Vulcan Metal Group supply raw specialty metals and offer machining and manufacturing services for metals such as tungsten, molybdenum, kovar, tantalum, niobium.
Specialty Metals by Experts
23888 Madison Street Torrance, CA 90505 United States
Thermocouple alloys are the conjunction of two dissimilar metals that create a thermoelectric effect where they join. This thermal junction is sensitive to temperature variations and provides a measurable voltage change as the temperature changes.
By controlling the alloy composition of each leg of the thermocouple, you can control the response of the material.
Materials commonly associated with this application include the following.
Soft magnetic shielding alloys are metals that can easily be magnetized. These materials have a high magnetic permeability, giving low reluctance paths for shifting magnetic fields.
These properties make soft magnetic shield alloys great shields against static and slowly varying magnetic fields. They’re often used to improve quality in home theaters and to shield sensitive medical and electronic equipment.
Materials included in the soft magnetic shield alloy group include the following.
High Perm 49 (alloy 48, 49 & 50)
HyMu 80 (alloy 79)
By redirecting a magnetic field, magnetic shielding metals and alloys minimize that field’s impact on the item that’s being shielded. Used in a variety of different settings, these metals create a straightforward way for the magnetic field to serve its purpose without interfering with it. Acting as magnetic field conductors, they allow both the field itself and the equipment that’s operating in it go about their business without interfering with one another. In healthcare settings, for example, magnetic shielding isolates or blocks the magnetic field of the MRI magnet in order to eliminate unwanted interference from the MRI magnet on nearby electronic devices. Radiofrequency shielding, on the other hand, prevents the unwanted interference of noise or radiofrequencies, often in order to avoid image distortion.
How Magnetic Shielding Works
Magnetic shielding is critical when nearby devices could potentially be susceptible to magnetic interference, such as cardiac pacemakers, or other sensitive pieces of electronic or medical equipment. It’s also used when low-frequency external magnetic fields are in close proximity and have to be shielded from the magnetic or fringe field from the MRI magnet.
These alloys are also used in research labs that rely on ion microscopes and hospitals where EKG machines and other equipment must be shielded and protected from outside interference. The tests that these machines produce must be accurate, and any interference could produce anomalies in the results.
Magnetic shielding usually involves using steel or copper placed in the walls of the magnet room to capture the magnetic field. That shield them redirects the magnetic field so that it protects the item in question.
Refractory metals are incredibly resistant to heat and wear.
This group, also called CRAs, is typically found in high-temperature environments where corrosion resistance, strength under pressure, and low expansion coefficients are key. Oil and gas production, jet engines, chemical plants, and some biomedical applications are typical places you’ll find this category of metals.
Any alloy can corrode under the right conditions, so you’ll want to rely on our experts to help you find the best material for your project.
For hundreds of years, engineers have experimented with different alloys, in an attempt to control heat expansion. In certain applications such as vacuum tubes or optoelectronics, it is necessary to adhere to set expansion requirements over specific temperature ranges.
In these cases, the following materials possess the characteristics needed.
Alloy 42
Alloy 52
Invar 36
Super Invar 32-5
Kovar
Used in applications where a hermetic seal between the metal, glass or ceramic is required, controlled expansion alloys are also used in vacuum tubes, optoelectronics, lightbulbs and other products where a degree of thermal expansion takes place (based on the specific temperature at any given time).
Here, Phillip Guthrie of Vulcan Metal Group addresses key questions that buyers should consider when selecting controlled expansion alloys.
Q: What are the primary controlled expansion alloys?
A: The primary controlled expansion alloys include Alloy 36, Alloy 42, Alloy 48, Alloy 52 and Alloy 54, each of which has its own thermal expansion coefficient and is used for specific applications. Alloy 36, for example, is most often used in precision laser equipment, instrumentation and electronic devices, where Alloy 42 gets the most use in thermostats and electrical switches. Alloy 48 is more widely used in electrical wiring or in industrial thermostats in environments that have to be heated up to 450 °C.
Q: What are some of the other commonly-used expansion alloys?
A: Alloy ASTM F-15 is comprised of nickel, cobalt and iron and used frequently in machining and deep drawing. This is one of the more popular controlled expansion options for hermetic sealing applications.
Invar 36 is a low-expansion alloy made of nickel and iron. It’s typically used in applications with minimum expansion requirements. Nickel 200/201/205/233 are all commercially pure, non-alloyed Nickel options that are used in the electronics industry. Some of the products that are made with this alloy include fuel cells, terminals, cathode shields and semiconductor supports.
High-temperature metals and alloys are used in many different applications and include tantalum, tungsten, graphite and other metals. Most high-temperature metals also have good corrosion resistance and, when alloyed together with other metals, are used to make “superalloys” that can be used in chemical processing plants, nuclear reactors, aerospace and similar environments. When working in high-temperature environments, you need parts you can rely on. Strength and longevity under high stress is a must.
Materials commonly associated with durability in these environments are as follows.
Molybdenum
Molybdenum Lanthanide (MoLa)
Molybdenum TMZ
Niobium
Niobium C-103
Tantalum
Titanium CP (Grade 1 & 2)
Tungsten
Heavy Metal Tungsten
Tungsten Carbide
Tungsten Copper
Tungsten Lanthanide
What are high-temperature metal and alloys?
High-temperature metals and alloys are used in many different applications and include tantalum, tungsten, graphite and other metals. Most high-temperature metals also have good corrosion resistance and, when alloyed together with other metals, are used to make “superalloys” that can be used in chemical processing plants, nuclear reactors, aerospace and similar environments.
What types of metals and alloys fall into high-temperature metal and alloys?
High-temperature metals and alloys include stainless steels, superalloys, refractory metals and certain ceramic materials.
How are high-temperature metals and alloys used?
These materials are often used in the manufacture and repair of aircraft jet engines, industrial gas turbines and nuclear reactors. Additionally, many furnaces, ductings, and electronic and lighting devices operate at such high temperatures.
To perform successfully and economically at high temperatures, a material must have at least two essential characteristics:
• It has to be strong because increasing temperature tends to reduce strength.
• It must have resistance to its environment, since oxidation and corrosion attack also increase with temperature.
Electronic Metals and Alloys possess exceptional electrical, magnetic, surface and corrosion-resistant properties that play major roles in everyday electronic applications such as computers and smart phones.
Materials that play a major role in the electronic metals and alloys categories include 200 Series Nickel.
Monel 404
Nickel 200
Nickel 201
Nickel 205
Nickel 233
Nickel 270
The metals and alloys that go into both consumer- and industrial-grade electronics must be flexible, versatile and able to be manipulated with extreme precision. Heat is another key concern with electronic equipment, which means any alloys used have to be able to resist the effects of high temperatures. Finally, the metals must be able to withstand corrosion. Combined, these factors can significantly impact a piece of electronic equipment’s operability and longevity.
For many electronic and communication components, engineers will use commercially pure, low-alloy nickel. Compared to nickel alloys, commercially pure nickel maintains high electrical and thermal conductivity. It also has good ductility and malleability, both of which play an important role in the manufacture or repair of sensitive, small components that require much precision.
Nickel Alloy 200 is another electronic grade alloy that’s often used in electronic applications. One of the world’s toughest metal alloys, Nickel Alloy 200 maintains very good resistance to corrosive and caustic environments and acids, including hydrochloric, sulfuric and hydrofluoric.
This alloy is commercially pure (99.6% wrought nickel) and can be used across many different applications due to its good mechanical attributes and resistance. Nickel Alloy 200 also has magnetic and magnetostrictive properties along with the essential electrical and thermal conductivity requirements for electronic components.
Tantalum Takes Center Stage
A highly stable metal that’s virtually immune to chemical degradation at low temperatures, tantalum is another popular choice for engineers and designers involved with the production of electronics. The metal also demonstrates high levels of corrosion resistance (when it comes in contact with moisture or air) and forms a thin, protective oxide layer upon exposure to the atmosphere.
This group of metals (also called CRAs) shines in high-temperature environments where corrosion resistance, strength under pressure, and low expansion coefficients are key. CRAs are necessary in oil and gas production, jet engines, chemical plants, and some biomedical applications.
Any alloy can corrode under the right conditions. Trust our experts to help you find the best material for your project.
