Explore High Temperature Refractory Laser Forming Metal Materials

Choosing materials for severe service applications is always a challenge for scientists, especially in the power plants, chemical plants, oil refineries, aerospace, and manufacturing industries. It is because of the decreasing mechanical strength of metals and alloys with an increasing temperature and because the characteristics are much longer dependent.

Forms of laser-forming high-temperature refractory metal materials

Refractory metal materials with a high melting point were developed as high-tech materials with special properties. The smelting process of such materials is challenging due to the high melting point, and the high temperatures and most powdered alloys are manufactured.Traditional processes for powder metallurgy have shown their weaknesses with the need to build complex structures of refractory materials, reduce costs and improve efficiency: costly tooling forms, complex procedures, and complex three-dimensional solid parts which are difficult to build. The use of additive manufacturing has become effective in this case for refractory metal forming.The melting point of titanium metal is high, reaching 1660 °C among the commonly used material for the production of metal additives. The refractory metals have a melting point of 1000-2000 degrees higher than titanium. There are some difficulties, even when laser moulding is used.Top refractory manufacturer companies in India have been working on the upgrade of laser forming devices, the advancement of pulverizing technology, and the continuously growing demand for materials have gradually been implemented and major developments are now being made in the laser forming of refractory metals.

Molybdenum

Molybdenum possesses excellent mechanical, physical, and chemical characteristics and often is utilized for electronic components, glass development, and aerospace material. The density of molybdenum is much lower compared to other refractory metals, which indicates that the specific strength of molybdenum is higher and that this gives practical results for applications that require less weight.

Steel surface coatings based on molybdenum are used in a number of engineering industries, including automotive, aerospace, paper, and plastics because they increase the wear resistance of the substrate. Under sliding contact conditions, molybdenum-based coatings have low friction and good scuff resistance. Pure molybdenum, on the other hand, has a low hardness and forms a volatile oxide, limiting its application. Early research revealed that carbide dispersion hardened molybdenum (TZM alloy) improved high-temperature mechanical properties dramatically and that carbon additions increased the hardness of the molybdenum matrix by forming Mo2C.

Tungsten And Tungsten Alloys

Tungsten & tungsten alloys are used extensively in the electronics, and light electricity industries as well as in the aerospace, casting and weaponry sectors, die-cast moulds, and heating elements.

Tungsten has a melting point of 6152 degrees Fahrenheit. It has the highest melting point of all metals, as well as high-temperature strength, and creep resistance, as well as strong thermal conductivity, electrical conductivity, and electron emission properties.

Tantalum

Tantalum is a refractory metal that has a melting point of 5425 degrees Fahrenheit. Its 3D printing process is complex, with stringent specifications for powder performance, powder coating efficiency, equipment stability, laser melting parameters, and printing precision.

Metalysis, a British company, produced metallic tantalum spherical powders and conducted 3D printing and medical research in 2016, proving tantalum powders' effectiveness in SLM manufacturing medical implants.

The Renishaw laser melting device was successfully used by Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) to mould the radioisotope molybdenum-99 (Mo-99) in 2018. Mo-99 has been an important phase in the industrial development of medical care products because it is the most widely used radiographic isotope in modern medicine in the US.

Niobium-Based Alloy

The melting point of pure niobium is 4478°F. Niobium alloys can be used to produce vascular stents because they are resistant to blood corrosion. They are also valuable materials for producing high-temperature parts for aerospace because of their small specific gravity, high strength, strong durability, fast welding, and so on. It is commonly used in aerospace because of its excellent heat resistance, light weight, high durability, and ability to withstand heavy vibrations and low temperatures.

Conclusion

As previously mentioned, refractory material has a wide range of applications in a variety of industries, including power plants, chemical plants, oil refineries, aerospace, and manufacturing. The R&D team is constantly working to provide the latest technologies for high-temperature refractory metal materials in laser forming as demand for refractory material grows.