2080 – 02 – Understanding Exotic Alloys & Superalloys

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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 than half of the alloy’s total composition. The more challenging the job, the more complex the superalloy composition required to address the problem. Some superalloy compositions are closely guarded secrets. In fact, the companies that first crafted these superalloys hold patents to protect their recipes.