| For the manufacture of tooling for composites, the NILO® nickel-iron alloys offer a unique combination of matched thermal expansion to avoid warping during the curing cycle, along with strength, rigidity, durability, ease of fabrication and availability. NILO alloy 365 has 43% nickel and is strengthened by additions of 1.4% Ti and 3.3% Nb. Strengthening occurs during the aging heat-treatment – 1250°F (677°C) for 4 hours, furnace cool at 100°F (38°C) per hour to 1150°F (621°C) for 4 hours, air cool – producing a gamma prime precipitate. Agehardened NILO alloy 365 develops higher room-temperature hardness (Rockwell C39) and four times the yield strength – 146 ksi (1006 MPa) – compared with annealed 36% Ni-Fe alloys. Creep strength (resistance to deformation under load) is also much higher. Information Provided by Special Metals Corporation |
