Alloy PE16,Nimonic PE16 Wire,

Alloy PE16,Nimonic PE16 Wire,

Alloy PE16 (Nimonic PE16 Wire) - Introduction with Composition, Properties, Applications and Product Forms

Alloy PE16, commercially known as Nimonic PE16 and a key member of the Nimonic superalloy family, is a nickel-chromium-aluminum-titanium alloy renowned for its exceptional high-temperature strength, creep resistance, and long-term oxidation stability. This alloy is specifically engineered to excel in extreme thermal environments—including prolonged exposure to elevated temperatures, cyclic stress, and harsh atmospheres—making it a critical material in aerospace, energy, and industrial sectors where components must withstand combustion gases, thermal cycling, and heavy mechanical loads. It 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. Nimonic PE16 Wire, in particular, stands out for its uniform high-temperature properties, flexibility, and precision, making it ideal for welding, thermal spray coatings, and intricate components in gas turbine engines and high-heat industrial systems. Below is a detailed overview of its chemical composition, key properties, practical applications, and available product forms.

Chemical Composition

The precisely balanced chemical composition of Alloy PE16 (Nimonic PE16 Wire) is the foundation of its exceptional high-temperature performance and corrosion resistance. The typical composition (by weight) is as follows:

Nickel (Ni): 72-75% (the primary matrix element, delivering high-temperature stability, structural integrity, and supporting the formation of strength-enhancing precipitates)

Chromium (Cr): 15-17% (forms a dense, protective chromium oxide layer, ensuring superior oxidation and sulfidation resistance at ultra-high temperatures)

Aluminum (Al): 1.5-1.9% (works with titanium to form gamma-prime (γ’) intermetallic precipitates, the core contributor to the alloy’s high-temperature strength)

Titanium (Ti): 2.5-2.9% (combines with aluminum to form gamma-prime precipitates, significantly enhancing creep resistance and tensile strength at elevated temperatures)

Carbon (C): 0.04-0.08% (forms carbides with chromium, reinforcing grain boundaries and improving creep rupture strength)

Iron (Fe): ≤ 0.8% (minimized to preserve high-temperature properties and oxidation resistance)

Silicon (Si): ≤ 0.4% (aids in deoxidation during manufacturing and supports the formation of a stable oxide layer for enhanced oxidation resistance)

Manganese (Mn): ≤ 0.4% (enhances hot workability, enabling fabrication into diverse product forms like wire and foil)

Boron (B): 0.002-0.008% (strengthens grain boundaries, reducing creep rupture and improving ductility at high temperatures)

Zirconium (Zr): 0.04-0.12% (stabilizes carbides and refines the alloy’s microstructure, further boosting creep resistance and thermal fatigue performance)

Phosphorus (P): ≤ 0.015% (strictly limited to prevent grain boundary embrittlement under high stress)

Sulfur (S): ≤ 0.008% (minimized to ensure good ductility and resistance to stress corrosion cracking)

This engineered blend—focused on nickel, chromium, and precipitate-forming elements—delivers Alloy PE16’s signature ultra-high-temperature strength, creep resistance, and oxidation stability, critical for demanding thermal applications.

Key Properties

Alloy PE16 (Nimonic PE16 Wire) and its various forms exhibit extraordinary properties that make them indispensable in ultra-high-temperature, corrosive, and cyclic-stress environments:

Mechanical Properties (solution-annealed and aged condition):

Tensile strength: 1050-1200 MPa (152,300-174,000 psi) at room temperature; retains ~420 MPa (60,900 psi) at 850°C (1562°F)

Yield strength (0.2% offset): 700-800 MPa (101,500-116,000 psi) at room temperature; retains ~350 MPa (50,800 psi) at 850°C (1562°F)

Elongation (in 50 mm): 18-28% at room temperature; 12-20% at 850°C (1562°F) (excellent ductility for forming complex components like turbine blades and seals)

Reduction of area: 30-40% (superior toughness, resisting fracture under high-temperature cyclic stress)

Hardness: 33-38 HRC (Rockwell hardness) at room temperature; maintains ~23 HRC at 850°C (1562°F)

High-Temperature Properties:

Continuous service temperature: Up to 920°C (1688°F) (a top performer for precipitation-strengthened nickel alloys, with long-term stability in air)

Creep resistance: Exceptional resistance to creep deformation—1000-hour creep rupture strength of ~200 MPa (29,000 psi) at 850°C (1562°F) and ~90 MPa (13,050 psi) at 920°C (1688°F)

Thermal fatigue resistance: Withstands repeated thermal cycling (e.g., 150°C to 880°C) without cracking, critical for components like gas turbine combustion liners and exhaust parts

Oxidation resistance: Superior resistance to oxidation and scaling in air at temperatures up to 1020°C (1868°F), with minimal weight gain even after 5000 hours at 920°C (1688°F)

Corrosion Resistance:

General corrosion: Excellent resistance to high-temperature combustion gases, industrial chemicals, and steam

Sulfidation resistance: Resists sulfidation in sulfur-containing environments (e.g., coal-fired power plants) up to 820°C (1508°F)

Pitting/crevice corrosion: Good resistance to pitting in mild chloride environments (e.g., aerospace components exposed to humidity and marine atmospheres)

Carburization resistance: Maintains integrity in mild carburizing atmospheres (e.g., industrial furnaces) by limiting carbon absorption and preventing excessive carbide formation

Physical Properties:

Density: 8.0-8.2 g/cm³ (0.289-0.296 lb/in³)

Thermal conductivity: 10.5-12.5 W/(m·K) at 20°C (68°F); increases to 21-24 W/(m·K) at 900°C (1652°F) (efficient heat dissipation at high temperatures, reducing thermal stress)

Coefficient of thermal expansion: 12.5-14.5 μm/(m·K) (20-900°C) (controlled expansion to minimize thermal stress in assembled components like turbine casings)

Modulus of elasticity: 200-210 GPa (29,000-30,500 ksi) at room temperature; decreases to ~135 GPa (19,600 ksi) at 900°C (1652°F)

Melting point: 1350-1400°C (2462-2552°F)

Product Forms

Alloy PE16 (Nimonic PE16 Wire) is manufactured in a diverse range of forms to accommodate specialized ultra-high-temperature and corrosion-resistant applications:

Bar: Available as Round bar (diameters from 8 mm to 180 mm) and Flat bar (thickness 4 mm to 90 mm, width 15 mm to 450 mm), ideal for machining into turbine components, valve stems, and high-temperature fasteners.

Ribbon: Thin, flat strips (thickness 0.08 mm to 0.9 mm, width 4 mm to 90 mm) used in thermal spray coatings, electrical heating elements, and flexible seals for high-temperature furnaces.

Wire: Nimonic PE16 Wire (diameters 0.4 mm to 5 mm) offers uniform high-temperature properties, suitable for welding (TIG/MIG), thermal spray applications, and precision heating coils in industrial furnaces.

Rods: Solid cylindrical rods (diameters 2 mm to 45 mm) used for gas tungsten arc welding (GTAW) filler metal and manufacturing small high-temperature components (e.g., sensor supports, valve pins).

Tube and Pipe: Hollow forms (outer diameter 5 mm to 90 mm, wall thickness 0.4 mm to 9 mm) for high-temperature fluid transport (e.g., furnace fuel lines, heat exchanger tubes in power plants).

Foil: Ultra-thin sheets (thickness 0.015 mm to 0.09 mm) used in high-temperature gaskets, heat shields for electronics, and thin-film thermal barriers.

Plate and Sheet: Flat forms (plate: thickness 2 mm to 45 mm; sheet: 0.25 mm to 2 mm) for fabricating combustion liners, furnace walls, and aerospace heat exchangers.

Strip: Narrow, flat strips (thickness 0.08 mm to 1.8 mm, width 2 mm to 45 mm) for precision components like turbine seals, heat exchanger fins, and electrical contacts in high-heat environments.

Forging Stock: Billets and ingots for hot forging into complex shapes (e.g., gas turbine disks, compressor blades, industrial furnace doors) requiring ultra-high-temperature strength.

Applications

The exceptional ultra-high-temperature strength, creep resistance, and oxidation stability of Alloy PE16 (Nimonic PE16 Wire) across its various forms make it a critical material in industries requiring performance under extreme thermal conditions:

Aerospace and Aviation:

Gas turbine engines: Compressor blades, turbine vanes, combustion liners, and afterburner components (from plate, forging stock, and sheet) withstanding temperatures up to 920°C (1688°F).

Aerospace fasteners: High-temperature bolts, studs, and rivets (from bar and rod) securing engine components exposed to cyclic thermal stress and vibration.

Auxiliary power units (APUs): Heat exchanger tubes and structural parts (from tube and sheet) resisting high temperatures in aircraft auxiliary systems.

Energy and Power Generation:

Gas/steam turbines: Hot-section components (from plate, forging stock, and bar) for industrial power turbines, enduring high temperatures and cyclic loading.

Waste-to-energy plants: Combustion chamber liners and heat recovery components (from sheet and plate) withstanding corrosive flue gases and temperatures above 820°C.

Nuclear power: Heat exchanger tubes and structural components (from tube and plate) resisting radiation and high-temperature coolants.

Industrial and High-Temperature Processing:

High-temperature furnaces: Furnace walls, heating elements, thermocouple sheaths, and hearth plates (from wire, plate, and tube) operating in air or inert atmospheres up to 1020°C (1868°F).

Chemical processing: Reactor liners, catalyst support grids, and heat exchangers (from plate, tube, and bar) withstanding aggressive chemicals (e.g., acids, organic solvents) at elevated temperatures.

Metallurgical processing: Heat treatment fixtures, molten metal handling parts, and annealing furnace components (from bar, forging stock, and plate) resisting wear and high heat.

Defense and Specialized Engineering:

Military aircraft engines: Critical hot-section components (from forging stock and plate) requiring ultra-high-temperature durability in combat environments.

Missile propulsion systems: Combustion chamber liners and exhaust components (from sheet and forging stock) resisting extreme heat from propellant combustion.

Naval systems: Marine gas turbine components (from plate, tube, and bar) resisting seawater corrosion and high temperatures.

Specialized Applications by Form:

Wire: Welding filler metal for joining high-temperature components, thermal spray coatings for wear protection, and precision heating coils.

Plate/Sheet: Combustion liners, furnace walls, and aerospace heat exchangers requiring large, flat high-temperature surfaces.

Tube/Pipe: High-temperature fluid transport (fuel lines, heat exchanger tubes) and thermocouple protection sheaths in corrosive environments.

Forging Stock: Complex turbine disks, compressor blades, and heavy-duty industrial furnace components requiring custom shapes and high strength.

In summary, Alloy PE16 (Nimonic PE16 Wire) — available in forms from Bar and Wire to Plate and Forging Stock — delivers exceptional ultra-high-temperature strength, creep resistance, and oxidation stability. Its diverse product forms enable tailored solutions across aerospace, energy, industrial, and defense sectors, establishing it as a critical material in applications requiring reliable performance under extreme thermal conditions.

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 1216 gallon liquid totes Special package is available on request.