Initially several cobalt based alloys were used as main components in blade manufacturing, while other iron based alloys served purposes that demanded lower temperature requirements. Iron has been used for disks and other purposes, while wrought alloys and other types such as the S-816 and B50TF15 opened the market for course grained precision cobalt infused alloy parts. The industry found a way to control the size and structure of the metal, and they were able to transform them for particular uses that no other types of metal can withstand. Without alloys, it would be very hard to make many of the things that are made today, such as certain aircrafts or rockets.
The History of Super Alloy Parts and Uses
The concern among manufacturers of super alloys was that the nickel and cobalt would eventually have to be replaced with alloys that had a much higher melting point. By simply reversing the process they had been using, they were able to increase the melting temperature, which allowed them to use the alloys for different uses. When Nickel and Cobalt based alloys were first used, a lot of effort was put into creating alloys such as molybdenum and columbium that were unsuccessful. It was a trial and error process. They failed with both operating temperatures and durability. However, they still held promise since they had very high melting points of over 1100 degrees Celsius. If a suitable coating could be found, then this metal would be ideal for manufacturing aircraft. Even though planes were not supposed to be the reason these alloys were initially created, alloys have been a major factor in the manufacturing of planes and other aircraft.
Oxide Dispersion Strengthened
ODS alloys are commonly used in the production of aircraft. The blending process and alloying techniques that have been developed over time have greatly contributed to the process. Nickel based and cobalt based products allowed for the new application of ODS materials. By using this technique and metalmatrix composites, the creation of super alloys became possible. Super alloys are constantly tested to see how they can be improved, and they are already the strongest metals in the world. Since super alloys and other alloys are used on aircraft and other products and devices where human life could be at stake, it is vital that they are not flawed in any way. They must be strong enough to withstand unbelievable amounts of heat, and they have to hold up when aircraft is in flight. Without super alloys, our aircraft would probably not be able to function as well as it does. Most metals just won’t withstand the heat that is given off from aircraft and other devices.
