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I needed to make a muzzle thread protector this afternoon and the person asked for it to be shiny, not a problem as I can do shiny. I have had a block of material sitting on the side for ages that was perfect for the job so I popped it the lathe and started to rough it to size, I soon realised I had a problem as it was tough as anything however I persevered more out of curiosity.

So I have is a piece of metal that looked like 7075 or similar before machining, is a lot whiter in colour than titanium and physically lighter yet is every bit as tough to machine, it gives off fine white sparks when ground, it also had what looked like a light oxidised finish when I picked it up, it machines to a very fine finish using carbide inserts.

I have no idea what it is however I know where it came from and it has a very exotic background.

Thoughts anyone?

Astaloy perhaps. Can you post a picture there is not much in the way of exotics we don't use.
Astaloy® CrA
Robust and Cost-effective Prealloyed Chrome System for Medium to High Performance
Astaloy CrA is a pure prealloyed chrome material for powder metal component production. In medium strength applications, alloyed only with carbon, it exhibits a fine pearlitic structure, which is robust and offers improved machinability. High strengths can be achieved at an attractive cost in sinter-hardening condition, as only minor additions of Cu (or Ni) are required. The alloyed, sinter-hardened structure is mainly martensitic.

'Tis bewitched.
Sounds like it was left over when the sword "Skofnung" was forged...........

Left to Right

Material 'X', Titanium, 316 Stainless. All have been machined within 90 minutes of each other.

ovenpaa wrote:I needed to make a muzzle thread protector this afternoon and the person asked for it to be shiny, not a problem as I can do shiny. I have had a block of material sitting on the side for ages that was perfect for the job so I popped it the lathe and started to rough it to size, I soon realised I had a problem as it was tough as anything however I persevered more out of curiosity.

So I have is a piece of metal that looked like 7075 or similar before machining, is a lot whiter in colour than titanium and physically lighter yet is every bit as tough to machine, it gives off fine white sparks when ground, it also had what looked like a light oxidised finish when I picked it up, it machines to a very fine finish using carbide inserts.

I have no idea what it is however I know where it came from and it has a very exotic background.

Thoughts anyone?

David,

I think Alpha1 refers to Hastelloy?

With no more info, I do presume your metal is one of the super-alloys composed of at least 50% Ni, Cr in large proportion (up tp 25%), Fe,Al,Ti,Nb addition depending of the alloy.

From memory, it can be Hastelloy, Inconel, Incoloy, Nimpnic.....

It cannot be Monel, as this one is characteristic because its large copper content....

Question shining, sure, due to Ni and Cr contents, they will shine!!

For the purpose, you would have been best with a 303-304 LOL....

R.G.C

Robert, a piece of 303 would have been great however I had nothing suitable in stock, it was either 15,0mm or 50,0mm.

What could such a material be used for?

I too was going to suggest Inconel ...


Took a piece to one of the shows where exhibitors claim their drill bits will go though anything! Not the Inconel sheet though.

ovenpaa wrote:Robert, a piece of 303 would have been great however I had nothing suitable in stock, it was either 15,0mm or 50,0mm.

What could such a material be used for?

David,

Very specific each time: Oil industry, chemical, high temperature....

R.G.C

High nickel / chrome / cobalt alloys, for example MP159, Hastelloy and Nimonics are generally used for extreme service applications where a combination of strength, corrosion resistance and high temperature resistance are required. The first row or two of blast baffles in a moderator would be a good application...

David,

Very specific each time: Oil industry, chemical, high temperature....

R.G.C

OOPs spelt it wrong

We use it to make mini reactors for research purposes.
http://www.haynesintl.com/cralloys.htm