Nickel alloy forgings
Alloy 45TM Forgings UNS N06045, W.Nr. 2.4889, NiCr28FeSiCe. Forged rings, flanges, bars, discs and tube sheets.
Alloy 45TM is a high chromium austenitic nickel chromium iron alloy, designated UNS N06045 and W.Nr. 2.4889. It contains a minimum of 45% nickel, 26 to 29% chromium, 21 to 25% iron, 2.5 to 3.0% silicon and 0.03 to 0.09% cerium. The silicon and cerium additions produce a protective oxide layer that holds up in oxidizing, carburizing and sulfidizing atmospheres, including the mixed flue gas found in waste incinerators. Jiangyin Jiangnan Metal Co., Ltd. forges Alloy 45TM to ASTM B564 as rings, flanges, bars, discs, shafts, sleeves and tube sheets.
- UNS
- N06045
- Werkstoff
- 2.4889
- EN name
- NiCr28FeSiCe
- Nickel
- 45% min
- Chromium
- 26-29%
- Silicon
- 2.5-3.0%
- Scaling to
- 1000 °C
- Forged to
- ASTM B564
About Alloy 45TM
Alloy 45TM was developed for plant where more than one form of high temperature corrosion occurs in the same gas stream.
Waste incinerators, coal gasifiers and refinery furnaces produce flue gas that contains oxygen, sulfur, carbon, chlorine and alkali salts together, and the atmosphere often shifts between oxidizing and reducing as the fuel varies. Alloys designed around a single attack mechanism do not last long under those conditions.
Three elements in Alloy 45TM do most of the work:
- Chromium at 26 to 29% forms the Cr2O3 scale and rebuilds it after thermal cycling spalls part of it.
- Silicon at 2.5 to 3.0%, a high level for a wrought nickel alloy, forms an SiO2 layer underneath the chromia scale. That layer slows the ingress of sulfur and carbon.
- Cerium at 0.03 to 0.09% improves oxide adhesion, so the scale stays attached when the part cycles in temperature.
Nickel is 45% minimum and iron is 21 to 25%. The alloy remains austenitic and non-magnetic in the solution annealed condition, and it costs less than fully nickel based grades of comparable temperature capability.
Typical service: waste incineration and fluidized bed combustion, coal gasification, refinery and process furnaces burning sulfur bearing fuel, salt bath and carburizing furnace hardware, and metal dusting environments. The alloy has a service record in waste incineration atmospheres up to about 850 °C (1560 °F), and scaling resistance in air to about 1000 °C (1830 °F).
Alloy 45TM work hardens quickly. Machining and cold forming need different parameters from those used on austenitic stainless steel. See machining, welding and heat treatment below.
Designations and equivalents
Alloy 45TM is sold under several names. All of the designations below refer to the same nickel chromium iron silicon alloy, and any of them can be used on a purchase order or a drawing.
| System | Designation | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| UNS | N06045 | Designation used in the ASTM specifications |
| Werkstoff-Nr. | 2.4889 | German material number, DIN and EN |
| EN name | NiCr28FeSiCe | European descriptive designation |
| Trade name | Nicrofer 45 TM | VDM Metals designation |
| Common usage | Alloy 45TM, Alloy 45, Alloy45TM | Often written without the space in enquiries |
| DIN standards | DIN 17742, 17750, 17751, 17752, 17753 | Wrought nickel alloy product forms |
Nicrofer is a registered trademark of VDM Metals GmbH. Jiangyin Jiangnan Metal Co., Ltd. is an independent forging factory and is not affiliated with VDM Metals. The name is quoted here only to identify the alloy.
Chemical composition of Alloy 45TM
The chemical composition of Alloy 45TM (UNS N06045) is given below in weight percent, in line with ASTM B564 and the corresponding DIN and VdTUV requirements. Nickel is the balance and is specified as a minimum rather than a range.
| Element | Symbol | Min % | Max % | Function |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nickel | Ni | 45.0 | balance | Austenitic matrix, carburization resistance |
| Chromium | Cr | 26.0 | 29.0 | Forms the Cr2O3 protective scale |
| Iron | Fe | 21.0 | 25.0 | Balance of cost and strength |
| Silicon | Si | 2.5 | 3.0 | SiO2 sub layer, slows S and C ingress |
| Carbon | C | 0.05 | 0.12 | Carbide strengthening, creep resistance |
| Cerium | Ce | 0.03 | 0.09 | Rare earth, improves oxide adhesion |
| Manganese | Mn | - | 1.00 | Deoxidizer |
| Cobalt | Co | - | 1.50 | Residual |
| Copper | Cu | - | 0.30 | Residual |
| Aluminum | Al | - | 0.20 | Residual deoxidizer |
| Phosphorus | P | - | 0.020 | Impurity, controlled |
| Sulfur | S | - | 0.010 | Impurity, controlled by VOD and ESR |
Values are for the wrought alloy. Elements not listed (Mo, Nb, Ti, V, N, W) are not specified and are held to residual levels. Check the applicable revision of the specification for your order. The actual heat analysis is reported on the mill certificate supplied with each forging.
Mechanical properties of Alloy 45TM
Minimum room temperature mechanical properties for Alloy 45TM in the solution annealed condition are as follows.
| Property | Metric | Imperial |
|---|---|---|
| Tensile strength, Rm | 620 MPa min | 90 ksi min |
| Yield strength, Rp0.2 | 240 MPa min | 35 ksi min |
| Elongation, A5 | 35% min | 35% min |
| Modulus of elasticity | 193 GPa | 28.0 x 103 ksi |
Values apply to solution annealed and water quenched material. Elevated temperature properties and creep rupture data for design between 700 and 1000 °C are available on request. State your design temperature, stress and required design life.
Alloy 45TM is chosen for corrosion resistance rather than for high strength. If the part is limited by mechanical loading instead of by the atmosphere, a precipitation hardening grade such as Inconel 718 or Inconel 625 may suit better. Send us the operating conditions and we will comment before you fix the grade.
Physical properties of Alloy 45TM
| Property | Value | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Density | 7.8 to 8.0 g/cm3 | About 0.29 lb/in3 |
| Specific heat capacity | 500 J/(kg K) | At room temperature |
| Thermal conductivity | 13 W/(m K) | Low. Allow for it in heating and welding |
| Electrical resistivity | 1.18 Ω mm2/m | About 118 µΩ cm |
| Modulus of elasticity | 193 GPa | Falls with temperature |
| Magnetic response | Non-magnetic | Fully austenitic when solution annealed |
| Scaling resistance in air | to about 1000 °C | 1830 °F |
| Service in incineration flue gas | to about 850 °C | 1560 °F |
Physical property values are typical and are given for design calculations. They are not acceptance criteria. Guaranteed values are those stated in the applicable specification and on the mill certificate.
Standards and specifications for Alloy 45TM
UNS N06045 appears in the ASTM specifications listed below. For forgings, ASTM B564 is the governing specification, and it is the one we normally supply to.
| Specification | Product form | Relevance |
|---|---|---|
| ASTM B564 | Nickel alloy forgings | Primary specification for our forged rings, flanges, discs and shafts |
| ASTM B462 | Forged or rolled pipe flanges, forged fittings, valves and parts | Components for corrosive high temperature service |
| ASTM B166 | Rod, bar and wire | Forged and hot finished round bar |
| ASTM B167 | Seamless pipe and tube | Heat exchanger and furnace tubing |
| ASTM B168 | Plate, sheet and strip | Tube sheets, liners, fabricated shells |
| ASTM B516, B517, B546 | Welded tube and pipe | Welded product forms |
| EN 10204 3.1 and 3.2 | Inspection documents | Certification level supplied with each order |
| EN 10228-3, SEP 1921, ASTM A388 | Ultrasonic testing | Volumetric NDT acceptance for forgings |
Alloy 45TM forged products and size range
We forge to your drawing rather than from a stock list. The shapes below are the ones we produce most often in Alloy 45TM (UNS N06045).
| Product form | Typical size range | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| Seamless rolled rings | OD 200 to 3000 mm | Furnace hardware, casings, flange rings |
| Forged rings | OD 100 to 3000 mm | Retaining rings, spacer rings, seat rings |
| Forged flanges | DN 15 to DN 1200 | Pipework in sulfidizing and carburizing duty |
| Forged round bars | Dia. 20 to 800 mm | Machined components, stems, pins |
| Forged discs and disks | Dia. 100 to 2500 mm | Blanks for covers, plates, blind flanges |
| Forged shafts and spindles | Dia. 60 to 800 mm | Kiln and conveyor drives, agitators |
| Sleeves, bushings, hollow bars | OD 80 to 1200 mm | Wear and thermal sleeves, liners |
| Forged tube sheets | Dia. up to 2500 mm | Heat exchangers in aggressive flue gas |
| Valve bodies, stems, seat rings, blocks | To drawing | Ball, gate, globe, check and plug valves |
| Nozzles, manifolds, eccentric shafts, rolls | To drawing | Burner and process equipment |
Sizes shown are typical. Larger or unusual geometries are quoted case by case. Send the drawing and we will confirm feasibility, weight and lead time.
Delivery conditions
- Solution annealed at 1160 to 1200 °C and water quenched. This is the standard supply condition.
- Black forged, as forged with machining allowance.
- Rough machined, turned all over to your allowance.
- Finish machined to final drawing dimensions and surface finish.
We also supply this grade under its other names: Nicrofer 45TM forgings, UNS N06045 forged material, NiCr28FeSiCe forged parts and 2.4889 forgings.
Production route
Sulfur has to be kept low or the ingot cracks in forging, and the solution anneal has to be quenched or the creep properties are lost.
- Melting by EAF and VOD, then ESRElectric arc melting with vacuum oxygen decarburization controls carbon and sulfur. Electroslag remelting then refines cleanliness and gives a sound ingot.
- Chemistry checkHeat analysis is verified against the ASTM B564 limits before the ingot is released. The ingot is cropped to remove shrinkage and segregation.
- Open die forging or ring rollingForged with a controlled reduction ratio and finish temperature so that grain flow follows the contour of the part instead of being cut through by later machining.
- Solution annealing at 1160 to 1200 °CFollowed by water quenching. This dissolves grain boundary carbides, restores corrosion resistance and is required for optimum creep properties.
- MachiningRough or finish machining at low cutting speed to your drawing, allowing for the work hardening rate of the alloy.
- TestingChemical analysis, mechanical testing and ultrasonic examination to EN 10228-3, SEP 1921 or ASTM A388 as specified.
- Certification, marking and packingEN 10204 3.1 as standard, or 3.2 countersigned by a third party inspectorate. Hard stamping, heat traceability and export packing.
Applications for Alloy 45TM forgings by industry
The grade is specified where several corrosion mechanisms act together at high temperature. These are the sectors we quote most often.
Waste to energy and environmental plant
The application the alloy was developed for.
- Superheater and evaporator tube components
- Rolled rings and shafts for pyrolysis rotary kilns
- Fluidized bed combustion hardware
- Plastics waste hydrogenation plant
Coal gasification and energy technology
Reducing, sulfur bearing atmospheres at temperature.
- Heat exchanger and pipework components
- Forged tube sheets and flanges
- Burner components
Chemical and petrochemical processing
Process furnaces under strongly sulfidizing or carburizing conditions.
- Furnace internals and supports
- Burners for fuels that contain sulfur
- Heat exchangers in carburizing media
- Refinery furnace hardware
Heat treatment and industrial furnaces
Fixtures that cycle repeatedly through aggressive atmospheres.
- Salt bath furnace tanks, baskets and supports
- Gas carburizing furnace shells and linings
- Conveyor belt and muffle components
Valves and flow control
Forged to drawing for high temperature corrosive service.
- Valve bodies, blocks and bonnets
- Valve stems and seat rings
- Ball, gate, globe, check and plug valves, strainers
Offshore, power and heavy machinery
Where corrosion resistance justifies the alloy cost.
- Subsea and deepwater production components
- Compressor, turbine and gearbox forgings
- Wellhead and christmas tree parts
- Pulp and paper, pharmaceutical and biochemical plant
Machining, welding and heat treatment of Alloy 45TM
Machining
Alloy 45TM work hardens quickly, so it is harder to machine than low alloyed austenitic stainless steel. Cutting speeds have to come down substantially compared with 304 or 316.
- Use a low surface speed with a heavy positive feed. Light feeds ride on the work hardened layer and wear the tool edge.
- Keep the tool in the cut. Dwelling or re-entering the same pass glazes the surface and hardens it further.
- Use sharp, rigid, well supported carbide tooling and take the deepest cut the setup allows.
- Flood with coolant. Thermal conductivity of 13 W/(m K) is low, so heat concentrates at the cutting edge.
- Keep machine and fixture deflection to a minimum, since chatter accelerates work hardening.
Heat treatment
Solution heat treatment is carried out between 1160 and 1200 °C (2120 to 2190 °F). Water quenching is required for optimum creep properties. For sections below about 3 mm (0.12 in.) rapid air cooling is acceptable. Alloy 45TM is not precipitation hardenable. Its strength comes from solid solution and carbide strengthening, so there is no aging step.
Welding
Alloy 45TM can be welded by the usual manual and automatic processes. Keep heat input low, use stringer beads rather than a wide weave, and hold the interpass temperature down. A matching or over alloyed nickel base filler is normal, and filler material 2.4621 is the common European choice. Surfaces must be clean and free of sulfur bearing contaminants such as marking crayons, oils and cutting fluids before welding, because sulfur pickup embrittles the weld. Confirm the welding procedure against the code that applies to your equipment.
Hot working
Hot forming is done in the normal high temperature range for the grade, followed by solution annealing and water quenching to restore properties. Cold forming is possible, but the high work hardening rate means intermediate annealing is needed for anything beyond modest deformation.
Alloy 45TM and similar grades
Buyers usually reach Alloy 45TM after looking at one of the alloys below. In short, Alloy 45TM suits mixed and dirty atmospheres, while the alternatives suit cleaner service or cases where creep strength governs.
| Alloy | UNS | Ni % | Cr % | Main difference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alloy 45TM | N06045 | 45 min | 26-29 | High Si and Ce. Best all round resistance to combined sulfidizing, carburizing and chloride attack, and to metal dusting |
| Incoloy 800H, 800HT | N08810, N08811 | 30-35 | 19-23 | Iron base, lower cost. Good creep strength in clean oxidizing service, weaker in sulfur and chlorides |
| Inconel 601 | N06601 | 58-63 | 21-25 | Aluminum addition gives good cyclic oxidation resistance, but less resistance to sulfidation |
| Alloy 602 CA | N06025 | 60 min | 24-26 | Highest temperature capability of this group, at a higher alloy cost |
| Inconel 617 | N06617 | 44.5 min | 20-24 | Co and Mo solid solution strengthening, chosen for creep strength above 900 °C |
| Inconel 625 | N06625 | 58 min | 20-23 | Mo and Nb for aqueous and pitting corrosion resistance. Not a high temperature scaling alloy |
Composition ranges are nominal and indicative. Consult the governing specification for each grade. If you are not sure which alloy suits your duty, send us the operating temperature, the atmosphere composition and the design life.
Testing, inspection and certification
Each Alloy 45TM forging is supplied with documented evidence of its heat, its properties and its soundness.
Standard scope of testing
- Chemical analysis. Full heat analysis reported against the specification limits.
- Mechanical testing. Tensile, yield and elongation at room temperature. Elevated temperature and impact testing on request.
- Ultrasonic testing to EN 10228-3, SEP 1921 or ASTM A388, to the acceptance class you nominate.
- Dimensional inspection against the released drawing.
- Surface examination, visual, with liquid penetrant testing on request.
- Grain size, microstructure and intergranular corrosion testing on request.
Certification
EN 10204 3.1 is issued as standard. EN 10204 3.2 certification countersigned by an independent third party such as TUV, SGS, BV, DNV or Lloyd's Register is available on request. State this at enquiry stage so that inspection can be scheduled.
Heat traceability is maintained from ingot to finished forging. Hard stamping carries the heat number, the specification and the part identification, so the certificate can always be matched to the physical part.
Frequently asked questions about Alloy 45TM
What is Alloy 45TM?
Alloy 45TM is a high chromium austenitic nickel chromium iron alloy designated UNS N06045, W.Nr. 2.4889 and NiCr28FeSiCe. It contains a minimum of 45% nickel, 26 to 29% chromium, 21 to 25% iron, 2.5 to 3.0% silicon and 0.03 to 0.09% cerium. The silicon and cerium additions form a protective oxide layer, which is why the alloy resists oxidizing, carburizing and sulfidizing atmospheres at high temperature.
What is the UNS number for Alloy 45TM?
The UNS number for Alloy 45TM is N06045. The equivalent designations are W.Nr. 2.4889, EN name NiCr28FeSiCe, and the VDM Metals trade name Nicrofer 45 TM.
What is the maximum service temperature of Alloy 45TM?
Alloy 45TM has scaling and oxidation resistance in air up to about 1000 C (1830 F). In waste incineration atmospheres containing chlorides and sulfur it has been used at temperatures up to about 850 C (1560 F). The usable limit depends on the atmosphere and the stress level, so creep data should be checked for the design temperature.
Which standard covers Alloy 45TM forgings?
ASTM B564 is the standard specification for nickel alloy forgings and covers Ni-Cr-Fe-Si alloy UNS N06045. Related specifications are ASTM B166 for rod and bar, ASTM B167 for seamless pipe and tube, ASTM B168 for plate, sheet and strip, and ASTM B462 for forged flanges, fittings and valve parts. Jiangyin Jiangnan Metal supplies Alloy 45TM forgings to ASTM B564 with EN 10204 3.1 or 3.2 certification.
What heat treatment is applied to Alloy 45TM forgings?
Alloy 45TM forgings are solution annealed between 1160 C and 1200 C (2120 to 2190 F) and then water quenched. Water quenching is required for optimum creep properties. For sections below about 3 mm (0.12 in.) rapid air cooling is acceptable.
Is Alloy 45TM difficult to machine?
Yes. Alloy 45TM work hardens quickly, so it is harder to machine than low alloyed austenitic stainless steel. Use low cutting speeds with a heavy positive feed, sharp carbide tooling, a rigid setup and flood coolant, and do not let the tool dwell in the cut.
What is the difference between Alloy 45TM and Incoloy 800H?
The difference is corrosion chemistry. Alloy 45TM contains at least 45% nickel with 26 to 29% chromium plus 2.5 to 3.0% silicon and cerium, which gives better resistance to sulfidizing, carburizing, chloride bearing and metal dusting atmospheres. Incoloy 800H (UNS N08810) contains about 30 to 35% nickel and 19 to 23% chromium and is an iron base alloy used mainly for creep strength in cleaner oxidizing service. For waste incineration and coal gasification, Alloy 45TM is usually the better choice.
Which Alloy 45TM forged shapes can Jiangyin Jiangnan Metal supply?
Jiangyin Jiangnan Metal supplies Alloy 45TM as open die forged rings, seamless rolled rings, forged flanges, round bars, discs and disks, shafts, sleeves, bushings, hollow bars, tube sheets, valve bodies, valve stems, seat rings, nozzles and blocks. Parts are made to customer drawings. Send the drawing or the dimensions to sales@steelforgepieces.com for a quotation.
What testing and certification is supplied with Alloy 45TM forgings?
Every heat is supplied with chemical analysis and mechanical test results. Ultrasonic testing is carried out to EN 10228-3, SEP 1921 or ASTM A388 as required. Certificates are issued to EN 10204 3.1, or to EN 10204 3.2 countersigned by a third party such as TUV, SGS, BV, DNV or Lloyd's Register.
How do I get a quotation for Alloy 45TM forgings?
Send the drawing, the dimensions or a description of the Alloy 45TM forging you need to sales@steelforgepieces.com, or call +86-189-2135-9659. Jiangyin Jiangnan Metal Co., Ltd. is at No.1 Chengxiqiao Road, Zhouzhuang Town, Jiangyin City, Jiangsu Province, China. Include the specification, delivery condition, test requirements and quantity so that the quotation is accurate.
Supplier information and quotation
Jiangyin Jiangnan Metal Co., Ltd.
Open die forging factory in Jiangyin, Jiangsu, China. Alloy 45TM (UNS N06045) forgings supplied worldwide.
- CompanyJiangyin Jiangnan Metal Co., Ltd., open die forging factory
- AddressNo.1 Chengxiqiao Road, Zhouzhuang Town, Jiangyin City, Jiangsu Province, China
- Phone+86-189-2135-9659 (0086-189-2135-9659)
- Emailsales@steelforgepieces.com
- Websitewww.steelforgepieces.com
- SuppliesForged rings, seamless rolled rings, flanges, round bars, discs, shafts, sleeves, tube sheets and valve parts in carbon steel, alloy steel, tool steel, stainless steel and nickel alloys
- Certifies toASTM B564, EN 10204 3.1 and 3.2, UT to EN 10228-3, SEP 1921 and ASTM A388
To receive a quotation, send us the drawing or the dimensions of the Alloy 45TM forging you need. Tell us the specification, the delivery condition, the testing requirements and the quantity, and we will come back with price, weight and lead time.