Alloys containing cobalt

It is alloyed with iron, nickel and other metals to make Alnico, an alloy of unusual magnetic strength with many important uses. Stellite alloys, containing cobalt, chromium, and tungsten, are used for high-speed, heavy-duty, high temperature cutting tools, and for dies. 

The first iron—nickel martensitic alloys contained ca 0.01% carbon, 20 or 25% nickel, and 1.5—2.5% aluminum and titanium. Later an 18% nickel steel containing cobalt, molybdenum, and titanium was developed, and still more recentiy a senes of 12% nickel steels containing chromium and molybdenum came on the market. 

The high cost of cobalt metal has led to substitution such that alloys containing low or no cobalt are produced where possible. Because the cost of cobalt compounds in specialty appHcations is usually much less significant than in alloys, there is less incentive to develop alternatives. 

D.R. Pank, M.V. Nathal, D.A. Koss. Deformation behaviour of NiAl-based alloys containing iron, cobalt and hafnium, in High Temperature Ordered Intermetallic Alloys V, 1. Baker, R.Darolia, J.D.Whittenberger, Man H. Yoo, ed., MRS, (1993), Vol. 288... 

Approximately 90% of all RPDs are now cast from base metal alloys containing principally chromium, cobalt and nickel, with chromium being the element present in all such alloys. Commonly, these cast chromium alloys contain various alloying elements, typically <5% Mo, <1% Fe, 25-30% Cr and the balance Co although there are some widely used alloys containing... 

The corrosion behaviour of amorphous alloys has received particular attention since the extraordinarily high corrosion resistance of amorphous iron-chromium-metalloid alloys was reported. The majority of amorphous ferrous alloys contain large amounts of metalloids. The corrosion rate of amorphous iron-metalloid alloys decreases with the addition of most second metallic elements such as titanium, zirconium, vanadium, niobium, tantalum, chromium, molybdenum, tungsten, cobalt, nickel, copper, ruthenium, rhodium, palladium, iridium and platinum . The addition of chromium is particularly effective. For instance amorphous Fe-8Cr-13P-7C alloy passivates spontaneously even in 2 N HCl at ambient temperature ". (The number denoting the concentration of an alloy element in the amorphous alloy formulae is the atomic percent unless otherwise stated.)... 

Amorphous Fe-3Cr-13P-7C alloys containing 2 at% molybdenum, tungsten or other metallic elements are passivated by anodic polarisation in 1 N HCl at ambient temperature". Chromium addition is also effective in improving the corrosion resistance of amorphous cobalt-metalloid and nickel-metalloid alloys (Fig. 3.67). The combined addition of chromium and molybdenum is further effective. Some amorphous Fe-Cr-Mo-metalloid alloys passivate spontaneously even in 12 N HCl at 60° C. Critical concentrations of chromium and molybdenum necessary for spontaneous passivation of amorphous Fe-Cr-Mo-13P-7C and Fe-Cr-Mo-18C alloys in hydrochloric acids of various concentrations and different temperatures are shown in Fig. 3.68 ... 

Another issue with metals is availability. For example, cobalt is not produced in the United States, but it used extensively in a wide variety of alloys and in the production of one of the most common types of lithium batteries. The availability of cobalt is crucial to several segments of American industry. For example, batteries being developed for use in automobiles powered by alternate energy sources are currently envisioned to use a lithium ion battery that also contains cobalt. However, cobalt is not the only strategic metal, and there is concern about the availability of several metals that are vital to industries in the United States, China, and Japan. There will be competition and stockpiling of strategic metals as the reserves become less accessible. 

Tungsten alloys with tantalum in all proportions.1 Alloys of tungsten and tantalum which also contain cobalt, chromium or molybdenum have also been prepared.2... 

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