2080 – 08 – Properties of Cobalt-Based Superalloys

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When cobalt is an alloy’s base metal, its alloys have a wider useful temperature range. That’s because cobalt-based superalloys have much better resistance to thermal fatigue than to nickel-based superalloys. Cobalt superalloys are stronger, more resistant to corrosion, and easier to weld than some other alloys. Unfortunately, they are fairly expensive because of cobalt’s limited availability. Furthermore, cobalt superalloys are very hard so they can be difficult and inefficient to machine, so a lot of the parts are cast to reduce machining.

And, since cobalt superalloys have high corrosion resistance, they are often used in the petrochemical and medical industries.