What are the application scenarios of high-temperature alloys?

In the vast field of materials science, high-temperature alloys stand out with their outstanding properties. This type of alloy can withstand certain stresses at higher temperatures and maintain its ability to resist oxidation or corrosion, thus playing a crucial role in many high-end industries. ​

The aerospace industry is an important application field for high-temperature alloys. Aircraft engines can be called the “heart” of airplanes, and high-temperature alloys are the key building materials for this “heart”. The combustion chamber needs to withstand extremely high temperatures, with local temperatures even exceeding the melting point. High temperature alloys, with their excellent resistance to high temperatures and oxidation, ensure their stable operation; Turbine blades rotate at high speeds in high-temperature gas and withstand tremendous centrifugal stress. Nickel based single crystal alloys such as DD5 eliminate grain boundaries through directional solidification, greatly improving their temperature bearing capacity and providing solid support for the fourth generation fighter jets to achieve supersonic cruising. In aerospace, rocket engine nozzles must withstand high temperatures and high-speed particle erosion, as well as strong corrosive environments. For example, the GH5188 cobalt based alloy used in the nozzle of the Long March 5 hydrogen oxygen engine ensures good toughness even in deep cold environments through powder metallurgy technology. ​

The energy sector also cannot do without high-temperature alloys. The turbine blades of gas turbines used for power generation work in high-temperature environments, and the application of directional crystallization alloys such as GTD111 greatly improves power generation efficiency. In the field of nuclear power, the fuel cladding tube of nuclear reactors adopts a double-layer structure of zirconium alloy lining and nickel based alloy (such as Inconel 690), which effectively blocks radiation leakage in high temperature and high pressure water, ensuring the long-term safe operation of the reactor, such as the core material of Hualong 1 reactor. ​

In the field of transportation, high-temperature alloys also play an important role. In the automotive industry, the impeller of a turbocharger operates at high speed in high-temperature exhaust gas, and the use of nickel based precision cast alloys such as K418 significantly reduces hysteresis. In terms of ship power systems, the turbine disc of the destroyer’s gas turbine is made of GH4169 alloy, and the temperature difference stress problem between the rim and the center of the wheel is solved through delta phase control technology, which helps the ship to sail at full speed. ​

In the field of industrial equipment, high-temperature alloys are a powerful tool for dealing with extreme environments. The ethylene cracking furnace tubes in chemical reactors need to withstand high temperature hydrogen sulfide corrosion. HP40Nb alloy is strengthened by carbides, greatly extending its service life. The incinerator grate in waste to energy generation uses cobalt based alloy Stellite 6 overlay welding to maintain structural integrity under high-temperature chloride corrosion and increase waste processing capacity. ​

From high-altitude exploration in aerospace to stable supply of energy and electricity; From the efficient power of transportation to the reliable operation of industrial equipment, high-temperature alloys are ubiquitous and have become a key force driving modern industrial progress. With the continuous advancement of technology, the performance of high-temperature alloys will be continuously optimized, and their application fields will continue to expand, bringing innovation and breakthroughs to more fields. ​