Do you know Nickel Alloy?

Nickel alloys are generally referred to as alloys with nickel content of more than 30 wt%, and common products contain over 50 wt% nickel. Owing to their superior high-temperature mechanical strength and corrosion resistance, they are known as superalloys alongside iron-based and cobalt-based alloys, and are generally used in high-temperature environments above 540°C. Depending on the application, different alloys are selected for designing alloys that are used in special corrosion-resistant environments, high-temperature corrosive environments, and equipment requiring high-temperature mechanical strength. They are often applied in the aerospace, energy, petrochemical industries or special electronic/optoelectronic fields.

The development of nickel alloys started in the late 1930s. Britain first produced the nickel-based alloy Nimonic 75 (Ni-20Cr-0.4Ti) in 1941. To improve the latent strength and add Al, Nimonic 80 (Ni-20Cr-2.5Ti-1.3Al) was developed in the mid-1940s. The United States, Russia and China also successfully developed nickel-based alloys in the mid-1940s, late 1940s and mid-1950s, respectively. The development of nickel-based alloys involves two aspects: improving alloy composition and innovating production technology.

To meet the needs of ships and industrial gas turbines, a number of high-chromium nickel-based alloys with better thermal corrosion resistance and stable organization have been developed since the 1960s. To date, the working temperature of nickel-based alloys can reach above 1100°C. Evolving from the initial simple composition of Nimonic 75 alloy to the recently developed MA6000 alloy, the tensile strength at 1100°C can reach 2220MPa and yield strength 192MPa. The stress rupture life can be up to 1000 hours at 1100°C/137MPa, which can be used for aero-engine blades.

Characteristics of nickel alloys:

(1) Superior properties: good high-temperature mechanical properties, excellent resistance to phase transformation and fatigue, as well as oxidation and corrosion resistance, good plasticity and weldability.

(2) Extremely complex alloying: Nickel-based alloys often contain more than ten alloying elements, to enhance corrosion resistance and effects like solid solution strengthening or precipitation strengthening.

(3) Extremely harsh service condition: Nickel-based alloys are widely used in various harsh conditions, such as hot sections of aerospace engines, nuclear, petroleum and marine structural parts, and corrosion resistant pipelines.

Through over ten years’ development, nickel alloy has become the star product of our company. The grades cover Alloy 600/601/625/825/400/200, etc. The products include seamless pipe, welded pipe, coiled pipe, fittings, flanges, plates etc. Want to solve the procurement of nickel alloys? Contact us for cost-effective solutions and products.