Unravelling the Mysteries of Nickel Alloy: What's It All About?

Nickel alloys are typically referred to as alloys containing more than 30% nickel by weight, and commonly found products with over 50% nickel content. These alloys are known as superalloys, along with iron-based and cobalt-based alloys, because of their exceptional mechanical strength and resistance to corrosion at high temperatures. They are typically utilized in environments exceeding 540°C. Depending on the specific application, different alloys are chosen to meet the requirements of corrosion resistance, high-temperature corrosion, and equipment demanding high-temperature mechanical strength. Nickel alloys are frequently employed in aerospace, energy, petrochemical, and specialized electronic/optoelectronic sectors.

Nickel alloys were created in the late 1930s. In 1941, Britain produced the first nickel-based alloy called Nimonic 75 (Ni-20Cr-0.4Ti), and later improved it by adding Al to enhance its creep strength, resulting in Nimonic 80 (Ni-20Cr-2.5Ti-1.3Al). The United States, Russia, and China also developed their own nickel-based alloys in the mid-1940s, late 1940s, and mid-1950s respectively. The development of nickel-based alloys involves improving the alloy's composition and innovating production techniques.

To cater to the demands of ships and industrial gas turbines, high Cr nickel-based alloys with superior thermal corrosion resistance and stable structures have been developed since the 1960s. Currently, nickel-based alloys can withstand temperatures above 1100°C. They have evolved from the initial basic Nimonic75 alloy with the aforementioned composition to the recently created MA6000 alloy. This new alloy boasts a tensile strength of 2220MPa and a yield strength of 192MPa at 1100°C. It also demonstrates a creep strength of approximately 1000 hours at 1100°C/137MPa, making it suitable for aero-engine blades.

Characteristics of nickel alloys:

(1) Remarkable performance: Nickel alloys exhibit exceptional strength even at elevated temperatures. They possess outstanding mechanical properties, including resistance to deformation under constant stress and resistance to fatigue. Moreover, they exhibit excellent resistance to oxidation and corrosion. Additionally, they have good plasticity and can be easily welded.

(2) Highly intricate alloy composition: Nickel-based alloys typically incorporate more than ten different alloying elements. These additions serve to enhance corrosion resistance in various environments and also contribute to effects such as strengthening through solid solution or precipitation.

(3) Severe working conditions: Nickel-based alloys find extensive application in challenging environments. They are utilized in high-temperature and high-pressure components of aerospace engine gas chambers, structural parts in nuclear energy, petroleum, and marine industries, as well as corrosion-resistant pipelines.

After more than ten years of development, nickel alloy has become MTSCO’s star product, covering grades such as Alloy 600/601/625/825/400/200, etc., and products covering seamless pipe, welded pipe, coiled pipe, pipe fittings, flanges, plates etc. Want to solve the procurement problem of nickel alloy? Contact us to provide you with cost-effective solutions and products.