X15N60-N

X15N60-N is a precision alloy with high electrical resistance

‍

X15N60-N is an iron-nickel-chromium alloy with high electrical resistance. It belongs to the group of precision metals. It is produced in the form of shaped and long products.

X15N60-N steel is characterized high electrical resistivity, increased plasticity and heat resistance. It is widely used to create various heating elements, in particular, for devices operating at temperatures up to 1,100 °C and under intense loads. It is a hard-to-weld metal and does not deform when heated and cooled repeatedly.

‍

X15N60-N is a popular alloy for the production of heating elements for industrial furnaces

The content of alloying elements in X15N60-N steel is regulated by GOST 10994-74 and corresponds to the following indicators:

• nickel (Ni) — ranges from 55% to 61%;
• iron (Fe) — contains from 17.9% to 28.8%;
• chromium (Cr) — is present in the range from 15% to 18%;
• silicon (Si) — the mass fraction ranges from 1% to 1.5%;
• zirconium (Zr) — contained in an amount of 0.2% to 0.5%;
• manganese (Mn) — does not exceed 0.6%;
• aluminum (Al) — its volume is not more than 0.2%;
• titanium (Ti) — is present in an amount of up to 0.2%;
• carbon (C) — mass fraction reaches 0.06%;
• phosphorus (P) — does not exceed 0.02%;
• sulphur (S) — may be present in an amount of not more than 0.015%.

The main components precision alloy are iron, nickel and chromium. And they are responsible for the main physical and mechanical characteristics of the material. Nickel increases its plasticity, and chromium increases its heat resistance and makes the metal resistant to corrosion.

‍

X15N60-N marking interpretation

In the alloy marking, the letter X indicates the presence of chromium, and the number 15 — by its percentage (approximately 15% of the total). Letter N means that nickel is present in the metal, and the number 60 — that its mass fraction is approximately 60%. N at the end of the marking, it indicates that the material contains zirconium, which improves the performance characteristics of ferronichrome when operating parts made from it at maximum allowable temperatures.

‍

Physico-mechanical properties of the X15N60-N alloy

X15N60-N precision steel is a heat-resistant and ductile material that is resistant to corrosion. Among the physical and mechanical properties of the presented metal, the following characteristics are distinguished:

• heat resistance — the maximum allowable operating temperature is 1,100°C, and the greater the thickness of the finished product, the higher the temperature regime it can withstand;
• high electrical resistivity — this value for ferronichrome ranges from 1.06 μOhm to 1.18 μOhm · m, which makes it possible to use it for the production of resistance elements;
• resistance to corrosion and scale formation — the alloy is highly resistant to various aggressive media (with the exception of atmospheres with a high sulfur content).

X15N60-N steel is a hard-to-weld metal: only RDS (manual arc welding) can be used to join it. Gas welding is not used to create structures and ferronichrome.

‍

Applications of the H15N60-N alloy

The main application of the iron-chromium-nickel alloy is the creation of various heating elements. In particular, the presented material is used for the manufacture of elements of industrial heating equipment, household heating appliances, parts of steelmaking furnaces (grates, supports, guides, etc.).

Precision alloy plant in St. Petersburg produces cold rolled strip made of X15N60-N steel with a thickness of 0.005 to 4.0 mm and a width of 3 to 250 mm in accordance with GOST 12766.2-90 “Precision alloy tape with high electrical resistance”.

‍