Low Expansion Alloys
August 12, 2022 ⚊ 1 Min read ⚊ Views 95 ⚊ BUSINESS
For hundreds of years, engineers have experimented with different alloys, in an attempt to control heat expansion. In certain applications such as vacuum tubes or optoelectronics, it is necessary to adhere to set expansion requirements over specific temperature ranges.
In these cases, the following materials possess the characteristics needed.
Alloy 42
Alloy 52
Invar 36
Super Invar 32-5
Kovar
Used in applications where a hermetic seal between the metal, glass or ceramic is required, controlled expansion alloys are also used in vacuum tubes, optoelectronics, lightbulbs and other products where a degree of thermal expansion takes place (based on the specific temperature at any given time).
Here, Phillip Guthrie of Vulcan Metal Group addresses key questions that buyers should consider when selecting controlled expansion alloys.
