2080 – 09 – What is Titanium?

Superalloys will mix multiple metals to make better characteristics. A lot of exotic metals have these properties naturally. Titanium is both light and strong, giving it a fantastic strength-to-weight ratio. It develops a thin, protective oxide coating that makes it very resistant to corrosion even in caustic environments.

Titanium also has a low coefficient of thermal expansion and the ability to flex without breaking. These make them a perfect fit for aerospace and medical applications.

  1. What characteristic of titanium makes it Corrosion resistant?

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2080 – 01 – What are Exotic Alloys?

2080 – 01 – What are Exotic Alloys?

Even though about 75% of all machining requires ferrous metals, there are a few specific applications that require metals with unique properties. The medical industry, for example, needs materials that can be made into implants capable of withstanding the corrosive conditions in the human body without triggering an adverse reaction. For these sorts of special applications, parts have highly specialized features, and therefore are likely an exotic metal or a superalloy. These alloys are usually complex, expensive, and hard to fabricate, but their unique properties enable them to do well under stressful conditions.

2080 – 02 – Understanding Exotic Alloys & Superalloys

2080 – 02 – Understanding Exotic Alloys & Superalloys

Any metal that’s not part of the primary metal groups is considered an exotic metal. Exotic metals are organized as any metal that’s in one of the major metal groups. Some examples include tantalum, cobalt, tungsten, and vanadium. These metals are generally more expensive and difficult to work with than steel, iron, or aluminum, thanks to their highly specialized qualities. Superalloys are highly complex alloys manufactured specifically for challenging applications. Their main ingredient, known as the base metal, is used to categorize the metal. Most superalloys are based on iron, nickel, or cobalt, but this base metal may represent less […]

2080 – 03 – Knowing the Properties of Exotic Metals & Superalloys

2080 – 03 – Knowing the Properties of Exotic Metals & Superalloys

Introduction to the Exotic Metals Class Superalloys and exotic metals set themselves apart from conventional metals. While steel’s affordability and versatility earn it a predominant role in many industries, there are scenarios where its strengths need to be swapped for the distinctive attributes of a lightweight exotic metal or superalloy, particularly those with superior heat resistance. Unique Characteristics of Exotic Metals Exotic metals and superalloys come with a unique set of features. While these characteristics make them more challenging to process, they offer unmatched benefits. These metals are celebrated for their ability to endure high temperatures, showcasing remarkable strength, corrosion […]

2080 – 04 – Applications of Exotic Metals & Superalloys

2080 – 04 – Applications of Exotic Metals & Superalloys

Superalloys and Exotic metals are essential to many industries: The aerospace industry needs tools and equipment with a high strength-to-weight ratio and not a lot of thermal expansion. Turbine blades and jet engine parts need heat resistant materials that are light, which can also be as strong as steel. Equipment on oilrigs in stormy seas, for example, needs to be able to withstand extreme weather conditions in addition to salt water and petrochemical corrosion. Only superalloys combine the corrosion resistance and strength necessary to succeed in such an intense environment. Nuclear power reactors also use super alloys. They require metals […]

2080 – 05 – Properties of Iron-Based Superalloys

2080 – 05 – Properties of Iron-Based Superalloys

While superalloys are composed of a variety of metals, alloys with the same base metal will have distinctly similar characteristics. Iron superalloys are no exception. Iron-based superalloys are crafted for qualities that allow them to withstand higher levels of heat and corrosion resistance than most steels. These qualities, like impact resistance, strength, and toughness, are created, made by alloying iron with nickel, chromium and other elements. Additionally, iron-based superalloys have a greater resistance to damage from acids, making them perfect for applications that need high strength and corrosion resistance, like jet engine turbine rotors.

2080 – 06 – Properties of Nickel-Based Superalloys

2080 – 06 – Properties of Nickel-Based Superalloys

A good amount of superalloys are based on nickel. These alloys are typically composed of least 40% nickel. Nickel is a hard, workable metal with properties akin to those of iron and steel. It’s also very resistant to corrosion. Nickel-based alloys are prized for their extremely high melting points. They also maintain their strength at high temperatures. Nickel-based alloys do not oxidize and are extremely resistant to corrosion. Since they can withstand high temperatures and corrosion, nickel-based superalloys are often used to build nuclear pipe reactors and jet engines.

2080 – 07 – Varieties of Nickel-Based Superalloys

2080 – 07 – Varieties of Nickel-Based Superalloys

Nickel-based superalloys, like most super alloys, contain a variety of other metals. While all these different types of nickel-based super alloys are heat and corrosion resistant, the slightest change in composition can give an alloy a variety of different characteristics. Nickel-chromium-based superalloys have excellent oxidation resistance in stressful environments. They have much better creep strength than steel. It’s key to remember, though, that nickel-chromium can be hard to machine because of quick work hardening. After the initial machining, work hardening elastically deforms either the tool or the workpiece after each following pass. This means these superalloys need to be machined […]

2080 – 08 – Cobalt-Based Superalloys: Strength, Versatility, and Application

2080 – 08 – Cobalt-Based Superalloys: Strength, Versatility, and Application

Harnessing the unique properties of cobalt, the superalloys industry has crafted high-performance materials with wide-ranging benefits. Overview of Cobalt-Based Alloys in the Superalloys Industry Cobalt-based alloys are prominent in the superalloys industry due to their exceptional high-temperature stability. When cobalt serves as the base metal for an alloy, the resultant material exhibits a broader useful temperature spectrum. This is a distinctive advantage over its counterpart, nickel-based superalloys, especially in terms of thermal fatigue resistance. Properties of Cobalt Superalloys Strength and Durability: Cobalt superalloys are renowned for their strength, making them an excellent choice for challenging applications. Corrosion Resistance: Their high […]

2080 – 10 – What is Tantalum?

2080 – 10 – What is Tantalum?

Tantalum is an exotic metal commonly used in the healthcare industry. It is hard, dense, and ductile, but also easily machined – a rarity when it comes to exotic metals. As an excellent conductor of heat, tantalum has one of the highest melting points of any non-alloy metal. Though all these characteristics are extremely desirable, with all these favorable characteristics, its corrosion resistance is its most prized feature. Tantalum is virtually immune to acidic substances below 150-Fahrenheit. It’s perfect for use in the human body. Furthermore, Tantalum is nonirritating and can bond to organic tissue. In comparison with other metals, […]

2080 – 11 – Understanding Other Exotic Metals

2080 – 11 – Understanding Other Exotic Metals

A lot of other exotic metals are used in a wide variety of specialized applications. Tungsten, vanadium, and molybdenum are used in alloys because of their specialized characteristics. Tungsten has the highest melting point of any non-alloy, so it is often mixed into superalloys to raise their melting point. Tungsten itself is a very dense metal, but it’s extremely brittle. It can be found in heat sinks, light bulb filaments, and gas tungsten arc welding (GTAW) electrodes. Vanadium is both ductile and malleable. It can be added to a superalloy to enhance the strength of different metals, like securing titanium […]

2080 – 12 – Analyzing Industry Trends

2080 – 12 – Analyzing Industry Trends

Superalloys and exotic metals were developed to handle jobs that steels and traditional alloys could not. They are often stronger and more resistant to both corrosion and heat. But the properties which make exotic metals so useful also makes them a challenge to work with. The development of superalloys goes hand-in-hand with chemical and metallurgical innovation. At present, high demand from the aerospace, medical, and energy industries is driving up demand for superalloys, and therefore, in response to this demand, manufacturers are learning more and more about superalloys every day, creating new metals that inspire still advances. Because superalloys and […]

2080 – 13 – Summary

2080 – 13 – Summary

Developed for highly-specialized projects, superalloys and exotic metals pick up when traditional metals are not adequate. These very complex alloys were developed for applications in industries like energy and aerospace that are rapidly progressing and in need of extremely durable metal. Because of their complexity, superalloys are organized using their base metal, often iron, nickel, or cobalt. Each superalloy combination has unique characteristics based on its composition. Exotic Metals have key characteristics that make them valuable for advanced jobs. For example: Titanium is highly suitable for aerospace and medical jobs because of its lightweight, and low coefficient of thermal expansion, […]

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