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superalloy

superalloy

8.2
A metal that stays strong at very high heat
  • noun
  • /ˈsuːpərˌælɔɪ/
  • Specialized
translation icon : superaleación
  • Engineers use superalloy materials to manufacture turbine blades that perform reliably under high-stress conditions.
  • nickel-based superalloy
  • advanced superalloys

Examples

  • Five disks in the turbine portion of the rotor are machined from forged Waspalloy or Inco-718 superalloy.

    Academic text (1994)
  • Ni- and Co-based superalloys with high Cr content are extensively used for this application; the chemistry of these alloys has been adjusted to yield an optimum combination of strength and corrosion/oxidation resistance.

    Academic text (1995)
  • Many of the superalloys used in advanced military systems have a heavy vacuum as one of the processing steps.

    Blog text (33)
  • At higher firing temperatures, additional protection of hot-section superalloy components by coatings has become an absolute necessity.

    Academic text (1995)
  • Miller says a problem looms with the high-strength, iron-based superalloy selected for the conduit.

    Academic text (1994)
  • Advanced superalloys that are processed by conventional and improved process methods, including DS and SC casting, are the principal candidates for improved vane materials.

    Academic text (1995)
  • Turbine airfoils closest to the combustor operate in a gas stream that can exceed their superalloy melting point by 1,000°F.

    Academic text (2007)
  • But in general, many gas turbine improvements can be chalked up to advanced materials and heat transfer research, which has yielded long-lived film-cooled superalloy turbine blades and vanes.

    Academic text (2012)
  • It may not be possible to further adjust the composition of superalloys to obtain higher strength and better hot corrosion and oxidation resistance at elevated temperatures without adversely affecting their stability.

    Academic text (1995)
  • The aerospace industry relies heavily on superalloy components that can withstand extreme temperatures during flight.

How Heat-Resistant

superalloy
  • Specialized
8.2
heatproof
1 3.5
stainless steel
  • Specialized
40 2.8
steel
536 1.4

Surface Forms

superalloy singular
superalloys plural

Morphology

superalloy = alloy (transparent) = super + alloy

The adjective 'super' clearly modifies 'alloy' to indicate superior or enhanced qualities, a straightforward productive prefix meaning 'very' or 'above'.

Etymology

Superalloy joins super (meaning 'above' or 'very', as in superhero) and alloy (a 'mixture of metals'). So a superalloy is an 'above' or 'very' strong metal mix made to keep its strength and shape in very high heat and heavy use.