature applicability

Forging
Single Crystal
Solidification
Investment
Casting Directional
Solidification
Application based on matrix material

Fe
Oxidation resistance by Cr addition

 High and room temp. strength

 Creep, oxidation, corrosion and wear

resistance

 Application in turbine discs

e.g. Incoloy
Application based on matrix material

 Ni, Cr and W as further alloying

elements
Co
 Haynes 167

 Combustion chambers

 Nuclear reactors

 Wear resistant materials

Application based on matrix material

 Ni, Cr and W as further alloying

elements
Co
 Haynes 167

 Stellite 6B
 Stellite 6B
 handling extreme conditions of
Applications
wear, abrasion, and heat

 high hardness at high temps.

 erosion shielding in steam turbines
 recovers full top
 resistant hardness
coats inafter
gas turbines
exposure to temps. up to 1100°C
 pipe elbow guiding in hot particles
 excellent resistance
at high temps. to oxidation,
corrosion and thermal shock
Application based on matrix material

of
u p
ro
g
l
sfu ys
e s llo
c c ra
su upe
st s
mo
e
Ni th
 Ni-base superalloys
General
WROUGHT
Applications DS/SX PM/ODS

Astroloy ea r ing Rene N4 MA 6000

b t
Load tures a n es
c b i nes
stru h T hom tu r ng i
Hastelloy
hig X Gas e te
Rock
s ing
es es
Inconel 718
m a rin a c t ors l p r oc
Sub a r re em ica els
l e C h s s
Nuc ve
Nimonic a ng er
ex ch
t
Hea tubing
Udimet 500
introduction to selected alloy series
Ni-base superalloys

Inconel alloys
Applications
goodoxidation
 high
 weldability
resistance
Nuclear reactors
precipitation-
 abilityhardenable
to maintain their structural
 resistant
integrity into post-weld
nickel-chromium
high cracking
temperature atmosphere
alloy
General remarks  resistance against caustic corrosion
Inconel 738  maintain its structure in both high-
 resistance against
temperature corrosion
andFe, caused
Mo and environments
aqueous Nb
by high purity wateradditions,
Major application:
Ti and Al
 superb creep-rupture
Spacecrafts strength at
(trace elements)
 resistance against stress-corrosion
CHEMICAL INDUSTRY
cracking
temperatures
Rocket motors as high as 700°C
Ni-base superalloys
introduction to selected alloy series

Hastelloys
 one of the best corrosion
resistants Applications
 one of the world's most popular alloys
(among Ni-base S.A.) Rotary Dryer

 uncommon
pittingresistance to resistant
and cracking oxidation
 high resistance in chemical and
General remarks  exceptional heat resistance and
Hastelloy X oxidizing applications
fabricability
 one of the world's toughest materials
 good gas turbine engines
ductility
 high-temperature strength in vacuums
and atmospheres that are chemically
flame
 good
inert holders
price
industrial furnaces
Ni-base superalloys
introduction to selected alloy series

Monel
Applications
 developed by Robert Crooks Stanley who
highly
worked for the International Nickel
stronger
Company (INCO) in 1901
resistant
Golf
than steel
a l ve to alkalis
v alloy n t
Bladesceand inscrapers
s named
 The new
p o n e was nt honor of the
com sof
president p s
the rif Ambrose
company,
h i u
Monellfor malleable ma in gal
General remarks rin th pu
 is based on nickel (65-70%) e i and mp
e copper
nd s
29%) and also containsuiron
(20- low s and
hen and other compounds
able to try
be
k
manganese itc(5%)
Impellers
coefficientnks welded,
oil-well s i
drill Valve
instruments
trim
of thermal
 Standard product brazed
forms
Pump and
are round,
shafts
hexagon,
expansion framesstock,
flats, forging of eyeglasses
pipe, tube,
springs soldered
Propeller
plate, sheet, strip, and wire
 Some notes…
 Superalloys or high-performance alloys, are the materials
able to withstand extreme temperatures that would
destroy conventional metals like steel and aluminum
 The widespread use of superalloys in turbine engines
coupled with the fact that the thermodynamic efficiency
of turbine engines is increased with increasing turbine
inlet temperatures
 To avoid surface attack (due to the presence of
reactive alloying elements) including oxidation, hot
corrosion, and thermal fatigue,in the most demanding
applications, such as turbine blade and vanes, superalloys
are often coated to improve environmental resistance.
 and…..

having a quick look into the wide range of

superalloys’ applications, shows that these
materials have been affecting the human life,
from within the human body to the spacecrafts,
and from power generation plants to almost any
field which may need a stable, strong and
environmentally resistant material, for half a
century!!
THANK YOU!