Heat withstanding metals.

[DominionX10]

What metals can stand being rapidly heated to "cherry red" and then withstand being cherry red while still keeping it's strength intact over long periods of time of constant re-heating and cooling? The metal would need a fairly quick re-cool time as well as be fairly light.

[insane_alien]

tungsten should do. used in filament bulbs the world over.

[YT2095]

Molybdenum is Fantastic too! it`s actually use to Hold the white hot glowing Tungsten in Bulbs and such

[John Cuthber]

I don't know how hot high speed steel can be used but it's a better approximation to "as well as be fairly light" than tungsten which is nearly twice as dense as lead.

[YT2095]

HSS at cherry red will anneal and get softer, although the conditions outlined in the OP are a little Too vague to give any Certain answer, you have to factor in what temp makes One metal "cherry red" will not even get close to making another one the same color or may make another White hot at the same temp!

 

it`s impossible to say without further data of the conditions.

[tvp45]

All metals lose strength at high temperatures. It's only a matter of how much. Can you clarify your question a bit more?

[John Cuthber]

Incidentally, quite a lot of metals (Molybdenum is one of them) are OK at red heat in a vacuum, but oxidise in air.

[imp]

Various cobalt-based alloys, as used for internal combustion engine valve seats.

 

Inconel

 

Inconel X

[DominionX10]

Ok, to be a bit more specific....

 

I need a metal that can reach extreme heats (the hotter, the better). I actually need it to get to a heat to where it can turn white or red.

 

It needs to be light, but also very strong. And keep its strength while its sustaining this heat.

 

The strength of the metal needs to be strong enough to where I could say, take it while its red or white hot, and beat it on another metal object as hard as I could without it breaking or bending.

 

It also needs to be able to withstand such torture over and over again.

 

So Im basically looking for a medium. It can be fairly heavy (say....a 1 inch tube 6 feet long weighing a 10-20 pounds or so. But, list metals that are heavier or lighter also) but it definatly needs to be strong and able to withstand beating and heat very well over long periods of time.

 

Also, if possible, the metal would need to cool rapidly. I was thinking of the types of metals they use in those new saudering guns that heats to extreme temperatures and then cools in seconds. Though Im not sure what metal they use, or how strong it is. Or if it could even withstand "red or white" heat.

 

If you need anymore information then please ask.

 

Thanks all for your answers.

Jon

[YT2095]

I was gunna suggest the sort of metal used in vector thrust engines, but they won`t take a knock, and so ceramics are out the question too.

 

and the soldering iron metal is plain old Copper that`s plated!

I have one here, I can Light a cig with it, and few seconds later touch the tip, Weller soldering guns use the same.

[DominionX10]

Well, in the case of copper it probably wont get hot enough. Plus, I need something extremely strong. and copper isnt.

 

So from what I understand. The metal Im looking for is going to be pretty hard to find. What about Titanium? I know its very strong and capable of withstanding heat. But Im not sure how many times it can continously withstand being heated up and then cooled without losing its strength permanatly. Also, I need something that cools very fast. and Im not sure that titanium would do that. But then again Im not a metal expert by any means. So Im not sure.

 

Any more ideas? Im going to do a little more research into cobalt based metals. I dont know anything about them. But noone has presented an arguement about using that metal yet.

 

Thanks again everyone.

Jon

[John Cuthber]

According to wiki Ti catches fire at about 610C.

[cjohnso0]

DominionX10,

 

FWIW, i'm an mechanical engineer who works on turbine engines, and I work regularly with high-temperature super-alloys.

 

Does this metal need to be cherry red or do you have a certain temperature in mind?

 

As far as I know, all alloys lose strength as temperature increases. You need to define what kind of strength you need and the operating temperature. But read on for some alloys I deal with regularly. Also, when metals get cherry red, they get very soft and easily deformable.

 

One of the strongest materials used in turbine engines at standard operating temperatures is Waspaloy. This is a nickel-based alloy. At ~1200F the tensile strength drops like a rock.

 

The most common high-temp alloy in turbine engines is Inconel 718. At ~1000F the strength drops like a rock for this alloy as well.

 

Cobalt-based alloys are also used at high temperatures, but again, their strength is greatly diminished at high temp, for example, L-602 has a yeild strength of 180,000 psi at room temperature, at 1000F this is reduced to 120,000 psi, and at 2000F you are down to 10,000 psi.

 

Titanium is not a high temperature alloy. While used extensively in the engines, it is used forward of the combustion chamber, where temperatures are low.

[pioneer]

Among the best are the noble metals like gold, platinum and iridium. The iridium is often used for the filaments in high temperature furnaces. It is very inert and does not react with oxygen. If one wanted to grow gem crystals using very corrosive molten fluxes, platinum and iridium are good choices for containers. One can make them glow, cool them, with almost none of these metal impurities ending up in the crystals.

[DominionX10]

Hey Cjohnso0,

 

You might be the man Im needing to talk to. You seem to be pretty knowledgable with metals. Is there a way we can chat with PM or e-mail?

 

If not, then to answer your questions, the strength wouldent need to be "super strength" I guess.

 

I would need the metal to be able to withstand me taking and beating it as hard as I can against another object just as hard (take, a metal pole, or a anvil or any other hard object, but fairly small).

 

This metal would need to be able to be heated, cooled, and reheated over and over again. Also, if possible, I would like a metal to be able to cool very quickly. Though this isnt a requirement, but at the same time, the quicker the metal cools the better.

 

It would be taking heats up to 1200-1700 degrees. But as I said, the strength would not need to be but strong enough to withstand any punishment I myself could do to it (again, holding it like a bat and hitting against another hard object as hard as a man can without it bending or breaking, and able to do this while at those temperature. No, Im not going to try and hold it at these temps, Im just using this as a rough estimate of the amount of pressure that will be put on this metal)

 

Also, I need a metal that wont release harmful fumes when at that temperature, but at the same time able to be heated by electricity.

 

I know, im picky, but ill show you what Im doing with it once its complete. That is, the person who helps the most and if they want to know what Im doing.

 

Thanks all. If you can PM me your e-mail so we can talk more off the forums.

 

Pioneer,

 

What are the strengths of these metals? Would they be able to take the punishment posted in the above post?

 

Thank you.

Jon

[Fireman Stan]

Nickel and Copper alloys are widely used at high tempatures. Monel for example can withstand roughly 2000 F before becoming a puddle of molten metal. Stainless steel is about 1200 F, and there are several other metals made of Tantalum and Tungston that have an melting point of over 4600 F. Then of course if you have the money you could go for Carbon-Carbon Composites, But... that's expensive. Hope any of this helped.

 

Carbon-Carbon is very light weight. And can withstand about 3000 F.

Edited October 15, 2015 by Fireman Stan

[angushall19]

Tungsten would work the best. It is the metal with the highest melting point around 3400 celsius.

[studiot]

Until you can do us all the courtesy of providing a proper specification. I am going to suggest you study MHD and fusion containment vessels.