Bringing the Strength of Cobalt & Nickel
Cobalt and nickel investment castings, also known as monel alloys or superalloys, provide high end corrosion and abrasion resistance at the most extreme temperatures. When it comes to investment casting, Cobalt and nickel share many mechanical properties with stainless steel castings, but are designed for even greater strength and oxidation resistance.
Due to nickel's extreme hardness, The United States Mint considered dropping nickel alloy from US nickels (25% nickel/75% copper) to prolong the life of their minting equipment. Millions of Americans are oblivious to the fact that their couch cushions contain one of the hardest, most abrasion resistant alloys castable at atmospheric conditions.
Precision Castings of Tennessee specialize in highly repeatable short production runs of superalloy cobalt investment castings and nickel investment castings in the 0 to 20 lbs range, and can produce 100+ lbs castings when required. Additionally, PCT's nickel and cobalt investment castings provide:
- Reduction or elimination of high machining costs associated with nickel and cobalt
- Intricate, near-net shape parts achievable without machining
- Easily convert multiple parts into single assemblies
- Thin walls for weight reduction opportunities
- Surface texture of 125 RMS or better
- Tolerances within +/- .005 inches per linear inch
- Highly complex dimensional geometry
From concept to completion, PCT ensures that nickel and cobalt investment castings meet the form, fit, and function of your design.
FORM – UNIQUE COBALT AND NICKEL PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS
While superalloy cobalt and nickel investment castings are typically more expensive than other alloy types, these superalloy castings offer unmatched temperature resistance, surface stability under high stress conditions, and overall hardness.
Due to their impressive mechanical properties and heat resistance, nickel and cobalt both enjoy long service high resistances to oxidation carburization.
FIT – HOW WE MAKE NICKEL AND COBALT CASTINGS WORK FOR YOU
Nickel and cobalt's inherent hardness make them difficult to machine. Our Netshape, as-cast parts reduce or eliminate the majority of costly machining, while still maintaining precision tolerances within +/- .005 inches per linear inch.
Precision Castings of Tennessee automates the majority of the cobalt and nickel superalloy casting process, ensuring we produce consistent results that save our customers money. Casting nickel and cobalt is a somewhat delicate process that requires constant monitoring, and is highly susceptible to cracking when performed by untrained foundries.
FUNCTION – REAL WORLD STEEL CASTING EXAMPLES
Anything requiring high levels of abrasion and heat resistance are ideal candidates for nickel and cobalt. We have created thousands of cobalt barrel liners for military rifles. These barrel liners dissipate heat produced during weapon use, greatly extending barrel life and the number of rounds fired between barrel changes.
Nickel is commonly used in high temperature liquid and gas flow control. We produce countless nickel pipe holding brackets, also known as "handcuffs," for the power utility industry. Nickel is one of the few alloys capable of resisting the high temperatures these pipes produce.
Nickel & Cobalt Investment Casting Inventory
Nickel Hastelloy B, C, & X, Monel
Cobalt Co #3, Co #5, Co #12, Co #21, Co #31, ASTM A-732 GR21, MIL-C-13358