Effects of V and C additions on the Thermal Expansion and Tensile Properties of a High Strength Invar Base Alloy

The current study seeks to examine the effects of V and C additions on the mechanical and low thermal expansion properties of a high strength invar base alloy. The base alloy (Fe-36%Ni-0.9%Co-2.75%Mo-0.7Cr-0.23Mn-0.17Si-0.3%C, wt.%) contains Mo₂C carbides, which form as the main precipitate. In contrast, alloys with additions of 0.4%V+0.3%C (alloy A) or 0.4%V+0.45%C (alloy B) contain Mo₂C +[V, Mo]C carbides. The average thermal expansion coefficients of these high strength invar based alloys were measured in the range of 5.16~5.43μm/m·∘C for temperatures of 15~230∘C . Moreover, alloy B showed lower thermal expansion coefficient than the other alloys in this temperature range. For the mechanical properties, the [V, Mo]C improved hardness and strengths(Y.S. and T.S.) of the high strength invar base alloy. T.S.(tensile strength) and Y.S.(yield strength) of hot forged alloy B specimen were measured at 844.6MPa and 518.0MPa, respectively. The tensile fractography of alloy B exhibited a ductile transgranular fracture mode and voids were initiated between the [V, Mo]C particles and the matrix. Superior properties of high strength and low thermal expansion coefficient can be obtained by [V, Mo]C precipitation in alloy B with the addition of 0.4%V and 0.45%C.