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Alloy R-41 engineering tools: Designation lookup Heat-treatment route Service temperature Strain-age crack risk Mill-cert checker Alloy substitution Forging weight RFQ generator
Jiangyin Jiangnan Metal Co., Ltd.
No.1 Chengxiqiao Road, Zhouzhuang Town, Jiangyin City, Jiangsu, China
0086-189-2135-9659 · sales@steelforgepieces.com
Nickel-base superalloy · gamma-prime hardened · 650 to 980 °C

Alloy R-41 Forgings: Rene 41 / UNS N07041 / W.Nr 2.4973

UNS N07041 AMS 5712 bar, forgings, rings AMS 5713 vacuum melted AMS 5545 sheet, strip, plate W.Nr 2.4973 AISI 683 GH4141 GE B50T59 · B50TF76C · B50TF109C Rene 41® is a trademark of General Electric Company. We do not sell under this brand.

Alloy R-41 is a vacuum-melted, gamma-prime precipitation-hardening nickel-base superalloy. Nominal composition is 19 Cr, 11 Co, 10 Mo, 3.1 Ti, 1.5 Al, balance nickel. It holds high strength from approximately 650 °C to 980 °C (1200 to 1800 °F). The alloy is also known as Rene 41, UNS N07041 and W.Nr 2.4973. Jiangyin Jiangnan Metal Co., Ltd. is an open-die forging factory in Jiangyin, Jiangsu Province, China. We produce Alloy R-41 as seamless rolled rings, forged discs, shafts, bars, flanges, sleeves and tube sheets to AMS 5712 and AMS 5713 chemistry, supplied solution treated or fully aged, with EN 10204 3.1 certification and 3.2 third-party witness on request. Ultrasonic testing is performed to EN 10228-3, SEP 1921 or ASTM A388. Quotations are returned within 24 hours.

Trademark notice. Rene 41® and the Rene alloy family are trademarks of the General Electric Company. Pyromet® is a registered trademark of Carpenter Technology Corporation. Haynes® is a registered trademark of Haynes International, Inc. Inconel® and Nimonic® are registered trademarks of Special Metals Corporation. Hastelloy® is a registered trademark of Haynes International, Inc. Material produced by those companies and sold under those brand names is theirs. Material we produce is correctly described as UNS N07041 / AMS 5712 / AMS 5713 / W.Nr 2.4973, the same generic chemistry manufactured independently by Jiangyin Jiangnan Metal Co., Ltd. We are not affiliated with, sponsored by, or endorsed by any of the trademark holders named. All other product names and trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

UNS
N07041
W.Nr
2.4973
Bar / forging spec
AMS 57125713 vacuum melt
Density
8.25g/cm³ (0.298 lb/in³)
UTS aged, min
1420MPa (206 ksi)
YS 0.2 %, min
1062MPa (154 ksi)
Elongation, min
14%
Service window
650 to 980°C (1200 to 1800 °F)
Temperature reference

Alloy R-41 processing and service temperatures

Alloy R-41 is specified for load-bearing service between 650 °C and 980 °C. The forging window, solution temperature, ageing temperature and the band in which welds crack all fall on the same scale as the service temperature. The chart below plots them together.

0 °C25050075010001250 °C
Service window 650 to 980 °C Strain-age cracking band 650 to 870 °C Forging window approx. 1010 to 1175 °C Melting range 1316 to 1371 °C

The ageing temperature of 760 °C falls inside the service window, so gamma prime continues to develop during service. The same temperature falls inside the strain-age cracking band. A restrained weld heated through 650 to 870 °C precipitates gamma prime while residual stress is still present, and the joint can tear.

Multi-standard designation lookup

Drawings, mill certificates and OEM specifications often use different names for this alloy. Enter any of them to see the full set.

Also accepts designations for other nickel alloys.
01 · Definition

What is Alloy R-41 / Rene 41?

Alloy R-41 is a nickel-base superalloy strengthened by gamma-prime (γ′) precipitation. Chromium at 18 to 20 % provides oxidation resistance. Molybdenum at 9 to 10.5 % and cobalt at 10 to 12 % harden the austenitic nickel matrix in solid solution. Titanium at 3.0 to 3.3 % and aluminium at 1.4 to 1.8 % precipitate the ordered Ni₃(Al,Ti) γ′ phase during ageing. A boron addition of 0.003 to 0.010 % segregates to grain boundaries and controls creep-rupture life. The combination produces one of the strongest wrought superalloys available in forged form.

The alloy was developed by the General Electric Company and published as an ASM Alloy Digest data sheet in November 1958. It was used for the outer shell of the Mercury space capsule. It remains in production today for gas-turbine hot-section hardware operating above the useful range of Inconel 718.

Two characteristics govern how Alloy R-41 is specified and purchased.

  • It is a high-temperature structural alloy, not a corrosion alloy. For acid or chloride service, Hastelloy C-276 or Alloy 625 is the correct selection. Alloy R-41 is specified when a component must carry stress at 700 to 980 °C.
  • It is difficult to weld and difficult to machine. The same gamma prime that produces the strength also causes strain-age cracking in restrained weldments and makes the alloy work-harden rapidly under a cutting edge. Both must be addressed at the design stage. See the crack-risk checker.

Aluminium, titanium and boron are all reactive elements, so Alloy R-41 is vacuum melted. The normal routes are VIM + VAR (vacuum induction melting followed by vacuum arc remelting) and VIM + ESR (electroslag remelting). AMS 5713 requires vacuum-melted material. Air-melted stock is not accepted for aerospace hot-section components.

02 · Designations

Alloy R-41, Rene 41, UNS N07041 and W.Nr 2.4973

The same chemistry appears under a dozen names depending on the specification body, the OEM and the age of the drawing. Jiangyin Jiangnan Metal Co., Ltd. accepts purchase orders written against any of them and supplies material certified as UNS N07041 / AMS 5712.

Table 1. Alloy R-41 / UNS N07041 equivalent designations and applicable specifications
Standard or bodyDesignationCoverage
USA, trade name (GE)Rene 41®Original General Electric designation. A GE trademark. We supply the generic equivalents listed below.
USA, trade names (other)Pyromet® Alloy 41, Haynes® R-41Producer brand names for the same chemistry. Trademarks of Carpenter Technology and Haynes International.
USA, UNSUNS N07041Generic Unified Numbering System designation. Preferred wording on a purchase order.
Europe, WerkstoffW.Nr 2.4973German and European material number
USA, AISI (legacy)AISI 683Legacy designation found on older drawings
USA, SAE AMSAMS 5712Bars, forgings, flash-welded rings and stock for forging. Primary specification for our products.
USA, SAE AMSAMS 5713Bars, forgings and rings, vacuum melted. Specify where melt route must be controlled.
USA, SAE AMSAMS 5545Sheet, strip and plate
USA, SAE AMSAMS 5800Welding wire
USA, GE specificationsB50T59, B50TF76C, B50TF109CB50T59 covers sheet, plate, strip, bars and forgings. B50TF109C covers solution-treated product.
UK, MSRRMSRR 9500/241Welding wire
China, GB/TGH4141 (GH141)Chinese equivalent grade designation
Specify UNS N07041 / AMS 5712 for general forgings, or UNS N07041 / AMS 5713 where vacuum melting must be stated on the certificate. An order written against the Rene 41® trade name alone can only be filled with General Electric branded material.
03 · Chemistry

Chemical composition of Alloy R-41

The limits below are the AMS 5712 and AMS 5545 chemistry for UNS N07041, in weight percent, with nickel as the balance. Each heat is verified by optical emission spectrometry, with carbon and sulphur by combustion analysis. The full analysis is reported on the EN 10204 3.1 certificate.

Table 2. Alloy R-41 / UNS N07041 chemical composition, wt %, per AMS 5712
ElementMinMax Metallurgical function
Nickel (Ni)BalanceBalanceAustenitic FCC matrix and host for the gamma-prime phase
Chromium (Cr)18.0020.00Oxidation and hot-gas corrosion resistance through the Cr₂O₃ scale
Cobalt (Co)10.0012.00Solid-solution strengthening, raises the gamma-prime solvus, improves thermal stability
Molybdenum (Mo)9.0010.50Primary solid-solution strengthener and principal contributor to creep resistance
Titanium (Ti)3.003.30Gamma-prime former. With Al, sets the volume fraction of Ni₃(Al,Ti).
Aluminium (Al)1.401.80Gamma-prime former and secondary oxidation aid
Boron (B)0.0030.010Grain-boundary segregant with a large effect on creep-rupture life
Carbon (C)0.060.12Forms MC and M₂₃C₆ carbides that pin grain boundaries. The narrow window balances creep life against weldability.
Iron (Fe)5.00Residual from raw material
Manganese (Mn)0.10Residual
Silicon (Si)0.50Residual deoxidiser
Copper (Cu)0.50Residual
Sulphur (S)0.015Impurity. Embrittles grain boundaries at temperature.

Combined aluminium and titanium

Combined Al + Ti of approximately 4.4 to 5.1 % sets the gamma-prime volume fraction, and with it both the strength and the strain-age cracking sensitivity. At the upper end the alloy is stronger and harder to weld. At the lower end creep-rupture life falls. These two values are the most significant pair on an R-41 mill certificate.

Boron control

Boron is present at only 0.003 to 0.010 % but controls grain-boundary cohesion under creep. Below the minimum, rupture life falls sharply. Above the maximum, incipient melting during solution treatment becomes a risk. Boron should be requested explicitly on the certificate.

Check a mill certificate against these limits

04 · Mechanical properties

Mechanical properties of Alloy R-41 forgings

Properties depend on the heat-treatment route. The table gives specified room-temperature minima in the standard solution-treated and aged condition, together with typical as-annealed values that govern machining and forming.

Table 3. Alloy R-41 room-temperature mechanical properties by condition
ConditionTensile strength Yield strength, 0.2 %Elongation Hardness
Solution treated and aged
1065 to 1080 °C AC, then 760 °C / 16 h AC
1420 MPa min
206 ksi min
1062 MPa min
154 ksi min
14 % min approx. 35 to 40 HRC
Solution annealed, unaged
supply condition for machining and forming
830 to 1100 MPa
120 to 160 ksi typical
Reported on certificate High 363 HB max
Cold worked and aged
wire and spring product
1380 to 1550 MPa
200 to 225 ksi typical
Reported on certificate Reduced
Unit conversion. Published R-41 data sheets frequently show the ksi and MPa columns transposed, because 1420 MPa = 206 ksi and 1062 MPa = 154 ksi. A tensile value given as "154 ksi / 1420 MPa" is internally inconsistent by 34 %. The correct pairing is tensile 206 ksi = 1420 MPa and yield 154 ksi = 1062 MPa.

Strength at temperature

Room-temperature strength is not the reason Alloy R-41 is specified. Useful strength is retained to 980 °C. Between approximately 650 °C and 870 °C the design limit is tensile strength and low-cycle fatigue. Above 870 °C the limit becomes creep-rupture, and the heat treatment should change accordingly. See Route 2. Certified elevated-temperature tensile and stress-rupture data for the delivered heat are issued with the material certificate. State the design temperature and hold time at enquiry stage and we will confirm before the drawing is released.

05 · Physical properties

Alloy R-41 physical properties

Table 4. Alloy R-41 / UNS N07041 physical properties, typical, room temperature unless stated
PropertyMetricImperialNotes
Density8.25 g/cm³0.298 lb/in³Used by the weight calculator
Melting range1316 to 1371 °C2400 to 2500 °FSolidus to liquidus
Modulus of elasticity, E218 GPa31.6 × 10³ ksiAt 20 °C. Falls with temperature.
Modulus of rigidity, G83.4 GPa12.1 × 10³ ksiAt 20 °C
Coefficient of thermal expansion12.6 µm/m·°C7.0 µin/in·°F20 to 300 °C / 70 to 600 °F
Thermal conductivityapprox. 9.0 W/m·K62 Btu·in/ft²·h·°FLow, typical of nickel superalloys. Relevant to machining heat and weld chill design.
Electrical resistivity131 µΩ·cm51.5 µΩ·inHigh. Relevant to resistance welding parameters.
Magnetic responseNon-magnetic at room temperatureAustenitic FCC matrix
Useful strength range650 to 980 °C1200 to 1800 °FWithstands jet combustion gases to approximately 982 °C
06 · Heat treatment

Alloy R-41 heat treatment: two standard routes

Property variation in Alloy R-41 is largely determined by the solution temperature. A higher solution temperature dissolves more gamma prime and carbide, coarsens the grain, and increases creep-rupture strength and room-temperature ductility. A lower solution temperature keeps the grain fine and increases tensile strength. The two cannot be obtained together. The choice must be made before forging, because grain size is established on the press.

Route 1, maximum tensile strength

Solution: 1065 to 1080 °C (1950 to 1975 °F), hold, air cool.
Age: 760 °C (1400 °F) for 16 h, air cool.

The default route. Produces the 1420 MPa and 1062 MPa minima in Table 3, with fine grain and high tensile and fatigue strength.

Applied to: bolting, fasteners, springs, shafts, structural rings, and components limited by tensile strength or low-cycle fatigue below approximately 870 °C.

Route 2, maximum creep-rupture life

Solution: high-temperature cycle, typically approx. 1175 °C (2150 °F) for 4 h, air cool.
Age: approx. 900 °C (1650 °F) for 4 h, air cool.

Produces coarser grain, lower room-temperature tensile strength, and higher rupture life and ductility at temperature.

Applied to: turbine casings, combustion hardware, nozzle components and any part under sustained load above 870 °C for thousands of hours.

State the route on the drawing. Two R-41 rings from one heat, one to Route 1 and one to Route 2, can differ by several hundred MPa in room-temperature tensile strength and by an order of magnitude in rupture life at 900 °C. "Material: R-41" without the heat-treatment cycle is an incomplete specification. Where a customer specification or AMS revision defines its own cycle, that cycle governs and we work to it.

Alloy R-41 heat-treatment route selector

Returns a complete printable cycle for the heat-treatment vendor.

Sustained metal temperature, not gas temperature
Governs soak time

Cycles follow the two standard AMS 5712 and AMS 5545 practices. Soak time scales at approximately 30 minutes per 25 mm of ruling section above the base hold. Where the purchase order or customer specification defines a cycle, that cycle governs. Final properties should be confirmed on test coupons taken from the same heat and heat-treatment charge.

Alloy R-41 service temperature check

Returns a verdict, the governing failure mode and an alternative alloy where R-41 is unsuitable.

First-pass screening based on published temperature limits for UNS N07041. It does not replace a creep-rupture calculation against certified data for the delivered heat, and does not account for stress level, section, coatings or surface condition. Final material selection is the responsibility of a qualified materials engineer.

07 · Forging

Forging of Alloy R-41 at Jiangyin Jiangnan Metal

Alloy R-41 has a narrow hot-working window and a high flow stress. It is forged hot, in small increments, with frequent reheats. A superalloy ring requires considerably more passes than the same ring in AISI 4140. Finishing too cold causes cracking. Finishing too hot coarsens the grain beyond specification. The practical window is approximately 1010 to 1175 °C, with start and finish temperatures set per part and confirmed against the governing AMS or customer specification.

Stage 01

Vacuum-melted billet

VIM + VAR or VIM + ESR ingot. Heat number traced. Chemistry verified by OES and combustion analysis before cutting.

Stage 02

Homogenise and cog

Ingot breakdown on the hydraulic press to reduce segregation and establish the wrought structure.

Stage 03

Forge or ring roll

Multi-blow open-die forging or radial-axial ring rolling within the hot-working window, with controlled reheats between passes.

Stage 04

Controlled cool

Cooling rate set by section size, grain-size target and the following solution cycle.

Stage 05

Rough machine

Stock removed before heat treatment so the solution cycle reaches the core and residual stress is released early.

Stage 06

Solution treat

Route 1 at 1065 to 1080 °C, or the Route 2 high-temperature cycle. Air cool. Charts recorded per charge.

Stage 07

Age

760 °C for 16 h, or the Route 2 cycle. Furnace uniformity surveyed and logged.

Stage 08

NDT, test, certify

UT to EN 10228-3, SEP 1921 or ASTM A388. PT, tensile and hardness testing. EN 10204 3.1 or 3.2 certification, marking and packing.

Grain size is set during forging

The solution temperature that controls grain size also controls the property set, so forging reduction and finish temperature must be planned against the intended heat-treatment route. State the route, or the property target, at enquiry stage.

Machining stock allowance

Alloy R-41 work-hardens rapidly. Generous and even stock on the rough forging protects the finishing operation from a hardened surface layer and from distortion during ageing. Stock allowance is agreed per part rather than taken from a carbon-steel default.

08 · Capability

Production capability for Alloy R-41 forgings

Jiangyin Jiangnan Metal Co., Ltd. operates an open-die forging plant at Jiangyin, Jiangsu Province, with hydraulic presses, forging hammers and radial-axial ring-rolling mills, supported by in-house heat treatment, NDT and a mechanical testing laboratory. The figures below are plant maxima across all grades. Superalloy envelopes are narrower and are confirmed per enquiry.

Table 5. Forging equipment and capability
GroupEquipmentCapability
Forging, heavyFree-die hydraulic pressUp to 5,000 t class
Forging, hammersOpen-die forging hammers1 t, 3 t, 5 t, 9 t
Ring rollingRadial-axial seamless ring mills3 m and 6 m mills
Plant envelope, diameterAll grades80 to 6,000 mm
Plant envelope, lengthAll grades100 to 12,000 mm
Plant envelope, weightAll grades10 to 15,000 kg
Heat treatmentSolution and ageing furnaces with recorded chartsAnnealing, normalising, solution treatment, ageing, quench and temper
MachiningTurning, boring, millingRough or finish machined to customer drawing
NDTUltrasonic, magnetic particle, liquid penetrantEN 10228-3, SEP 1921, ASTM A388, EN ISO 3452
LaboratorySpectrometer, universal testing machine, impact tester, hardness tester, metallographic microscopeChemistry, tensile, impact, hardness, grain size, macroetch
Superalloy envelope. Alloy R-41 is among the most difficult wrought superalloys to forge, so practical size and weight limits for this grade are smaller than the plant maxima above. Send the drawing or the finished dimensions and we will confirm in writing what is achievable in R-41, including whether a given ring is better produced as a rolled ring or as a machined pancake.
09 · Product forms

Alloy R-41 product forms

All forms are produced from vacuum-melted UNS N07041 stock and can be supplied as forged, solution treated, or solution treated and aged, rough machined or finish machined to drawing.

  • Seamless rolled rings
  • Contoured rings
  • Gear ring blanks
  • Forged discs and pancakes
  • Forged shafts and spindles
  • Stepped shafts
  • Round bars
  • Flat bars and blocks
  • Forged flanges
  • Sleeves and bushings
  • Hollow and trepanned cylinders
  • Tube sheets
  • Forged pipes and tubes
  • Valve bodies, stems and seat rings
  • Nozzles
  • Wheels and hubs
  • Near-net-shape forgings to drawing

Rolled rings

The most economical route for R-41 rings above approximately 200 mm outside diameter. Radial-axial rolling produces circumferential grain flow, which suits rotating and pressure-containing rings.

Discs and pancakes

Upset from billet on the press. Preferred where the bore is small relative to the outside diameter, or where a contoured profile would be wasteful to roll.

Bars and shafts

Cogged and drawn out on the press, then straightened and inspected. Supplied cut to length, centreless ground or rough turned.

Near-net-shape

Raw material cost is high and machining rates are low, so die-formed profile that removes machining stock has a shorter payback on R-41 than on steel grades.

Alloy R-41 forging weight calculator

Returns net weight at 8.25 g/cm³ plus a rough billet allowance.

Use in RFQ

Net weight uses the nominal R-41 density of 8.25 g/cm³. The billet allowance is an estimating aid. Actual input weight depends on geometry, tolerance, grain-flow requirement and test-coupon provision.

10 · Applications

Applications for Alloy R-41 forgings

Alloy R-41 is specified where metal temperature exceeds the useful range of Inconel 718 and the component must still carry load. The following applications account for most R-41 enquiries.

Gas turbine hot section

Turbine casings, seal rings, nozzle and combustor hardware, spacer rings and structural rings in continuous service between 700 and 980 °C. Route 2 heat treatment where rupture life governs.

High-temperature bolting

Bolts, studs, nuts and clamping hardware required to retain preload at temperature. Route 1 heat treatment, tensile-limited design.

Missile and launch hardware

Structural components and hot structure where mass is critical and the thermal environment excludes steel.

Afterburner and exhaust

Afterburner rings, flame-holder hardware, exhaust and tailpipe structure exposed to combustion gas.

Rotating hardware

Turbine wheels, discs, spacers and shafts where fatigue and creep both govern.

Springs and retaining rings

Hot springs and retaining hardware required not to relax at temperature.

Industrial heat processing

Furnace fixtures, hot-die tooling and heat-treatment jigs cycling into the R-41 range where lower-cost heat-resisting grades creep out of tolerance.

Power generation

Industrial gas-turbine hot-section components and high-temperature fastening in energy plant.

For wet corrosion, acid or chloride service, specify Hastelloy C-276 or Alloy 625. Below approximately 650 °C, Inconel 718 offers comparable strength at lower cost with better weldability and machinability.
11 · Comparison

Alloy R-41 compared with Inconel 718, Waspaloy, Haynes 282 and X-750

These five alloys cover most of the wrought gamma-prime and gamma-double-prime hardened superalloy market. Alloy R-41 sits at the high-strength, low-weldability end of the range.

Table 6. Positioning against competing wrought superalloys, indicative comparison
AlloyUNSStrengthening Practical upper limitWeldabilityTypical selection basis
Alloy R-41N07041Gamma prime Ni₃(Al,Ti), high Al+Ti approx. 980 °CDifficult, strain-age cracking Highest strength between 700 and 980 °C where welding is limited or avoidable
Inconel 718N07718Gamma double prime Ni₃Nb approx. 650 °CGood, slow gamma-double-prime kinetics Below 650 °C, lower cost, weldable, easier to machine
Waspaloy classN07001Gamma prime, moderate Al+Ti approx. 870 °CModerate Similar temperature range to R-41 with easier fabrication and lower peak tensile strength
Haynes 282 classN07208Gamma prime, lower Al+Ti approx. 900 °CGood, developed to avoid strain-age cracking R-41 class creep strength combined with a welded design
Inconel X-750N07750Gamma prime, low Al+Ti approx. 700 °CModerate Springs and lower-temperature hardware
Where the component can be produced in Inconel 718, 718 is normally the more economical selection. Where the temperature exceeds the 718 range but the design requires welded joints, the Haynes 282 class should be evaluated. Alloy R-41 is selected for strength at temperature in designs that can accommodate its fabrication behaviour. Upper limits above are indicative practical figures rather than specification values, and depend on stress, hold time and environment.

Alloy substitution finder

Compares a current specification against Alloy R-41 for a stated service temperature and driver.

Guidance based on published typical properties and general engineering practice. Substitution decisions must be verified by a qualified materials engineer against the actual stress, environment, hold time, joining method and certification requirements of the application.

12 · Fabrication

Welding, machining and grinding Alloy R-41

Welding and strain-age cracking

Alloy R-41 is susceptible to strain-age cracking. During welding, or during the heating leg of a post-weld cycle, the weld and heat-affected zone pass through approximately 650 to 870 °C, where gamma prime precipitates rapidly. Precipitation hardens the material while residual welding stress is still present and relaxing. Where the material hardens faster than the stress can relax, the joint tears, usually in the heat-affected zone.

  • Weld in the fully solution-treated condition. Aged material should not be welded.
  • Select the process for low heat input and low restraint. Resistance and electron-beam welding carry the lowest risk. GTAW is workable with direct-current straight polarity, tight fit-up, and copper backing bars or water-cooled fixtures to extract heat rapidly.
  • Re-solution treat after welding, heating and cooling as rapidly as practical through the 650 to 870 °C band, then age.
  • Eliminate the joint where possible. A rolled ring or near-net forging that removes a circumferential weld removes the risk.
  • Filler: matching wire to AMS 5800 or MSRR 9500/241.

Score a joint for strain-age cracking risk

Machining

Alloy R-41 machines as a strong gamma-prime superalloy: low speed, heavy positive feed, rigid setup, no dwell. Thermal conductivity is approximately 9 W/m·K, so cutting heat is not conducted away through the workpiece and instead loads the tool.

  • Machine in the solution-annealed condition wherever the tolerance plan allows. Aged material at 35 to 40 HRC is substantially slower.
  • Sharp, rigid, positive-rake carbide. Ceramics only for continuous cuts on rigid setups.
  • Maintain positive feed contact at all times. The alloy work-hardens under a rubbing edge and the following pass must then cut through the hardened layer.
  • Flood coolant, generous nose radii, minimal tool overhang, and scheduled tool changes.
  • Allow for ageing distortion. Rough machine, heat treat, then finish machine.

Grinding and surface integrity

Abusive grinding on a gamma-prime superalloy leaves tensile residual stress and can burn the surface, both of which reduce fatigue life. For fatigue-critical components, specify the surface finish, the permitted grinding practice, and shot peening where appropriate, on the drawing.

Strain-age cracking risk checker

Scores a proposed R-41 weld on material condition, process, thickness, restraint and post-weld treatment.

A qualitative screening aid based on published guidance for strain-age cracking in gamma-prime hardened nickel alloys. It is not a welding procedure qualification. Production joints in R-41 must be qualified by procedure and operator testing to the applicable code before use.

13 · Failure modes

Alloy R-41 failure modes and prevention

Strain-age cracking

Cause: gamma prime precipitates in the 650 to 870 °C band while welding residual stress is still present.

Location: heat-affected zone of restrained welds and re-welded repairs.

Prevention: weld solution-treated material, minimise restraint and heat input, heat rapidly through the band, re-solution treat then age. See the risk checker.

Overheating in service

Cause: metal temperature above approximately 980 °C, or extended holds above 870 °C with Route 1 heat treatment.

Location: hot-section hardware following a change in duty cycle.

Prevention: select Route 2 for creep-dominated service. Verify with the service temperature check.

Grain-size non-conformance

Cause: forging finished too hot, insufficient reduction, or a solution temperature that does not match the intended route.

Location: heavy sections where core and skin see different thermal histories.

Prevention: specify grain size on the drawing and require macroetch verification.

Incipient melting

Cause: solution temperature too close to the solidus, aggravated by boron at the top of the range or by segregation.

Location: Route 2 high-temperature solution cycles.

Prevention: surveyed furnaces with recorded charts, verified thermocouples, and metallographic checks on first-off parts.

Forging bursts and laps

Cause: working below the hot-working window, or excessive reduction in a single blow on a high-flow-stress alloy.

Location: internal bursts at the centre of heavy sections, surface laps on complex profiles.

Prevention: controlled reheats, incremental reduction, and ultrasonic acceptance to EN 10228-3 or ASTM A388.

Surface-initiated fatigue

Cause: abusive grinding or machining leaving tensile residual stress and a work-hardened, micro-cracked layer.

Location: fillets, bores and ground features on rotating hardware.

Prevention: specify surface finish and grinding practice, use generous radii, and consider shot peening on fatigue-critical surfaces.

14 · Quality

Standards, testing and certification for Alloy R-41 forgings

Material specifications

  • AMS 5712, bars, forgings, flash-welded rings, stock for forging
  • AMS 5713, the same forms, vacuum melted
  • AMS 5545, sheet, strip, plate
  • AMS 5800 and MSRR 9500/241, welding wire
  • GE B50T59, B50TF76C, B50TF109C, OEM specifications
  • Customer and project specifications worked to as written

Testing and inspection

  • Chemistry by optical emission spectrometry, C and S by combustion
  • Tensile and hardness on coupons from the same heat and charge
  • Ultrasonic testing to EN 10228-3, SEP 1921 or ASTM A388, acceptance class per order
  • Liquid penetrant to EN ISO 3452 or ASTM E1417
  • Grain size and macroetch where specified
  • Heat-treatment charts recorded and retained per charge
  • ISO 9001:2015
  • EN 10204 3.1 standard
  • EN 10204 3.2 on request
  • TUV, BV, DNV, Lloyd's, ABS witness
  • Heat-number traceability
  • Customer-witnessed hold points
Every Alloy R-41 order ships with an EN 10204 3.1 certificate stating the heat number, full chemical analysis including boron, the heat-treatment route and charts, mechanical test results and the NDT report. An EN 10204 3.2 certificate witnessed by a client-nominated third party is available on request and should be stated at enquiry stage, as it affects both lead time and price.

Mill-certificate chemistry checker

Checks a heat analysis element by element against the AMS 5712 limits and flags the Al + Ti balance.

Screening aid only. Acceptance of a heat is the responsibility of the purchaser against the specification revision in force at the contract date. A full certificate review covers melt route, heat treatment, mechanical results and NDT in addition to chemistry.

15 · Specification

How to specify an Alloy R-41 forging order

  1. State the generic designation. UNS N07041 / AMS 5712, or AMS 5713 where vacuum melting must be stated on the certificate.
  2. Select the heat-treatment route. Route 1 for tensile-limited parts, Route 2 for creep-limited parts. See the route selector. State the cycle rather than "solution treated and aged".
  3. Specify the melt route. VIM + VAR or VIM + ESR, and whether the certificate must state it.
  4. Provide the drawing. Finished dimensions, tolerances, machining stock, surface finish and required grain-flow direction.
  5. Define NDT acceptance. Ultrasonic standard and class (EN 10228-3, SEP 1921 or ASTM A388) and penetrant requirements.
  6. Specify certification. EN 10204 3.1, or 3.2 naming the witness body.
  7. State quantity, delivery target, delivery term and destination.

Drawing callout template

The template below can be copied into the material box of a drawing and edited at the bracketed items.

16 · Ordering errors

Eight common errors on Alloy R-41 orders

  1. Specifying R-41 with no heat-treatment route. The two routes produce different material. Name the cycle.
  2. Ordering under the Rene 41® trade name. That name belongs to General Electric. Specify UNS N07041 / AMS 5712 so that any qualified producer can quote.
  3. Designing a restrained weld into an R-41 assembly. Check the joint with the crack-risk tool before the drawing is released.
  4. Copying a transposed ksi and MPa data sheet. Tensile is 206 ksi = 1420 MPa. Yield is 154 ksi = 1062 MPa.
  5. Applying a carbon-steel machining allowance. R-41 requires generous, even stock and a rough machine, heat treat, finish machine sequence.
  6. Omitting boron from the certificate requirement. It is present at 0.003 to 0.010 % and controls rupture life. Request it explicitly.
  7. Specifying R-41 for a corrosion problem. It is a high-temperature structural alloy. For wet corrosion, specify C-276 or 625.
  8. Raising 3.2 certification after the order. Third-party witness affects lead time and price and should be stated at enquiry.

Alloy R-41 RFQ generator

Produces a complete enquiry text that can be copied, emailed or sent by WhatsApp.

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17 · Glossary

Glossary

Alloy R-41, R41
Generic short names for the nickel-base superalloy designated UNS N07041.
Rene 41®
Original General Electric trade name. A GE trademark. Generic equivalents are UNS N07041, AMS 5712, AMS 5713 and W.Nr 2.4973.
UNS N07041
Unified Numbering System designation. The neutral name for purchase orders and drawings.
W.Nr 2.4973
European material number for the same chemistry.
GH4141
Chinese grade designation for the equivalent alloy.
AMS 5712, AMS 5713
SAE aerospace specifications for R-41 bars, forgings and flash-welded rings. AMS 5713 covers vacuum-melted material.
Gamma prime
The ordered Ni₃(Al,Ti) precipitate responsible for the strength of Alloy R-41. Its volume fraction is set by aluminium and titanium content.
Strain-age cracking
Cracking that occurs when gamma prime precipitates during heating through approximately 650 to 870 °C while welding residual stress is still present.
Solution treatment
High-temperature soak that dissolves gamma prime and carbides and sets grain size, followed by air cooling. The temperature selected determines whether the part is optimised for tensile strength or creep-rupture life.
Ageing
Lower-temperature hold, typically 760 °C for 16 hours, that precipitates gamma prime and develops final properties.
Creep-rupture life
Time to failure under sustained load at temperature. Above approximately 870 °C this becomes the design limit for Alloy R-41.
VIM + VAR, VIM + ESR
Vacuum induction melting followed by vacuum arc remelting or electroslag remelting. Used for R-41 because Al, Ti and B are reactive.
EN 10204 3.1, 3.2
Inspection document types. 3.1 is issued by the manufacturer's independent inspection function. 3.2 is countersigned by a third party nominated by the purchaser.
EN 10228-3, SEP 1921, ASTM A388
Ultrasonic testing standards for forgings, each with its own acceptance classes.
Open-die forging
Hot working between flat or simple dies with repeated manipulation. Suited to large, low-volume, high-value parts such as superalloy rings, discs and shafts.
Seamless rolled ring
A ring produced by piercing a billet and rolling it radially and axially, giving circumferential grain flow without a weld.
18 · FAQ

Alloy R-41 / UNS N07041 frequently asked questions

What is Alloy R-41?

Alloy R-41 is a vacuum-melted, gamma-prime precipitation-hardening nickel-base superalloy containing nominally 19 % chromium, 11 % cobalt, 10 % molybdenum, 3.1 % titanium and 1.5 % aluminium with the balance nickel. It is designated UNS N07041 and W.Nr 2.4973. It retains high strength from approximately 650 °C to 980 °C (1200 to 1800 °F) and is used for jet-engine hot-section parts, turbine casings, afterburner hardware, high-temperature bolting and missile components.

Are Alloy R-41, Rene 41 and UNS N07041 the same material?

Yes. Rene 41 is the original General Electric trade name. Alloy R-41 and R41 are the common generic short forms. UNS N07041 is the Unified Numbering System designation and W.Nr 2.4973 is the European material number. AISI 683, GE B50T59 and the Chinese grade GH4141 refer to the same chemistry. Jiangyin Jiangnan Metal Co., Ltd. supplies the material as UNS N07041 / AMS 5712, not under the Rene 41® trademark.

What is the chemical composition of Alloy R-41?

Chromium 18.00 to 20.00 %, molybdenum 9.00 to 10.50 %, cobalt 10.00 to 12.00 %, titanium 3.00 to 3.30 %, aluminium 1.40 to 1.80 %, boron 0.003 to 0.010 %, carbon 0.06 to 0.12 %, iron 5.00 % max, manganese 0.10 % max, silicon 0.50 % max, sulphur 0.015 % max, copper 0.50 % max, balance nickel. See Table 2.

What are the mechanical properties of Alloy R-41 forgings?

In the standard solution-treated and aged condition the specified room-temperature minima are 1420 MPa (206 ksi) tensile strength, 1062 MPa (154 ksi) 0.2 % yield strength and 14 % elongation. Modulus of elasticity is approximately 218 GPa at 20 °C. Hardness in the solution-annealed condition is typically 363 HB maximum.

What heat treatment is used for Alloy R-41?

Two routes are standard. Route 1, for maximum tensile strength: solution treat at 1065 to 1080 °C and air cool, then age at 760 °C for 16 hours and air cool. Route 2, for maximum creep-rupture life above 870 °C: solution treat at a higher temperature near 1175 °C and age near 900 °C for 4 hours. A higher solution temperature raises creep-rupture strength and room-temperature ductility. A lower solution temperature raises tensile strength.

What is the maximum service temperature of Alloy R-41?

Alloy R-41 retains useful high strength from approximately 650 °C to 980 °C (1200 to 1800 °F) and resists jet combustion gases to approximately 982 °C. Above approximately 870 °C the design driver changes from tensile strength to creep-rupture life, and the higher-solution-temperature heat treatment should be used.

Which specifications does Alloy R-41 forging material meet?

AMS 5712 covers bars, forgings, flash-welded rings and stock for forging. AMS 5713 covers the same forms in the vacuum-melted condition. AMS 5545 covers sheet, strip and plate. AMS 5800 covers welding wire. GE specifications B50T59, B50TF76C and B50TF109C also apply, together with MSRR 9500/241 for welding wire.

Why is Alloy R-41 difficult to weld?

Alloy R-41 is susceptible to strain-age cracking. Its high aluminium plus titanium content causes gamma prime to precipitate rapidly while the weldment is still under residual stress during heating through approximately 650 to 870 °C. Weld in the fully solution-treated condition, keep restraint and heat input low, use chill bars or water-cooled fixtures, and after welding re-solution treat with rapid heating and cooling through the band before ageing. Resistance and electron-beam welding carry the lowest risk. A proposed joint can be scored with the crack-risk checker.

What forms of Alloy R-41 forgings can you supply?

Jiangyin Jiangnan Metal Co., Ltd. supplies seamless rolled rings, contoured rings, forged discs and pancakes, shafts and spindles, round bars, forged flanges, sleeves and bushings, tube sheets, blocks and near-net-shape forgings in Alloy R-41 / UNS N07041, rough machined or finish machined to drawing.

How is Alloy R-41 melted?

Because of the reactive aluminium, titanium and boron additions, Alloy R-41 is vacuum melted. The normal routes are VIM + VAR (vacuum induction melting followed by vacuum arc remelting) and VIM + ESR (electroslag remelting). AMS 5713 requires vacuum-melted material.

What is the density of Alloy R-41?

The density of Alloy R-41 / UNS N07041 is approximately 8.25 g/cm³ (0.298 lb/in³). Its melting range is approximately 1316 to 1371 °C. The weight calculator converts dimensions to kilograms.

How does Alloy R-41 compare with Inconel 718 and Waspaloy?

Inconel 718 is niobium-strengthened, easier to weld and machine, and loses strength above approximately 650 °C. Alloy R-41 is stronger than 718 above 700 °C and is specified where 718 is outside its thermal range. Waspaloy occupies a similar temperature range with better weldability and lower peak tensile strength. Haynes 282 was developed to provide R-41 class creep strength while avoiding strain-age cracking. See Table 6.

Do you supply EN 10204 3.1 or 3.2 certificates for Alloy R-41 forgings?

Yes. EN 10204 3.1 mill certificates are standard on every order. EN 10204 3.2 certificates witnessed by a client-nominated third party such as TUV, BV, DNV, Lloyd's Register or ABS are available on request. Ultrasonic testing is reported to EN 10228-3, SEP 1921 or ASTM A388 as specified.

What information do you need to quote an Alloy R-41 forging?

Send the drawing or the finished dimensions, quantity, required specification (AMS 5712, AMS 5713 or a customer specification), the delivery condition (as forged, solution treated, or solution treated and aged), NDT and certificate requirements, and the destination port. Jiangyin Jiangnan Metal Co., Ltd. replies with price and lead time within 24 hours. The RFQ generator assembles this information.

Where is your Alloy R-41 forging factory located?

Jiangyin Jiangnan Metal Co., Ltd. is an open-die forging factory at No.1 Chengxiqiao Road, Zhouzhuang Town, Jiangyin City, Jiangsu Province, China. Telephone 0086-189-2135-9659, email sales@steelforgepieces.com. The plant exports forgings to more than 40 countries.

19 · References

Technical references

Composition, property, specification and heat-treatment data on this page are taken from the published standards and engineering references below. Test results reported on our material certificates are independent and traceable to calibrated laboratory equipment.

  1. SAE AMS 5712, Alloy, Corrosion and Heat-Resistant, Bars, Forgings, Flash Welded Rings and Stock for Forging, 52Ni-19Cr-11Co-10Mo-3.1Ti-1.5Al, SAE International.
  2. SAE AMS 5713, Alloy, Corrosion and Heat-Resistant, Bars, Forgings and Rings, Vacuum Melted, 52Ni-19Cr-11Co-10Mo-3.1Ti-1.5Al, SAE International.
  3. SAE AMS 5545, Alloy, Corrosion and Heat-Resistant, Sheet, Strip and Plate, 52Ni-19Cr-11Co-10Mo-3.1Ti-1.5Al, SAE International.
  4. SAE AMS 5800, Alloy Welding Wire, 52Ni-19Cr-11Co-10Mo-3.1Ti-1.5Al, SAE International.
  5. ASM Alloy Digest Ni-47, G-E Alloy Rene 41, Heat and Corrosion Resisting Alloy, ASM International, published November 1958, revised January 1963.
  6. ASM Handbook, Volume 1, Properties and Selection: Irons, Steels and High-Performance Alloys, ASM International, section on wrought heat-resistant superalloys.
  7. ASM Handbook, Volume 14A, Metalworking: Bulk Forming, ASM International, forging of nickel-base superalloys.
  8. ASM Handbook, Volume 6, Welding, Brazing and Soldering, ASM International, strain-age cracking in precipitation-hardened nickel alloys.
  9. EN 10204:2004, Metallic products, types of inspection documents, CEN.
  10. EN 10228-3, Non-destructive testing of steel forgings, Part 3, Ultrasonic testing of ferritic or martensitic steel forgings, CEN.
  11. SEP 1921, Ultrasonic testing of steel forgings, Stahl-Eisen-Pruefblatt.
  12. ASTM A388/A388M, Standard Practice for Ultrasonic Examination of Steel Forgings, ASTM International.
  13. EN ISO 3452, Non-destructive testing, penetrant testing, ISO and CEN.
  14. General Electric specifications B50T59, B50TF76C and B50TF109C. MSRR 9500/241.

Standards are cited by designation. Material should be procured against the revision in force at the contract date. All trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

20 · Enquiry

Request a quote for Alloy R-41 / UNS N07041 forgings

Send the drawing or the finished dimensions together with the heat-treatment route, NDT and certificate requirements. We confirm what is achievable in Alloy R-41, quote price and lead time, and reply within 24 hours. Where the specification is still open, state the service temperature and the load and we will advise whether Alloy R-41 is the appropriate selection.

Jiangyin Jiangnan Metal Co., Ltd., open-die forging factory
No.1 Chengxiqiao Road, Zhouzhuang Town, Jiangyin City, Jiangsu Province, China
Tel 0086-189-2135-9659   Email sales@steelforgepieces.com

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