Posts Tagged ‘metal’
Why is alloy c276 (equivalent to Hastelloy C276) produced by stainless steel manufacturing companies? What does it have that other alloys do not? How complex is the process of making such material? Let us look into the intricacies of producing alloy c276 (equivalent to Hastelloy C276).
This type of alloy is one of the most corrosion-resistant materials all over the world. It can be used for different applications like chemical processing and petrochemical processing, industrial waste, flue gas desulfurization and pulp and paper equipment.
What is it exactly? It is a nickel-molybdenum-chromium-iron-tungsten alloy. The molybdenum content is responsible for the resistance to corrosion. The low carbon content minimizes the carbide precipitation when the alloy is being welded on. It has high temperature strength with oxidation resistance. This type of alloy has been around for several years.
This alloy is fabricated by welding just like those techniques used in stainless steel and nickel-based alloy products. It is also formed like how stainless steel is formed although the material is stronger than the conventional austenitic stainless steel. In cold working, the material will harden faster than austenitic stainless steels. The high strength and rapid hardening requires the need for intermediate anneals to help form the alloy.
Its welding characteristics are similar to austenitic stainless steel as well. For welding techniques, it is best to go with techniques that minimize degradation of the corrosion-resistance property of the alloy. Methods like gas tungsten arc welding, gas metal arc or resistance welding will do minimal damage to the corrosion resistance of the heated and welded part.
To obtain the corrosion resistance of this alloy, a clean surface is needed. Descaling is more difficult because of the alloy content. It will be helpful to descale the alloy using stainless wire brushing or grit blasting. It can be followed by an immersion in nitric and hydrofluoric acids then a water rinse afterwards.
Today, many tool designers use computer software like 2D for their deep draw sequences or lay-outing. For instance, if the tool that needs to be designed has to have a spring, then the designer must use simulation to give him an idea of how to engineer the manufacturing process.
There are books to explain tool designs and how to make the tools although it is necessary to have hands-on experience as well. Needless to say, one would also need to have even just the basic background information on metals and which to use, how to use them, and best applications for each metal or alloy. Other terms you will have to know are density, equivalences, thermal expansion, the conductivity of the different metals, carbide application, heat treatment, and steel material specification.
Of course, if this all seems over the top and foreign, you can choose instead to design your tool and get a metal press stamping company to execute the design into an actual product. There are a number of highly rated metal stamping companies that do excellent work even for low volume output. In terms of cash lay-out to have the tool made, that would depend on the materials to be used and how many pieces you will be ordering from them.
Using heat and forging tools, a smith will turn metal any which way you want. This craft goes way back to the Bronze Age which is around 5,000 years ago. Unlike the old steel sheets, modern metal has low carbon which is healthier and easier to handle. Examples of metal products would be guard railings, metal handicraft, tools, and decorative items. The early blacksmiths were unable to do uniform work because almost everything was done by hand. They heat the metal to soften it and then pound it into shape.
Today, the modern blacksmith has machines and better tools. Large forging machines have taken the place of home forges. Forging is the term used to describe the process of shaping hot metal using a hammer. Unlike the early forges which used charcoal or peat, the modern smith uses brick and ceramic, which is less harmful to both the worker and the environment.
Pressing metal takes on different operations, depending on what needs to be done. For tools and jewelry, the process may include piercing and forming. Many rings and chains are made on machines that can roll out the raw products by the hundreds in pieces or feet. These rings or chains are then sold in bulk to jewelers who turn them into valuable pieces.
Metal pressing can be done using mechanical presses or hydraulic presses. Mechanical presses are mainly used for creating items that need precise measurements. Hydraulic presses are less exact and work with double the volume. For instance, one would use mechanical press to make jewelry or medical tools whereas hydraulic press would be used to make coins which can have slight, barely visible defects.