Understanding High-Temperature Superalloys
High-temperature superalloys are iron/nickel/cobalt-based metallic materials engineered to operate above 600°C under sustained stress. Renowned for exceptional comprehensive properties, they fall into three categories:
- Iron-based superalloys
- Nickel-based superalloys
- Cobalt-based superalloys
These alloys are critical components in turbine blades, guide vanes, and turbine disks for aviation, marine, and industrial gas turbines.
High-Temperature Superalloys Machining Challenges
As the most challenging material among hard-to-cut metals, superalloys present:
1. High Cutting Forces (2-3× higher than steel) due to extreme work hardening and plastic deformation resistance.
2. Rapid Tool Wear from poor thermal conductivity, causing elevated cutting temperatures.
3. Built-Up Edge (BUE) Formation, where chips adhere to cutting edges, compromising surface finish.
Proven Tooling Solutions
To address these challenges, More Superhard offers specialized tooling for diverse superalloy applications:
|
Tool Material |
Key Advantages |
Application Scope |
|
Carbide Inserts |
Ultra-fine grain substrate + Nano-coating enhances thermal stability, prevents notch wear, and extends tool life. |
General machining |
|
Ceramic Inserts |
Whisker-reinforced structure enables higher speed/depth of cut with optional coatings for improved productivity. |
Semi-finishing to roughing |
|
CBN Inserts |
Exceptional red hardness (2nd only to diamond) enables high-speed precision machining with custom geometries. |
Finishing & hard turning |
Case Study: CBN Machining of Inconel 718
Workpiece Specifications
- Material: Nickel-based alloy Inconel 718
- Condition: Precipitation-hardened
- Hardness: HRC 45-47
As demonstrated in our Inconel 718 case study, More Superhard's CBN inserts deliver exceptional performance in the most demanding nickel-based alloy applications, achieving superior surface quality (Ra 0.3-0.4 μm) at competitive cutting speeds.
