Papers - Properties - The Instability of Low-expansion Iron-nickel-cobalt Alloys (T.P. 1370, with discussion)

The substitution of cobalt for part of the nickel in Invar was found by P. H. Brace1 to lower the coefficient 01 expansion. Scott1 extended the use of cobalt to alloys of higher inflection temperatures. Such alloys have a larger temperature range of low expansion than those without cobalt, and their use up to 400' or 500°C. offers decided advantages in certain applications. However, it has been found that the iron-nickel-cobalt alloys are not stable in this temperature range. Experimental Methods Two methods were used in studying the stability of the low-expansion iron -nickel-cobalt alloys. Dilatometer specimens were held at 480°C. for 9 months and the change in expansion characteristics was dctcr- mined. Filings were held for about 2 months at various temperatures and the change in structure was determined by X-ray diffraction. As shown by Table I, the alloys studied covered a wide range in nickel plus cobalt content (which determines the inflection temperature) as well as some variation in the ratio of nickel to iron (which controls the temperature of the gamma to alpha transformation). Included also are alloys containing carbon and vanadium, carbon and titanium and three with various amounts of copper. The alloys were melted in a high-frequency induction furnace with a magnesia crucible, using ingot iron, electrolytic nickel and commercial cobalt. Fifteen-pound heats were cast into iron molds after deoxidizing with silicon, or