AMS 5878 Nickel Alloy – Composition, Properties, and Uses
Despite being around for over a century, stainless steel remains a predominant material in almost all industries that require high-quality metals. With new technology and advancements in metallurgy, however, newer stainless steel variants are being developed to meet the ever-increasing demand for stronger, more durable, and versatile alloys. One such material is AMS5878, and in this post, we’ll take a closer look at what makes it such a unique material and how it can benefit various industries.
What is AMS 5878?
AMS 5878 (also known as Haynes 230) is a high-strength, corrosion-resistant stainless steel variant designed to withstand severe environments and thermal cycling. It is a precipitation-hardening alloy typically used in applications requiring excellent mechanical strength and toughness. The material contains high levels of nickel, chromium, and molybdenum, which renders it highly resistant to stress corrosion cracking, acid corrosion, and pitting.
What form is AMS 5878 Available at Piping Mart?
- Bars
AMS 5878 Composition
The chemical composition of AMS 5878 includes around 30% of nickel, 16-18% chromium, 4-5% molybdenum, and a small percentage of titanium. The high nickel content in the alloy results in the formation of a phase that attributes to its strength and toughness, while the chromium and molybdenum addition makes it highly resistant to corrosion. Adding titanium enhances the precipitation hardening process during heat treatment, improving the alloy’s overall mechanical properties.
Element | Content (%) |
---|---|
Nickel, Ni | 56.16-65.7 |
Chromium, Cr | 20-24 |
Tungsten, W | 13-15 |
Molybdenum, Mo | 1-3 |
Manganese, Mn | 1 |
Silicon, Si | 0.25-0.75 |
Carbon, C | 0.050-0.090 |
AMS 5878 Physical Properties
AMS 5878 has an excellent combination of physical properties, making it a popular choice in numerous applications. It boasts a density of 7.8g/cm3, much lower than other traditionally used alloys like iron, nickel, and cobalt. Although much lighter than most metals, AMS 5878 maintains a high melting point of around 1400°C. It also has excellent thermal conductivity and high electrical resistivity, which makes it suitable for applications that require high-temperature resistance and conduction.
Properties | Metric | Imperial |
---|---|---|
Density | 8.96 g/cm³ | 0.324 lb/in³ |
Melting point | 1343°C | 2450°F |
AMS 5878 Mechanical Properties
The mechanical properties of AMS-5878 vary depending on the heat treatment process used. Typical mechanical properties achieved with heat treatment include tensile strengths of 190-220 ksi, yield strengths of 160-190 ksi, and elongation of 10-15%. These characteristics make the alloy popular in industries requiring superior performance regarding strength, toughness, and fatigue resistance.
Properties | Metric | Imperial |
---|---|---|
Tensile strength | 485 MPa | 70300 psi |
Yield strength | 275 MPa | 39900 psi |
Elongation at break | 15.0 % | 15.0 % |
AMS 5878 Equivalent
- AMS 5878
- AMS 5891
- ASTM B435
- ASTM B564
- ASTM B572
- ASTM B619
- ASTM B622
- ASTM B626
AMS 5878 Uses
AMS 5878 bars can be found in several industries, including aerospace, defence, industrial, and medical. In the aerospace industry, it’s used for landing gear assemblies, hydraulic pumps, and other critical aircraft components—medical equipment, it’s used to produce surgical instruments, needles, and other high-precision tools. This alloy is used in high-pressure applications and drilling tools in the oil and gas industry due to its excellent fatigue resistance and toughness. With AMS 5878’s vast range of applications, it has proven to be a versatile material and a suitable alternative to other commonly used alloys.
AMS 5878 Hardness
AMS 5878 is a precipitation-hardening alloy, which means its hardness can be enhanced through heat treatment. It undergoes ageing by quenching the alloy from high temperatures, increasing hardness properties while retaining its strength. The hardness of AMS 5878 can be as high as Rc 45-49, making it harder than most stainless steel alloys.
AMS 5878 Heat Treatment
Heat treatment is often used to enhance the mechanical properties of AMS 5878. The heat treatment process involves solution annealing, ageing, and precipitation hardening. Solution annealing improves the alloy’s flexibility and toughness by heating the material above its critical temperature, followed by rapid cooling. The ageing process then follows, where the material is heated at lower temperatures to allow precipitation to occur, followed by a final ageing process called precipitation hardening at a higher temperature—the heat treatment process results in the alloy’s improvement of both its tensile and yield strength.
Conclusion
AMS 5878 material is a highly versatile, high-strength, corrosion-resistant alloy suitable for numerous applications across different industries. With its excellent mechanical, physical, and chemical properties, it’s proving to be a worthy alternative to other commonly used alloys like titanium, Inconel, and cobalt. The combination of its low density, high strength, and excellent resistance to corrosion makes it popular in industries like aerospace, medical equipment, and oil and gas. AMS 5878’s hardness and heat treatment process improve its mechanical properties, making it a reliable material for applications that require superior performance, fatigue resistance, and toughness. For the future, AMS 5878 will be one of the type’s materials that will change the metallurgy industry’s landscape and become the stainless steel of the end.
A passionate metal industry expert and blogger. With over 5 years of experience in the field, Palak brings a wealth of knowledge and insight to her writing. Whether discussing the latest trends in the metal industry or sharing tips, she is dedicated to helping others succeed in the metal industry.