Nickel-based superalloys for aircraft and automotive engines have significantly improved formability

Comparison of tensile test results after HPS machining of nickel-based superalloys

Comparison of Stress-Deformation Curves of Specimen

Kyushu University of Japan announced on April 8, 2016 that for the use of nickel-based superalloys (Inconel 718), which are widely used in aircraft and automotive engine parts, the university and Nagano Corporation have jointly improved the moldability , can reduce the molding load to less than half of the original.

Nickel-based superalloys have the advantages of high strength and excellent corrosion resistance at high temperatures, but have a problem of significantly poor formability. This time, the use of HPS method developed by Kyushu University has improved the formability. The principle of this technique is to ultrafine the grains of the nickel-based superalloy, and to greatly improve the moldability by utilizing the superplastic phenomenon (the phenomenon that the metal is stretched several times when deformed at a high temperature).

It has been confirmed that in addition to the nickel-base superalloy, superhard aluminum (A2024), ultra-super hard aluminum (A7075) and hard-to-process magnesium alloy (AZ61) and titanium alloy (F1295), which are high-strength aluminum alloys, are also available. Superplasticity appears, and it is expected to be used in a wide range of markets such as automobiles, aircraft, and medical devices. In the future, Nagano Blacksmith will continue to research and develop to make this technology practical. (Special Contributor: Kudosuke)