Stellite is non-magnetic, making it ideal for applications in which magnetic materials interfere with equipment performance. It is also easily machined. Custom Stellite parts can be cast through casting processes, such as sand or investment. This method allows for complex and more extensive components to be produced. It can also be used to achieve tight dimensional tolerances.
High-Temperature Resistance
Table of Contents
The ability to withstand extreme temperatures makes custom Stellite parts famous for industrial applications. It’s essential if the equipment will be exposed to chemical or electrical environments. The cobalt-based Stellite alloys are highly resistant to erosion, cavitation, and corrosion at elevated temperatures. It helps to protect critical components in heavy-duty applications. AS9100 & NADCAP certified custom manufacturer of precision Stellite(r) investment castings utilizing lost foam, air set, die & sand cast methods. It also offers vacuum & pressure-cast super alloys & nonferrous metals such as carbon, alloy & duplex steels, aluminum, nickel & cobalt alloys. Blanket orders & low to high-volume production are offered. Surface finish options include bead blasting, anodizing & paint coating. It specializes in laser surface alloying that produces near-net-shape components with reduced machining requirements.
Wear Resistance
The durability and dependability of mechanical equipment largely depend on the material’s capacity to withstand wear. According to tribology, the science of friction and lubrication, four primary wear mechanisms affect materials. Material hardness has a strong correlation with wear resistance, but it is also heavily influenced by other factors like abrasion, lubricity, and the type of wear. Wear resistance is also impacted by the temperature of the environment and the frequency of wear. Cobalt-based alloys like Stellite are highly corrosion-resistant and wear-resistant, making them an excellent choice for components that withstand harsh conditions. These alloys are also weldable, which makes it easy to repair or replace parts when necessary. Additionally, Stellite castings are non-magnetic in their annealed state, which is a desirable property for equipment that must operate under magnetic fields.
Heat Tolerance
Heat tolerance is the ability of individuals to thermoregulate their core body temperature and heart rate during heat stress exposure. A small percentage of people are permanently intolerant to hot environments, while the remainder have varying abilities that depend on fitness and acclimatization state. Wrought materials like Stellite 6B and 6K are more robust than cast materials of the same chemistry due to plastic deformation during production (hot forming). The material can be customized to your application’s gauge and sheet size. The resulting flat stock can then be cut to shape and finish machined into components to your drawing.
Corrosion Resistance
The ability of a material to withstand damage from chemicals or environmental factors is known as corrosion resistance. This property can be an inherent material quality or achieved through a coating or other treatment. Stellite, a group of cobalt-chromium alloys, has excellent corrosion resistance. It is ideal for applications in which the part will be exposed to harsh chemical or environmental conditions. Stellite undergoes plastic deformation during manufacturing to create a more robust material that can withstand more pressure and temperature than cast alloys. The resulting material also has higher corrosion and wear resistance. It is ideal for valve seats (a tungsten carbide overlay prevents galling) and pump components. It is also highly resistant to cavitation and erosion.
Lightweight
Stellite is used in various industries for components that require resistance to severe degradation of metal-metal wear, such as valve seats. This cobalt-based superalloy is also ideal for high-performance gas turbines. Compared to tungsten carbide, the alloy is often applied as an overlay on gate, globe, butterfly, and check valve internals to prevent galling. It is also suitable for coatings exposed to rapid abrasive erosion and produced using various spraying methods, such as HVOF and PTA.
A study utilizing laser surface alloying (LSA) of the Stellite 6 substrate showed that rhenium can significantly enhance the wear resistance properties of the alloy. The polarization curves of the rhenium-alloyed layer show more robust fragmentation of dendrites and a more finely dispersed eutectic, resulting in a 2.6-fold increase in the microhardness compared with the 13Cr-4Ni steel substrate.
