Refractory Metal in Additive Manufacturing

Ferroalloys are used as nucleation agents in the casting industry. One of the measures to change the performance of cast iron and cast steel is to change the solidification condition of the casting. In order to change the solidification condition, some iron alloy is often added before casting as the crystal core, forming the grain center, so that the graphite formed becomes fine and dispersed, grain refinement, so as to upgrade the performance of the casting. Iron alloy can also be used as a reducing agent selection in steelmaking, silicon alloy is used as a reducing agent for making ferric molybdenum, ferric vanadium and other iron alloys, silicon chromium alloy, manganese silicon alloy is used as a reducing agent for making medium and low carbon ferromanganese.

Alloying elements in steel mainly play the following roles

1. Strengthen ferrite (Si,Ni,Mn,Cr, etc.);

2. Refine grain (W,Mo,V,Ti,Nb, etc.);

3. Improve hardenability (Si,Ni,Mn,Cr,B, etc.);

4. Improve tempering stability (W,Mo,V,Ti,Nb, etc.);

5. Forming carbides (Mn,Cr,W,Mo,V,Ti,Nb, etc.);

6. Improve corrosion resistance of steel (Cr,Ni, etc.);

7. Improve the oxidation resistance of steel (Si,Al,Cr, etc.)

Application analysis of Tungsten, Molybdenum, Tantalum & Niobium

The ferro tungsten, Molybdenum, Tantalum & Niobium super alloys are immune to corrosive attack by salt water or marine environments, as a result it is an excellent material of choice for application such as deep sea submersibles, yacht fittings, propeller shafts and propellers, and in underwater manipulators.

Tungsten, Molybdenum, Tantalum & Niobium supper alloys provides an economically efficient material in many corrosive environments. The corrosion resistance of types of ferro alloys extends the life cycle of equipment and reduces maintenance costs.

Tungsten, Molybdenum, Tantalum & Niobium supper alloys has potential use in desalination plants for converting sea water into fresh water.