Title of Invention	NICKEL-BASED ALLOY
Abstract	Nickel-based alloy, consisting of (in % by mass) AI 1.2 -< 2.0 % Si 1.2 - < 1.8 % C 0.001 - 0.1 % S 0.001 - 0.1 % Cr 0.03 - 0.1 % Mn 0.03 - 0.1 % Cu max. 0.1 % Fe 0.02 - 0.2 % Mg 0.005 - 0.06 % Pb max. 0.005 % Y 0.05 -0.15 % and Hf 0.05 - 0.10 % or Y 0.05 - 0.15 % and La 0.05 - 0.10 % or Y 0.05 - 0.15 % and Hf 0.05 - 0.10 % and La 0.05 - 0.10 % Ni remainder together with manufacturing-related impurities.

Title of Invention

NICKEL-BASED ALLOY

Abstract

Nickel-based alloy, consisting of (in % by mass) AI 1.2 -< 2.0 % Si 1.2 - < 1.8 % C 0.001 - 0.1 % S 0.001 - 0.1 % Cr 0.03 - 0.1 % Mn 0.03 - 0.1 % Cu max. 0.1 % Fe 0.02 - 0.2 % Mg 0.005 - 0.06 % Pb max. 0.005 % Y 0.05 -0.15 % and Hf 0.05 - 0.10 % or Y 0.05 - 0.15 % and La 0.05 - 0.10 % or Y 0.05 - 0.15 % and Hf 0.05 - 0.10 % and La 0.05 - 0.10 % Ni remainder together with manufacturing-related impurities.

Full Text	Nickel-based alloy The invention concerns a nickel-based alloy with silicon, aluminium and reactive elements as alloying constituents. Nickel-based alloys are used among other things to create electrodes of ignition components for internal combustion engines. In case of wear of such electrodes two damage mechanisms are to be considered, i.e. high-temperature corrosion and spark erosion. The wear caused by high-temperature corrosion can be determined by mass loss measurements as well as by metallographic tests according to external storage with specified test temperatures. Spark erosion is a material burn-up, which is caused by the ignition sparks. With each spark discharge, a limited material volume is melted out from the electrodes and partly evaporated. For both damage mechanisms, the type of the oxide coating formation is of special importance. In order to achieve an optimum oxide coating formation for specific application, various alloying elements are known with nickel-based alloys. Thus for example aluminium acts positively on the oxide coating formation. It is also known that reactive elements can improve bonding of the oxide coating forming there and thus, increase the life. GB-A 2031950 teaches a nickel alloy consisting of (in % by mass) approximately 0.2 to 3% Si, app. 0.5% or fewer Mn, at least two metals, selected of the group consisting of approximately 0.2 to 3% Cr, app. 0.2 to 3% Al and about 0.01 to 1% Y, remainder nickel. DE-A 102 24 891 describes an alloy on nickel base, which (in % by mass) indicates 1.8 to 2.2% silicon, 0.05 to 0.1% yttrium and/or hafnium and/or zirconium, 2 to 2.4% aluminium, remainder nickel. Such alloys can be processed concerning high aluminium and silicon contents only under difficult conditions and are thus less suitable for industrial scale operation. Object of the invention is to prepare a nickel-based alloy, by which an increase in the life of components, fabricated there from, can be achieved by increasing the resistance to spark erosion and oxidation with simultaneously good plasticity and weldability. This object is achieved by a nickel-based alloy, containing (in % by mass) Al 1.2 - Si 1.2- C 0.001-0.1% S 0.001-0.1% Cr 0.03 - 0.1 % Mn 0.03-0.1% Cu max. 0.1% Fe 0.02 - 0.2 % Mg 0.005 - 0.06 % Pb max. 0.005 % Y 0.05 - 0.15 % and Hf 0.05 - 0.10 % or Y 0.05 - 0.15 % and La 0.05 - 0.10 % or Y 0.05 - 0.15 % and Hf 0.05 - 0.10 % and La 0.05 - 0.10 % Ni remainder and manufacturing-related impurities. Preferred alternative embodiments of the invention can be derived from the Subordinate claims as follows. Nickel-based alloy with (in % by mass) Al 1.2- Si 1.2- C 0.001 - 0.05 % S 0.001 - 0.05 % Cr 0.03-0.1% Mn 0.03-0.1% Cu max. 0.1% Fe 0.02 - 0.2 % Mg 0.005 to 0.06 % Pb max. 0.005 % Y 0.10-0.15% and Hf 0.05-0.10% Ni remainder and manufacturing-related impurities. Nickel-based alloy with (in % by mass) Al 1.2- Si 1.2- C 0.001 - 0.05 % S 0.001 - 0.05 % Cr 0.03-0.1% Mn 0.03-0.1% Cu max. 0.1 % Fe 0.02 - 0.2 % Mg 0.005-0.06% Pb max. 0.005 % Y 0.10-0.15% and La 0.05 to 0.10% Ni remainder and manufacturing-related impurities. Nickel-based alloy with (in % by mass) Al 1.2- Si 1.2- C 0.001 - 0.05 % S 0.001 - 0.05 % Cr 0.03-0.1% Mn 0.03-0.1% Cu max. 0.1% Fe 0.02 - 0.2 % Mg 0.005 - 0.06 % Pb max. 0.005 % Y 0.10 - 0.15 % and Hf 0.05 to 0.10 % and La 0.05 - 0.10 %. Concerning the reactive elements, three variations are conceivable, i.e. Y + Hf, Y + La as well as Y + Hf + La. Said nickel-based alloy is preferably applicable as material for electrodes of spark plugs for petrol engines. Thanks to selected setting on the one hand of the components Al, Si, Cr, Mn, Mg and on the other, of the reactive elements Y, Hf1 La in their respective combinations, an improvement of life of electrode materials can be achieved by increasing the resistance to spark erosion and oxidation with simultaneously good plasticity and weldability. The element Mg assumes special significance concerning the setting of sulphur, so that targeted low sulphur contents can be adjusted here in said nickel-based alloy. Preferred aluminium contents (in % by mass) are envisaged in the range of 1.2 - 1.5%. Preferred silicon contents (in % by mass) are seen in the range between 1.2 and 1.8%, in particular between 1.2 and 1.5%, while the preferred Mg-content (in % by mass) is adjusted between 0.008 and 0.05%. Table 1 shows, by way of comparison, five laboratory batches according to invention with two pertinent industrial batches as per the state of the art. The laboratory batch 1132 illustrates an example, in case of which the reactive elements Y + Hf are foreseen in said nickel-based alloy. The laboratory batch 1140 shows an example, in case of which the reactive elements Y + La are present in said alloy. The laboratory batches 1141 and 1142 reveal examples, in case of which as reactive elements Y + La + Hf were used in the nickel-based alloy according to invention. For alloys pursuant to Table 1, Figures 1 and 2 show mass loss studies at temperatures of 900° C on the one hand and 1000° C on the other. Both reference alloys show flaking of the built-up oxide coating at 900° C. At 1000° C, this applies to said alloys, not however to the same extent, as in the case of reference alloys. Patent claims 1. Nickel-based alloy, consisting of (in % by mass) Al 1.2 - Si 1.2 - C 0.001 - 0.1 % S 0.001 -0.1 % Cr 0.03-0.1% Mn 0.03-0.1% Cu max. 0.1 % Fe 0.02 - 0.2 % Mg 0.005 - 0.06 % Pb max. 0.005 % Y 0.05 - 0.15 % and Hf 0.05 - 0.10 % or Y 0.05 - 0.15 % and La 0.05 - 0.10 % or Y 0.05 - 0.15 % and Hf 0.05 - 0.10 % and La 0.05 - 0.10 % Ni remainder and manufacturing-related impurities. 2. Nickel-based alloy according to claim 1 containing (in % by mass) Al 1.2 - Si 1.2- Y 0.10 - 0.15% and Hf 0.05 - 0.10% Ni remainder and manufacturing-related impurities. 3. Nickel-based alloy according to claim 1 containing (in % by mass) Al 1.2- Si 1.2- Cr0.03-0.1 % Mn 0.03 - 0.1 % Cu max. 0.1 % Fe 0.02 - 0.2 % Mg 0.005 - 0.06 % Pb max. 0.005 % Y 0.10 - 0.15 % and La 0.05 to 0.10 % Ni remainder and manufacturing-related impurities. 4. Nickel-based alloy according to claim 1 containing (in % by mass) AI 1.2 - Si 1.2- Y 0.10 - 0.15 % and Hf 0.05 to 0.10 % and La 0.05 - 0.10 %. 5. Nickel-based alloy as per one of the claims 1 to 4, with content (in % by mass) of Al 1.2 -1.5% Si 1.2-1.5%. 6. Nickel-based alloy as per one of the claims 1 to 5, with content (in % by mass) Mg 0.008 - 0.05%. 7. Nickel-based alloy as per one of the claims 1 to 6, with content (in % by mass) Y+Hf 0.11-0.18%. 8. Nickel-based alloy as per one of the claims 1 to 6, with content (in % by mass) Y+La 0.11-0.18% 9. Nickel-based alloy as per one of the claims 1 to 6, with content (in % by mass) Y+Hf+La 0.18-0.22% 10. • Nickel-based alloy as per one of the claims 1 to 9, with content (in % by mass) Y+Mg0.11 -0.13%. 11. Use of the nickel-based alloy as per one of the claims 1 to 10 as electrode material for ignition elements of IC engines. Nickel-based alloy, consisting of (in % by mass) AI 1.2 -

Full Text

Nickel-based alloy
The invention concerns a nickel-based alloy with silicon, aluminium and reactive elements as
alloying constituents.
Nickel-based alloys are used among other things to create electrodes of ignition components
for internal combustion engines. In case of wear of such electrodes two damage
mechanisms are to be considered, i.e. high-temperature corrosion and spark erosion.
The wear caused by high-temperature corrosion can be determined by mass loss
measurements as well as by metallographic tests according to external storage with
specified test temperatures.
Spark erosion is a material burn-up, which is caused by the ignition sparks. With each spark
discharge, a limited material volume is melted out from the electrodes and partly evaporated.
For both damage mechanisms, the type of the oxide coating formation is of special
importance.
In order to achieve an optimum oxide coating formation for specific application, various
alloying elements are known with nickel-based alloys. Thus for example aluminium acts
positively on the oxide coating formation. It is also known that reactive elements can improve
bonding of the oxide coating forming there and thus, increase the life.
GB-A 2031950 teaches a nickel alloy consisting of (in % by mass) approximately 0.2 to 3%
Si, app. 0.5% or fewer Mn, at least two metals, selected of the group consisting of
approximately 0.2 to 3% Cr, app. 0.2 to 3% Al and about 0.01 to 1% Y, remainder nickel.
DE-A 102 24 891 describes an alloy on nickel base, which (in % by mass) indicates 1.8 to
2.2% silicon, 0.05 to 0.1% yttrium and/or hafnium and/or zirconium, 2 to 2.4% aluminium,
remainder nickel. Such alloys can be processed concerning high aluminium and silicon
contents only under difficult conditions and are thus less suitable for industrial scale
operation.
Object of the invention is to prepare a nickel-based alloy, by which an increase in the life of
components, fabricated there from, can be achieved by increasing the resistance to spark
erosion and oxidation with simultaneously good plasticity and weldability.

This object is achieved by a nickel-based alloy, containing (in % by mass)
Al 1.2 - Si 1.2- C 0.001-0.1%
S 0.001-0.1%
Cr 0.03 - 0.1 %
Mn 0.03-0.1%
Cu max. 0.1%
Fe 0.02 - 0.2 %
Mg 0.005 - 0.06 %
Pb max. 0.005 %
Y 0.05 - 0.15 % and Hf 0.05 - 0.10 % or
Y 0.05 - 0.15 % and La 0.05 - 0.10 % or
Y 0.05 - 0.15 % and Hf 0.05 - 0.10 % and La 0.05 - 0.10 %
Ni remainder and manufacturing-related impurities.
Preferred alternative embodiments of the invention can be derived from the Subordinate claims as follows.
Nickel-based alloy with (in % by mass)
Al 1.2- Si 1.2- C 0.001 - 0.05 %
S 0.001 - 0.05 %
Cr 0.03-0.1%
Mn 0.03-0.1%
Cu max. 0.1%
Fe 0.02 - 0.2 %
Mg 0.005 to 0.06 %
Pb max. 0.005 %
Y 0.10-0.15% and Hf 0.05-0.10%
Ni remainder and manufacturing-related impurities.
Nickel-based alloy with (in % by mass)
Al 1.2- Si 1.2- C 0.001 - 0.05 %

S 0.001 - 0.05 %
Cr 0.03-0.1%
Mn 0.03-0.1%
Cu max. 0.1 %
Fe 0.02 - 0.2 %
Mg 0.005-0.06%
Pb max. 0.005 %
Y 0.10-0.15% and La 0.05 to 0.10%
Ni remainder and manufacturing-related impurities.
Nickel-based alloy with (in % by mass)
Al 1.2- Si 1.2- C 0.001 - 0.05 %
S 0.001 - 0.05 %
Cr 0.03-0.1%
Mn 0.03-0.1%
Cu max. 0.1%
Fe 0.02 - 0.2 %
Mg 0.005 - 0.06 %
Pb max. 0.005 %
Y 0.10 - 0.15 % and Hf 0.05 to 0.10 % and La 0.05 - 0.10 %.
Concerning the reactive elements, three variations are conceivable, i.e.
Y + Hf,
Y + La as well as
Y + Hf + La.
Said nickel-based alloy is preferably applicable as material for electrodes of spark plugs for
petrol engines.
Thanks to selected setting on the one hand of the components Al, Si, Cr, Mn, Mg and on the
other, of the reactive elements Y, Hf1 La in their respective combinations, an improvement of
life of electrode materials can be achieved by increasing the resistance to spark erosion and
oxidation with simultaneously good plasticity and weldability.
The element Mg assumes special significance concerning the setting of sulphur, so that
targeted low sulphur contents can be adjusted here in said nickel-based alloy.
Preferred aluminium contents (in % by mass) are envisaged in the range of 1.2 - 1.5%.

Preferred silicon contents (in % by mass) are seen in the range between 1.2 and 1.8%, in
particular between 1.2 and 1.5%, while the preferred Mg-content (in % by mass) is adjusted
between 0.008 and 0.05%.
Table 1 shows, by way of comparison, five laboratory batches according to invention with
two pertinent industrial batches as per the state of the art.
The laboratory batch 1132 illustrates an example, in case of which the reactive elements Y +
Hf are foreseen in said nickel-based alloy.
The laboratory batch 1140 shows an example, in case of which the reactive elements Y + La
are present in said alloy.
The laboratory batches 1141 and 1142 reveal examples, in case of which as reactive
elements Y + La + Hf were used in the nickel-based alloy according to invention.

For alloys pursuant to Table 1, Figures 1 and 2 show mass loss studies at temperatures of 900° C on the one hand and 1000° C on the other.
Both reference alloys show flaking of the built-up oxide coating at 900° C. At 1000° C, this applies to said alloys, not however to the same extent, as in the case of reference alloys.

Patent claims
1. Nickel-based alloy, consisting of (in % by mass) Al 1.2 - Si 1.2 - C 0.001 - 0.1 % S 0.001 -0.1 % Cr 0.03-0.1% Mn 0.03-0.1% Cu max. 0.1 % Fe 0.02 - 0.2 % Mg 0.005 - 0.06 % Pb max. 0.005 %
Y 0.05 - 0.15 % and Hf 0.05 - 0.10 % or
Y 0.05 - 0.15 % and La 0.05 - 0.10 % or
Y 0.05 - 0.15 % and Hf 0.05 - 0.10 % and La 0.05 - 0.10 % Ni remainder and manufacturing-related impurities.
2. Nickel-based alloy according to claim 1 containing (in % by mass)
Al 1.2 - Si 1.2- Y 0.10 - 0.15% and Hf 0.05 - 0.10%
Ni remainder and manufacturing-related impurities.
3. Nickel-based alloy according to claim 1 containing (in % by mass)
Al 1.2- Si 1.2-
Cr0.03-0.1 % Mn 0.03 - 0.1 % Cu max. 0.1 % Fe 0.02 - 0.2 % Mg 0.005 - 0.06 % Pb max. 0.005 %
Y 0.10 - 0.15 % and La 0.05 to 0.10 %
Ni remainder and manufacturing-related impurities.
4. Nickel-based alloy according to claim 1 containing (in % by mass)
AI 1.2 - Si 1.2- Y 0.10 - 0.15 % and Hf 0.05 to 0.10 % and La 0.05 - 0.10 %.
5. Nickel-based alloy as per one of the claims 1 to 4, with content (in % by mass) of
Al 1.2 -1.5%
Si 1.2-1.5%.
6. Nickel-based alloy as per one of the claims 1 to 5, with content (in % by mass) Mg 0.008 - 0.05%.
7. Nickel-based alloy as per one of the claims 1 to 6, with content (in % by mass) Y+Hf 0.11-0.18%.
8. Nickel-based alloy as per one of the claims 1 to 6, with content (in % by mass) Y+La 0.11-0.18%
9. Nickel-based alloy as per one of the claims 1 to 6, with content (in % by mass) Y+Hf+La 0.18-0.22%

10. • Nickel-based alloy as per one of the claims 1 to 9, with content (in % by mass)
Y+Mg0.11 -0.13%.
11. Use of the nickel-based alloy as per one of the claims 1 to 10 as electrode material
for ignition elements of IC engines.

Nickel-based alloy, consisting of (in % by mass) AI 1.2 -

NICKEL-BASED ALLOY

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