Patent Grant
6852176
This invention is directed to alloys for use in industrial applications where resistance to wear and corrosion are required. Examples of such applications include build up material to be applied to components such as valves by plasma transfer arc welding. Other examples include cast turbocharger parts and welding on areas subject to wear on gas turbine blades in jet engines.
Certain alloys in commercial use for wear and corrosion applications are distributed by Deloro Stellite Company, Inc. under the trade designation Tribaloy. Alloys within the Tribaloy alloy family are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,410,732, 3,795,430, and 3,839,024. Two specific alloys in the Tribaloy family are distributed under the trade designations T-400 and T-800. The nominal composition of T-400 is Cr-8.5%, Mo-28%, Si-2.6%, and balance Co. The nominal composition of T-800 is Cr-17%, Mo-28%, Si-3.25%, and balance Co.
Among the objects of this invention are to provide an alloy for wear and corrosion applications which has enhanced oxidation resistance, to provide an alloy for wear and corrosion applications which has enhanced ductility, to provide an alloy for wear and corrosion applications which has enhanced impact resistance, and to provide an alloy for wear and corrosion applications which has enhanced corrosion resistance in both reducing and oxidizing acids.
Briefly, therefore, the invention is directed to a Co-based alloy comprising 13-16 wt % Cr, 20-30 wt % Mo, 2.2-3.2 wt % Si, and balance Co, with a Cr:Si ratio of between about 4.5 and about 7.5, a Mo:Si ratio of between about 9 and about 15, wear resistance, and corrosion resistance in both oxidizing and reducing acids.
Other objects and features of the invention will be in part apparent and in part pointed out hereinafter.
Chromium is provided in the alloys of the invention to enhance corrosion resistance. The Cr content is preferably in the range of 13% to 16%. All percentages herein are by weight. One preferred embodiment employs about 14% Cr.
Molybdenum is provided in the alloys of the invention to impart wear resistance. The Mo content is preferably in the range of 20% to 30%. One preferred embodiment employs about 26% Mo.
Silicon is provided in the alloys of the invention to impart wear resistance in combination with Mo. The Si content is preferably in the range of 2.2% to 3.2%. One preferred embodiment employs about 2.6% Si.
The Cr and Si contents are selected such that the ratio of Cr:Si in the alloy is above about 4.5. In one preferred embodiment it is between 4.5 and 7.5. In one especially preferred embodiment this ratio is about 5.4. It has been discovered that this ratio is important to achieving enhanced oxidation resistance.
The Mo and Si contents are selected such that the ratio of Mo:Si in the alloy is above about 9. In one preferred embodiment it is between 9 and 15. In one especially preferred embodiment this ratio is about 10.8. It has been discovered that this ratio is important to achieving enhanced ductility.
Cobalt is provided in the alloys as the alloy matrix. Cobalt is selected because it can be alloyed with the elements Cr, Mo, and Si and tends to form a tough matrix. Cobalt is selected over Ni, Fe, combinations thereof, and combinations thereof with Co because it has been discovered that a matrix which consists essentially of Co is tougher and less brittle than a matrix which contains some Ni and/or Fe. The Co content is preferably in the range of 48 to 62%. One preferred embodiment employs about 54% Co.
Certain trace elements are present in the alloys of the invention due to the presence of such elements in scrap and otherwise due to the manufacturing process. These elements are not intentionally added, are tolerable. Carbon may be present up to about 1%. Boron may be present up to about 1%. Nickel may be present up to about 3%. Iron may be present up to about 3%. While the combination of these element tolerances is up to 8%, in a preferred embodiment the total trace element content is no more than 2%.
In a further aspect of the invention present in certain embodiments, the alloy is Mn-free, Cu-free, and free of all alloying elements having a material effect on metallurgical properties other than Cr, Mo, and Si in the Co matrix.
In one aspect the microstructure of the invention typically consists of 40-55% by volume Laves phase, depending on the chemical composition and cooling rate. The microstructure of an undiluted weld deposit made by plasma transferred arc welding deposition is presented in FIG. 1. In one preferred aspect of the invention, the Cr/Si ratio is between about 1.04 and about 1.36 in the Laves phase and between about 9.6 and 10.8 in the matrix. In contrast, the Cr/Si ratio in alloy T-400 is between about 0.73 and about 0.86 in the Laves phase and between about 5.95 and about 6.85 in the matrix. This is in contrast to the Mo/Si ratios of the respective alloys, which are similar to each other. This greater Cr/Si ratio in the Laves phase and in the matrix is believed to be responsible for an enhancement in oxidation resistance. The similar Mo/Si ratios are indicative of analogous wear resistance.
The alloys of the invention have improved physical properties which render them especially suitable for certain wear and corrosion applications. In one preferred embodiment, the oxidation resistance is such that weight % gain measured by thermal gravitational analysis after 200 minutes at 760 C is less than 0.5%. The alloys show substantially no surface defects upon casting. Plasma transfer arc welding deposits are substantially smooth.
In another aspect the alloys demonstrate corrosion resistance in reducing acid H2SO4 characterized by less than about 50 mils/year (1.3 mm/year) thickness loss when tested according to ASTM specification G31-72 in a 10% solution at 102 C. In another aspect the alloys demonstrate corrosion resistance in oxidizing acid HNO3 characterized by less than about 300 mils/year (7.6 mm/year) thickness loss when tested according to ASTM specification G31-72 in a 65% solution at 66 C. In another aspect the alloys demonstrate corrosion resistance in reducing acid HCl characterized by less than about 4 mils/year (0.1 mm/year) thickness loss when tested according to ASTM specification G31-72 in a 5% solution at 66 C.
In another aspect the alloys demonstrate impact strength of at least about 2.0 Joules when evaluated by an un-notched Charpy impact test according to ASTM specification E23-96. And in one aspect the alloys have excellent high-temperature metal-to-metal wear properties. These are demonstrated in that the alloys have a volume loss of less than about 0.06 cubic millimeters when tested according to the well known Cameron-Plint test of ASTM G133-95 at 482 C with alloy cylinders in metal-to-metal wear contact with nitrided 310 stainless steel flat plates. And the 310 stainless volume loss is on the order of 0.4 cubic millimeters or less.
The alloys of the invention are provided in the form of powder for deposition by plasma transfer arc welding deposition, laser cladding, plasma spraying, and high velocity oxyfuel spraying. The alloys can also be provided in the form of welding rods, wires, and electrodes for deposition by gas tungsten arc welding, shielded metal arc welding, or gas metal arc welding. The alloys are also provided in the form of castings and powder metallurgical components.
Certain aspects of the invention are further illustrated in the following examples.
The oxidation resistance of an alloy of the invention (T-400C) was evaluated in comparison to the oxidation resistance of prior art alloys T-400 and T-800. The compositions of the respective alloys were as follows:
Thermal gravitational analysis (TGA) was performed at 760 C. The results are presented in FIG. 2. These results show that the least weight gain, and therefore least oxidation, corresponded to the alloy of the invention T-400C. In particular, the weight % gain of the alloy of the invention measured by thermal gravitational analysis after 200 minutes at 760 C is less than 0.5%. Enhanced resistance to oxidation is critical where the alloys are for use in the forms of castings and weld overlays, because excessive oxidation can result in casting and welding defects. And in high temperature applications where there is substantial metal-to-metal contact, excessive oxidation can result in sticking of moving parts.
An un-notched Charpy impact test according to ASTM specification E23-96 was conducted on each of the alloys of Example 1. The impact strength of the T-800 alloy was determined to be 1.36 Joules. The impact strength of the T-400 alloy was determined to be 2.72 Joules. The alloy of the invention demonstrates impact strength of at least about 2.0 Joules. In particular, the impact strength of the T-400C alloy was determined to be 2.72 Joules. Enhanced impact strength, or ductility, is critical in certain applications to prevent cracking upon casting, weld overlaying, or in service.
One-inch diameter bars were cast from the T-400 and T-400C alloys of Example 1 to evaluate their casting surface finish and suitability for precision casting. Photographs thereof are presented in FIG. 3. These photographs illustrate the absence of oxidation surface defects on the T-400C bar. The absence of oxidation surface defects is critical in precision casting applications because it minimizes the amount of machining required and raises production yields, as less material must be removed to yield suitable surface characteristics.
Alloys T-400 and T-400C of Example 1 were tested by deposition by plasma transfer arc welding deposition (PTA) for deposit quality. A comparison of the deposit quality is illustrated in
Alloys T-400C and T-400 of Example 1 were tested under the procedures of ASTM G31-72 for resistance to corrosion in reducing acids such as hydrochloric acid and dilute sulfuric acid, as well as in oxidizing acids such as nitric acid. The results were as follows:
These results underscore that the combination of elemental components and elemental ratios imparts enhanced corrosion resistance in both reducing and oxidizing acids. In particular, the alloys demonstrate corrosion resistance in reducing acid H2SO4 characterized by less than about 50 mils/year (1.3 mm/year) thickness loss when tested according to ASTM specification G31-72 in a 10% solution at 102 C. The alloys also demonstrate corrosion resistance in oxidizing acid HNO3 characterized by less than about 300 mils/year (7.6 mm/year) thickness loss when tested according to ASTM specification G31-72 in a 65% solution at 66 C. And in another aspect the alloys demonstrate corrosion resistance in reducing acid HCl characterized by less than about 4 mils/year (0.1 mm/year) thickness loss when tested according to ASTM specification G31-72 in a 5% solution at 66 C.
Alloys T-400C and T-400 of Example 1 were tested under a high-temperature wear test well known in the art as the Cameron-Plint test according to ASTM G133-95. The test was carried out at 482 C with alloy cylinders in metal-to-metal wear contact with nitrided 310 stainless steel flat plates. The results are presented in FIG. 5. These show that the T-400C suffered less wear than the T-400 and that the T-400C caused less wear in the stainless steel plate. These results demonstrate excellent metal-to-metal wear resistance evidenced by a volume loss of less than about 0.06 cubic millimeters when tested according to ASTM G133-95 at 482 C with alloy cylinders in metal-to-metal metal Wear contact with nitrided 310 stainless steel flat plates. And the 310 stainless volume loss is on the order of 0.4 cubic millimeters or less.
As various changes could be made in the above embodiments without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.
This is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 10/356,952 filed Feb. 3, 2003, now abandoned and claims priority from provisional application Ser. No. 60/396,524 filed on Jul. 17, 2002.
| Number | Name | Date | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3180012 | Smith | Apr 1965 | A |
| 3257178 | Severns, Jr. et al. | Jun 1966 | A |
| 3331700 | Severns, Jr. et al. | Jul 1967 | A |
| 3361560 | Severns, Jr. et al. | Jan 1968 | A |
| 3410732 | Smith | Nov 1968 | A |
| 3795430 | Farley | Mar 1974 | A |
| 3839024 | Demo, Jr. et al. | Oct 1974 | A |
| 4465515 | Mundorff | Aug 1984 | A |
| 4665996 | Foroulis et al. | May 1987 | A |
| 4692305 | Rangaswamy et al. | Sep 1987 | A |
| 5649994 | Holko | Jul 1997 | A |
| 6066191 | Tanaka et al. | May 2000 | A |
| 6479014 | Wu et al. | Nov 2002 | B1 |
| Number | Date | Country |
|---|---|---|
| 2.204.250 | May 1974 | FR |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20040057863 A1 | Mar 2004 | US |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 60396524 | Jul 2002 | US |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | 10356952 | Feb 2003 | US |
| Child | 10250205 | US |
