Resistivity, electrical alloys

Because the corrosion resistance of lead and lead alloys is associated with the formation of the protective corrosion film, removal of the film in any way causes rapid attack. Thus the velocity of a solution passing over a surface can lead to significantly increased attack, particularly if the solution contains suspended particulate material. Lead is also attacked rapidly in the presence of high velocity deionised water. The lack of dissolved minerals in such water prevents the formation of an insoluble protective film. In most solutions, lead and lead alloys are resistant to galvanic corrosion because of the formation of a nonconductive corrosion film. In contact with more noble metals, however, lead can undergo galvanic attack which is accelerated by stray electrical currents. 

Fig. 1. Schematic of the hysteresis loop associated with a shape-memory alloy transformation, where M. and Afp correspond to the martensite start and finish temperatures, respectively, and and correspond to the start and finish of the reverse transformation of martensite, respectively. The physical property can be volume, length, electrical resistance, etc. On cooling the body-centered cubic (bcc) austenite (parent) transforms to an ordered B2 or E)02...

Titanium alloyed with niobium exhibits superconductivity, and a lack of electrical resistance below 10 K. Composition ranges from 25 to 50 wt % Ti. These alloys are P-phase alloys having superconducting transitional temperatures at ca 10 K. Thek use is of interest for power generation, propulsion devices, fusion research, and electronic devices (52). 

Heating and Cooling. Heat must be appHed to form the molten zones, and this heat much be removed from the adjacent sohd material (4,70). In principle, any heat source can be used, including direct flames. However, the most common method is to place electrical resistance heaters around the container. In air, nichrome wine is useflil to ca 1000°C, Kanthal to ca 1300°C, and platinum-rhodium alloys to ca 1700°C. In an inert atmosphere or vacuum, molybdenum, tungsten, and graphite can be used to well over 2000°C. 

Nonferrous alloys account for only about 2 wt % of the total chromium used ia the United States. Nonetheless, some of these appHcations are unique and constitute a vital role for chromium. Eor example, ia high temperature materials, chromium ia amounts of 15—30 wt % confers corrosion and oxidation resistance on the nickel-base and cobalt-base superaHoys used ia jet engines the familiar electrical resistance heating elements are made of Ni-Cr alloy and a variety of Ee-Ni and Ni-based alloys used ia a diverse array of appHcations, especially for nuclear reactors, depend on chromium for oxidation and corrosion resistance. Evaporated, amorphous, thin-film resistors based on Ni-Cr with A1 additions have the advantageous property of a near-2ero temperature coefficient of resistance (58). 

Excellent resistance to saltwater corrosion and biofouling are notable attributes of copper and its dilute alloys. High resistance to atmospheric corrosion and stress corrosion cracking, combined with high conductivity, favor use in electrical/electronic appHcations. 

Electrical Properties at Low Temperatures The eleciiical resistivity of most pure metalhc elements at ambient and moderately low temperatures is approximately proportional to the absolute temperature. At very low temperatures, however, the resistivity (with the exception of superconductors) approaches a residual value almost independent of temperature. Alloys, on the other hand, have resistivities much higher than those of their constituent elements and resistance-temperature coefficients that are quite low. The electrical resistivity of alloys as a consequence is largely independent of temperature and may often be of the same magnitude as the room temperature value. 

More importantly, such alloys also possess a very low temperature coefficient of electrical resistance (of the order of 220 idQ.IQ.rC, typical), which causes only a marginal change in its resistance value with variation in temperature. They can therefore ensure a near-consistent predefined performance of the motor for which the resistance grid is designed, even after frequent starts and stops. They are also capable of absorbing shocks and vibrations during stringent service conditions and are therefore suitable for heavy-duty drives, such as steel mill applications. 

The non-ferrous alloys include the misleadingly named nickel silver (or German silver) which contains 10-30% Ni, 55-65% Cu and the rest Zn when electroplated with silver (electroplated nickel silver) it is familiar as EPNS tableware. Monel (68% Ni, 32% Cu, traces of Mn and Fe) is used in apparatus for handling corrosive materials such as F2 cupro-nickels (up to 80% Cu) are used for silver coinage Nichrome (60% Ni, 40% Cr), which has a very small temperature coefficient of electrical resistance, and Invar, which has a very small coefficient of expansion are other well-known Ni alloys. Electroplated nickel is an ideal undercoat for electroplated chromium, and smaller amounts of nickel are used as catalysts in the hydrogenation of unsaturated vegetable oils and in storage batteries such as the Ni/Fe batteries. 

P.L. Rossiter, The Electrical Resistivity of Metals and Alloys," Cambridge Univ. Press, Cambridge (1987). 

Light, sandy, well-drained soil of high electrical resistivity is low in corrosivity and coated steel or bare stainless steels can be employed. It is unlikely that the whole pipe run would be in the same type of soil. In heavier or damp soils, or where the quality of back filling cannot be guaranteed, there are two major corrosion risks. Steel, copper alloys and most stainless steels are susceptible to sulfide attack brought about by the action of sulfate-reducing bacteria in the soil. SRB are ubiquitous but thrive particularly well in the anaerobic conditions which persist in compacted soil, especially clay. The mechanism of corrosion where SRB are involved is described in Section... 

Contact with steel, though less harmful, may accelerate attack on aluminium, but in some natural waters and other special cases aluminium can be protected at the expense of ferrous materials. Stainless steels may increase attack on aluminium, notably in sea-water or marine atmospheres, but the high electrical resistance of the two surface oxide films minimises bimetallic effects in less aggressive environments. Titanium appears to behave in a similar manner to steel. Aluminium-zinc alloys are used as sacrificial anodes for steel structures, usually with trace additions of tin, indium or mercury to enhance dissolution characteristics and render the operating potential more electronegative. 

The principal applications of the outstanding stability of platinum and its alloys at high temperatures lie in their use as materials of construction for equipment to handle molten glass and as electrical resistance windings for high-temperature furnaces. 

Rhodium-platinum alloys containing up to 40% Rh are used in the form of wire or ribbon in electrical resistance windings for furnaces to operate continuously at temperatures up to 1 750°C. Such windings are usually completely embedded in a layer of high-grade alumina cement or flame-sprayed alumina to prevent volatilisation losses from the metal due to the free circulation of air over its surface. Furnaces of this type are widely employed for steel analysis, ash fusions and other high-temperature analytical procedures. 

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