Subject: Exotic Hi-temp alloys

From: [email-masked] (W. M. Durrett)
Date: Tue, 20 Feb 1996 21:33:54 -0600

To George Dixon on questioning use of various alloys with hi-temp
characteristics - - - This past week I acquired 10 pounds of filler rods of
a certain grade of Hastelloy for a hydrogen reformer project at my "big
shop" (where I really earn my living).  Cost was about $563.  These special
alloys are extremely difficult to work with, are generally not "home"
forgeable, must be welded in a hospital environment, are available only in
blacksmith unfriendly forms and sizes, and are they ever costly.  Only a few
specialty metals houses handle them.  Wish I could be more helpful but I'd
stay away from these.  Also, I too would like to find a tube form material
that was stable at high temperature.  I don't know of one.  When we build
these reformers the design has to allow all the hi-temp components room to
grow without breaking.  You would probably be surprised how much these
alloys expand when heated.  Cheers, Bill.

---

From: "Szucs" <[email-masked]>
Date: Wed, 21 Feb 1996 14:38:52 -0500

On Feb 20,  9:33pm, W. M. Durrett wrote:
> blacksmith unfriendly forms and sizes, and are they ever costly.

	Amen to that.  I was going to line the bottom of my forge with
	1/8 inch Haynes 230 sheet.  5 square feet of this stuff would
	have cost me a bit over $600.  1/16 thick titanium is far cheaper,
	and melts at around 4300 deg. F.  I'm considering this as an
	alternative.  Any thoughts on this?  So far I have not been able
	to find any disadvantages.

	-Andy V.