Construction and work in the Arctic is a technically challenging task that requires special materials that can withstand the corrosive effects of sea air and extremely low temperatures. After all, low temperatures not only increase the strength of steels and alloys, but also reduce their viscosity and crack resistance, which can lead to the rapid spread of cracks. Especially low-temperature embrittlement is critical for cast elements and products of complex shapes.
Cold-resistant alloys are one of the solutions for working in Arctic conditions. These materials have sufficient viscosity at low temperatures and are widely used in various industries:
Cold-resistant alloys are materials that do not crack during cold working (do not have cold brittleness) and can maintain sufficient viscosity at low temperatures (up to -269°C).
Cold brittleness is typical for metals with a volume-centered cubic (BCC) crystal lattice, such as tungsten, molybdenum, iron, chromium, as well as for magnesium, zinc and other materials with a hexagonal close-packed (GPU) lattice. Materials with face-centered cubic (FCC) lattice and titanium GPU-lattice alloys usually do not have a cold brittleness threshold: their impact strength gradually decreases as the temperature decreases.
However, when choosing materials for use in the Arctic and other extreme conditions, it is important to take into account not only their cold resistance, but also technological properties, such as weldability and plasticity. The first is especially important for cryogenic equipment, where welding is widely used, and the second is especially important for thin sheets and thin-walled structural elements.
The group of precision cold-resistant alloys intended for use at low temperatures includes a number of materials with different chemical compositions:
The production of metrological and geodetic equipment, as well as cryogenic and electronic equipment, requires the use of precision alloys with an exact value of the temperature coefficient of linear expansion (TKLR). In these cases, TCPR values are dictated by operating conditions. For example, measuring instruments must be highly accurate at all temperature conditions, length standards must maintain their original dimensions under extreme temperature fluctuations, and pipelines must maintain the reliability and strength of the structure when transporting liquefied gases.
Alloys for bonding with dielectrics (glass, ceramics) must also have a certain TCLR value. Reliable compounds of materials with different properties can be created only if the linear expansion coefficients meet the technological and operating temperature ranges. Invar alloys are most often used for these purposes.
Materials intended for use in the Arctic should combine cold resistance, strength and resistance to low temperatures. PZPS LLC offers cold-rolled invar strip with a regulated TCLR brand value 36N in accordance with GOST 14080-78.
Modern technical equipment and the modernized laboratory complex of the plant make it possible to ensure high accuracy of technological processes, as well as full overseeing throughout the entire production cycle cold rolled strip from this alloy.
In addition, the company operates research center, which is ready to solve many problems of metallurgical production, including the development of new alloys for use at low temperatures.
