VDM Metals launches two alloys for Additive Manufacturing applications
December 9, 2020
VDM Metals International GmbH, Werdohl, Germany, part of the Acerinox S.A. Group, has developed two new alloys for Additive Manufacturing aimed at the chemical process and oil & gas industries, respectively. VDM® Alloy 699 XA and VDM® Alloy 718 CTP are produced in conventional product form and in powder form as VDM® Powder 699 XA and VDM® Powder 718 CTP.
VDM Powder 699 XA (2.4842/N06699) is a nickel-chromium-aluminium alloy suitable for application in the petrochemical industry under metal dusting conditions at high pressure. The alloy was designed to be used in the production of hydrogen, ammonia, and methanol where metal dusting – a type of corrosion in the range of 400–800°C in gases containing hydrogen and carbon monoxide with low oxygen content – appears. Metal dusting is a challenge in production plants as it leads to the decomposition of metal into carbon and metallic particles.
The company states that VDM Powder 699 XA is characterised by excellent metal dusting, oxidation resistance at high temperature and creep resistance, an excellent weldability and suitability for metal Additive Manufacturing. That makes the new alloy highly interesting for AM applications both in and outside the chemical process industry, for example in static components for gas turbines. It can be produced not only as conventional semi-finished products and powder, but also in wire form.
VDM Powder 718 CTP (2.4668/N07718) is the powder variant of an age-hardenable nickel-chromium-iron-molybdenum Alloy 718 CTP that is within the standard specification of Alloy 718. The material is said to offer versatility for use in the oil & gas, offshore and marine engineering industries.
In comparison to standard Alloy 718, the VDM Powder 718 CTP contains less C and Nb, and is aimed at powder- and wire-based Additive Manufacturing applications. This means that it could be used for a wide range of process possibilities, based on its better segregation behaviour during the building process, and offer reduced cracking. The alloy could also find applications outside the oil & gas industry — for example in nozzle construction in space applications.
“Besides standard alloys like Alloy 718, Alloy 625 and Alloy X for high-temperature applications within the aerospace, energy and automotive industry, VDM also offers alloys suitable for the oil & gas and chemical process industry,” stated Dr Tatiana Hentrich, Application Engineer Additive Manufacturing at VDM Metals. “One example is Alloy 59, which covers a wide range of applications, especially in the chemical process industry. Now we have added two more alloys which are suitable for specific, challenging conditions: VDM Alloy 699 XA and VDM Alloy 718 CTP.”
