[TheForge] New metal alloys overcome strength-ductility tradeoff

[newenglandforge at aol.com]

Hey Rob,
I think to start with, we need to assume that the more alloyed the steel, the more difficult it is to forge, and the lower the melting temperature.  The dual phase alloys and precipitation hardening alloys are much harder when in the annealed state than standard quench and temper materials, i.e. HRC 35 or higher when annealed, thus much harder to forge.  The forging temperature forging range is also very narrow and you need at least a power hammer to forge them.  The steel alloys developed in the 20th Century were all developed to serve a specific purpose, stainless steels now number over 250 grades, again each to do a specific job, so if you are looking for an alloy that is easily forged, easily forge welded, wide forging range, safe to forge at lower temps, think low carbon or iron.   Also, these new materials often require very specialized equipment to forge, as they are first forged to an oversize, then (a dwell) allowed to cool from the initial forging temp to a much lower temperature like 1400F, then the final blow(s) "warm work-harden" the forging to very high strengths.  I'm not strong enough to do much reduction of a piece at 1400F and even a small drop hammer wouldn't be able to do the required reduction.  Then there is availability, most of us call these materials "Unobtainable Alloys", as a smith, your chance of getting some to try is near non-existent.
-Mike Schermerhorn
Boston



-----Original Message-----
From: Rob Fertner <rfertner at cox.net>
To: 'Blacksmithing List Sponsored by ABANA' <theforge at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Fri, May 20, 2016 7:02 pm
Subject: [TheForge] New metal alloys overcome strength-ductility tradeoff


New alloys are being developed. I wonder how forgeable they'll be?

http://phys.org/news/2016-05-metal-alloys-strength-ductility-tradeoff.html


Rob
Wichita, KS


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