UDC 669.018.472:629.73
A castable invar alloy based on the Fe Ni Co C system is developed. The highest average values of the
coefficient of linear thermal expansion of the alloy are 5.2 10 6 K 1, 6.3 10 6 K 1, and 7.4 10 6 K 1
in the temperature ranges of 20 400, 20 450, and 20 500C, respectively. The alloy is designed for mold
casting of parts with elevated heat resistance including those for operation in a couple with ceramics, carbon
plastics, and other polymer composite materials (PCM).
Key words: castable invar alloys, temperature coefficient of linear expansion, thermal size stability.
INTRODUCTION
Precision alloys with specified thermal expansion
[termed precision alloys with specified coefficient of linear
thermal expansion (CLTE) in GOST 10994] are out of competition from the standpoint of lowering of stresses in
metal-nonmetal coupling units both under stationary and
nonstationary operating conditions [1]. This is explainable
by the anomaly of their thermal properties known in scientific literature as the invar effect. This means that in specific
temperature ranges invar, and especially superinvar, alloys
have a CLTE an order of magnitude lower than any other metallic structural material, which makes their sizes stable under conditions of heating or cooling. Invar alloys have a
CLTE close to that of ceramic, polymer, and composite materials and this makes it possible to solve problems of temperature-and-size compatibility of materials of different kinds in
high-technology articles.
In the middle 1970s researchers of the Ural Polytechnic
Institute managed to prove the possibility of creation of precision cast alloys with minimum temperature coefficient of
linear expansion. It has been assumed earlier that invar alloys
can only be deformable, whereas in a cast structure the CLTE
cannot be low due to segregation of elements. A study of the
problem of optimization of physicochemical and process factors has made it possible to find conditions for ensuring a
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0026-0673/10/0910-0504 2010 Springer Science + Business Media, Inc.
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Co
Ce
Fe
31NKUL-1
30.0 31.5
8.3 9.3
0.75 1.5
0.05 0.30
Res.
0.40
0.50
0.02
0.02
31NKUL-2
30.0 31.5
8.3 9.3
0.75 1.5
Res.
0.40
0.50
0.02
0.02
Mn
Si
506
V. I. Chermenskii et al.
10
20U
30U
40U
50U
60U
70U
Ni
Co
32.9
37.0
36.8
35.0
33.2
31.9
31.0
6.2
0.0
2.0
4.3
6.4
8.0
9.0
< 0.05
0.93
0.98
1.20
1.00
1.00
2.00
Mn
Si
20 100
20 200
20 300
20 400
20 450
20 500
0.32
0.20
0.18
0.17
0.18
0.22
0.30
0.29
0.40
0.36
0.37
0.32
0.32
1.00
1.55
4.05
4.53
4.31
3.76
3.02
3.00
1.70
4.18
4.50
4.03
3.61
2.95
3.26
3.22
4.25
4.48
4.05
3.4
2.94
3.71
6.31
6.26
5.86
5.28
4.91
4.82
5.81
7.50
7.22
6.81
6.25
5.91
5.88
6.93
8.63
8.21
7.86
7.38
7.08
7.05
7.90
loy should contain low amounts of Mn and Si, possess commercial purity with respect to the other impurities, and contain cerium and other REM in an amount of 0.05 0.30%.
After heat treatment the castings has a mean CLTE no
higher than 5.2 10 6 K 1 for the temperatures ranging
from 60 to + 400C or from 20 to 400C, no higher than
6.3 10 6 K 1 for the ranges from 60 to + 450C or from
20 to 450C, and no higher than 7.4 10 6 K 1 for the
ranges from 60 to + 500C or from 20 to 500C.
The Curie point of the alloy is 625 K (352C); the modulus of longitudinal elasticity is 125 GPa; the ultimate rupture
strength (at room temperature) is 370C, the elongation is
8%, and the HB hardness is 130 kgf/mm2.
In addition to the scientific tasks we have solved a number of problems connected with the process of production of
castings from the alloy developed. The results of the tests
performed in the present work, the available production data,
and the results of shop tests allowed us to suggest a process
for casting preforms by a centrifugal method and for chill
casting and to fabricate a series of pilot castings.
The expedience of the principle of minimization of
CLTE in carbon-bearing invars at elevated temperatures
based on optimum combination of alloying elements raising
the Curie point has been confirmed. The purity of the blend
materials and the modes of melting, casting and heat treatment are important factors of the technology.
CONCLUSIONS
We have studied a precision cast alloy of the Fe Ni
Co C system with low CLTE in a wide temperature range
ending with 500C and worked out a process for fabricating
castings from this alloy. The alloy contains 32 34% Ni and
6 8% Co, is alloyed with 0.75 1.5% C, bears low contents
of Mn and Si, and possesses commercial purity with respect
to the other impurities. The values of the CLTE in the temperature ranges of 20 400, 20 450, and 20 500C ensure reliable enough operation of the alloy upon heating in a
couple with structural glass ceramics. Its physical, mechanical, thermophysical, and process properties are comparable
on the whole with the properties of other cast invars.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
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