Alloy C，Brightray C Pipe，

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Alloy C (Brightray C Wire) - Introduction with Composition, Properties, Applications and Product Forms

Alloy C, commercially known as Brightray C, is a nickel-chromium-molybdenum superalloy celebrated for its exceptional resistance to a wide range of corrosive environments, including both oxidizing and moderately reducing conditions, along with excellent high-temperature stability and fabricability. This high-performance material is available in a comprehensive range of forms to meet diverse industrial needs, including Bar (Round bar, Flat bar), Ribbon, Wire, Rods, Tube, Pipe, Foil, Plate, Sheet, Strip, and Forging Stock. Brightray C Wire, in particular, is valued for its smooth surface finish and flexibility, making it ideal for intricate applications such as electrical components, precision springs, and filtration systems in corrosive environments. Below is a detailed overview of its chemical composition, key properties, practical applications, and available product forms.

Chemical Composition

The precisely engineered chemical composition of Alloy C (Brightray C) is the foundation of its superior corrosion resistance and mechanical performance. The typical composition (by weight) is as follows:

Nickel (Ni): 50-55% (primary matrix element, providing a stable base for corrosion resistance and structural integrity)

Chromium (Cr): 16-18% (a critical component for oxidation resistance, forming a protective chromium oxide layer in oxidizing environments)

Molybdenum (Mo): 15-17% (enhances resistance to pitting, crevice corrosion, and reducing acids, such as hydrochloric acid)

Iron (Fe): 5-7% (improves fabricability and mechanical stability at ambient and elevated temperatures)

Tungsten (W): 3-4% (boosts high-temperature strength and further enhances resistance to pitting corrosion)

Cobalt (Co): ≤ 2.5% (aids in solid solution strengthening and thermal stability)

Carbon (C): ≤ 0.08% (controlled to minimize carbide formation, preserving ductility and resistance to intergranular corrosion)

Silicon (Si): ≤ 1.0% (assists in forming a stable oxide layer, enhancing oxidation resistance)

Manganese (Mn): ≤ 1.0% (improves weldability and prevents hot cracking during manufacturing)

Trace elements: Phosphorus (P) ≤ 0.04%, Sulfur (S) ≤ 0.03% (kept low to ensure weldability and grain boundary strength)

This balanced composition synergistically delivers the alloy's signature versatility, combining resistance to diverse corrosive environments with reliable mechanical properties across a range of temperatures.

Key Properties

Alloy C (Brightray C Wire) and its various forms exhibit a robust set of properties that make them indispensable in corrosive and high-temperature applications:

Mechanical Properties (room temperature, annealed condition):

Tensile strength: 700-850 MPa (101,500-123,300 psi)

Yield strength (0.2% offset): 300-400 MPa (43,500-58,000 psi)

Elongation (in 50 mm): 35-45% (excellent ductility, enabling complex forming, bending, and welding across all product forms)

Hardness: 190-230 HB (Brinell hardness, indicating good machinability and wear resistance)

High-Temperature Performance:

Thermal stability: Maintains significant strength up to 900°C (1652°F), with tensile strength remaining above 350 MPa at 700°C (1292°F)

Creep resistance: Exhibits good creep resistance at 600-800°C (1112-1472°F), suitable for long-term service under sustained stress in industrial systems

Oxidation resistance: Resistant to oxidation in air and combustion gases up to 1000°C (1832°F), forming a dense, self-healing chromium oxide layer

Thermal fatigue resistance: Excellent resistance to thermal cycling, making it suitable for applications with frequent temperature fluctuations

Corrosion Resistance:

Broad-spectrum resistance: Exceptional resistance to both oxidizing acids (e.g., nitric acid) and moderately reducing acids (e.g., sulfuric acid, phosphoric acid)

Chloride resistance: Superior resistance to pitting and crevice corrosion in chloride-rich environments, including seawater, brines, and industrial effluents

Wet corrosion: Resistant to organic acids, alkaline solutions, and industrial chemicals, making it versatile across diverse industries

Stress corrosion cracking (SCC): Highly resistant to SCC in chloride-containing environments, even at elevated temperatures

Physical Properties:

Density: 8.8 g/cm³ (0.318 lb/in³)

Thermal conductivity: 11 W/(m·K) at 20°C (68°F), increasing to 20 W/(m·K) at 900°C (1652°F)

Melting point: 1330-1380°C (2426-2516°F)

Coefficient of thermal expansion: 12.8 μm/(m·K) (20-100°C), rising to 17.2 μm/(m·K) at 900°C (1652°F)

Modulus of elasticity: 210 GPa (30,500 ksi) at room temperature, decreasing to 160 GPa (23,200 ksi) at 900°C (1652°F)

Product Forms

Alloy C (Brightray C) is manufactured in a diverse range of forms to accommodate specialized industrial processes across chemical, aerospace, and marine sectors:

Bar: Available as Round bar (diameters from 8 mm to 300 mm) and Flat bar (thickness 6 mm to 150 mm, width 20 mm to 600 mm), ideal for machining into valve components, pump shafts, and high-temperature fasteners.

Ribbon: Thin, flat strips (thickness 0.1 mm to 2 mm, width 5 mm to 100 mm) used in electrical heating elements, gaskets, and seals for corrosive equipment.

Wire: Brightray C Wire (diameters 0.05 mm to 10 mm) features a bright, smooth surface finish, making it suitable for precision springs, thermocouple leads, woven mesh filters, and electrical connectors in corrosive environments.

Rods: Solid cylindrical rods (diameters 3 mm to 50 mm) suitable for structural supports in chemical reactors, aerospace components, and high-temperature machinery.

Tube and Pipe: Seamless and welded options (outer diameter 6 mm to 200 mm, wall thickness 0.5 mm to 20 mm) for transporting corrosive fluids, including acids and industrial chemicals, in processing systems.

Foil: Ultra-thin sheets (thickness 0.01 mm to 0.1 mm) used in lightweight corrosion barriers, thermal insulation, and precision electronic components.

Plate and Sheet: Flat forms (plate: thickness 5 mm to 100 mm; sheet: 0.3 mm to 5 mm) for fabricating reactor vessel liners, storage tanks, heat exchanger panels, and aerospace structural parts.

Strip: Narrow, flat strips (thickness 0.1 mm to 3 mm, width 10 mm to 200 mm) for precision manufacturing in gaskets, clips, and electrical components for corrosive systems.

Forging Stock: Billets and ingots for hot forging into complex shapes such as pump impellers, valve bodies, and aerospace engine components.

Applications

The exceptional properties of Alloy C (Brightray C Wire) across its various forms make it a critical material in industries requiring resistance to diverse corrosive environments and high temperatures:

Chemical Processing:

Acid production and handling: Tanks, pipes, and valves (from plate, tube, and bar) for processing and transporting both oxidizing and reducing acids, including sulfuric acid and hydrochloric acid.

Pharmaceutical manufacturing: Equipment for producing high-purity chemicals, including reaction vessels (from plate) and transfer lines (from tube), ensuring product purity and corrosion resistance.

Fine chemical synthesis: Reactor internals (from forging stock) and heat exchangers (from tube and sheet) for processes involving complex chemical environments.

Aerospace and Aviation:

Gas turbine engines: Combustion chamber components (from sheet and plate), turbine blade retainers (from forging stock), and heat shields (from foil) leveraging high-temperature stability.

Aerospace instrumentation: Precision springs and electrical connectors (from wire and strip) resistant to corrosive atmospheres and temperature fluctuations.

Rocket propulsion systems: Components exposed to high-temperature exhaust gases, such as nozzles (from forging stock) and thermal insulation (from foil).

Marine and Offshore:

Shipbuilding: Hull components, seawater intake systems, and propeller shafts (from plate, sheet, and bar) resisting seawater corrosion.

Offshore platforms: Piping systems (from tube) for seawater injection, processing equipment (from plate), and structural supports (from rod) exposed to salt spray.

Desalination plants: Heat exchanger tubes (from tube) and pressure vessels (from plate) for seawater desalination, resisting chloride-induced pitting.

Specialized Applications by Form:

Wire: Precision springs in chemical pumps, thermocouple sheaths in industrial furnaces, woven filters for acid filtration, and electrical leads in corrosive environments.

Tube/Pipe: Chemical transport lines, heat exchanger tubes in power plants, and sampling lines for aggressive fluids.

Plate/Sheet: Reactor vessel liners, storage tank walls, and aerospace structural panels resistant to both corrosion and high temperatures.

Bar/Rod: Machined valves, pump shafts, and fasteners for corrosive environments where strength and reliability are critical.

In summary, Alloy C (Brightray C Wire) — available in forms from Bar and Wire to Plate and Forging Stock — delivers exceptional versatility in resisting diverse corrosive environments, along with high-temperature stability and formability. Its diverse product forms enable tailored solutions across chemical processing, aerospace, and marine sectors, establishing it as a critical material in complex industrial applications.

Packing of Standard Packing:

 Typical bulk packaging includes palletized plastic 5 gallon/25 kg. pails, fiber and steel drums to 1 ton super sacks in full container (FCL) or truck load (T/L) quantities. Research and sample quantities and hygroscopic, oxidizing or other air sensitive materials may be packaged under argon or vacuum. Solutions are packaged in polypropylene, plastic or glass jars up to palletized 2836 gallon liquid totes Special package is available on request.