Burn-resistant and high tensile strength metal alloys

Abstract

Burn-resistant metal alloys that also have a high tensile strength are described. The alloys generally include about 55 to about 75 weight percent nickel, about 12 to about 17 weight percent cobalt, about 4 to about 16 weight percent chromium, about 1 to about 4 weight percent aluminum, and about 1 to about 4 weight percent titanium.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A burn resistant and high tensile strength alloy, comprising: 
 about 55 to about 75 weight percent nickel;    about 10 to about 17 weight percent cobalt;    about 4 to about 16 weight percent chromium;    about 1 to about 4 weight percent aluminum; and    about 1 to about 4 weight percent titanium.    
     
     
         2 . The alloy of  claim 1 , wherein the nickel content is about 70 to about 75 weight percent.  
     
     
         3 . The alloy of  claim 1 , wherein the cobalt content is about 13.5 to about 16.5 weight percent.  
     
     
         4 . The alloy of  claim 1 , wherein the chromium content is about 6 to about 8 weight percent.  
     
     
         5 . The alloy of  claim 1 , wherein the aluminum content is about 1 to about 2 weight percent.  
     
     
         6 . The alloy of  claim 1 , further comprising about 0.15 to about 0.25 weight percent manganese.  
     
     
         7 . The alloy of  claim 1 , further comprising silicon.  
     
     
         8 . The alloy of  claim 1 , further comprising about 0.01 to about 0.5 weight percent carbon.  
     
     
         9 . The alloy of  claim 1 , further comprising about 0.003 to about 0.009 weight percent boron.  
     
     
         10 . The alloy of  claim 1 , further comprising about 0.02 to about 0.07 weight percent zirconium.  
     
     
         11 . A nickel-based alloy, comprising: 
 at least about 71 weight percent nickel;    about 13.5 to about 16.5 weight percent cobalt;    less than about 9 weight percent chromium;    about 1 to about 2 weight percent aluminum; and    about 2 to about 4 weight percent titanium.    
     
     
         12 . The nickel-based alloy of  claim 11 , further comprising about 0.15 to about 0.25 weight percent manganese.  
     
     
         13 . The nickel-based alloy of  claim 11 , further comprising silicon.  
     
     
         14 . The nickel-based alloy of  claim 11 , further comprising about 0.01 to about 0.5 weight percent carbon.  
     
     
         15 . The nickel-based alloy of  claim 11 , further comprising about 0.003 to about 0.009 weight percent boron.  
     
     
         16 . The nickel-based alloy of  claim 11 , further comprising about 0.02 to about 0.07 weight percent zirconium.  
     
     
         17 . A nickel-based metal alloy comprising: 
 at least 70 weight percent nickel;    less than about 9 weight percent chromium;    a threshold extinguishing pressure of at least about 4,000 pounds per square inch; and    a tensile strength of at least about 160,000 pounds per square inch.    
     
     
         18 . The nickel-based metal alloy of  claim 17 , further comprising at least one of cobalt, aluminum, titanium, and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         19 . The nickel-based metal alloy of  claim 18 , further comprising manganese, carbon, boron, zirconium, silicon, and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         20 . The nickel-based metal alloy of  claim 17 , wherein said threshold extinguishing pressure is about 4,000 to about 12,000 pounds per square inch.  
     
     
         21 . The nickel-based metal alloy of  claim 17 , wherein said tensile strength is about 170,000 to about 195,000 pounds per square inch.  
     
     
         22 . An alloy for a component of a rocket engine for operating in an environment including at least about 4000 psi of oxygen and subject to tensile stresses of at least about 145,000 pounds per square inch including a nickel alloy, comprising: 
 at least about 60 weight percent nickel;    about 1 to 4 weight percent aluminum;    about 1 to 4 weight percent titanium;    a threshold pressure of at least about 4,000 pounds per square inch; and    a tensile strength of at least about 145,000 pounds per square inch.    
     
     
         23 . The alloy of  claim 22 , further comprising at least one of cobalt, chromium, zirconium, boron, and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         24 . The alloy of  claim 22 , further comprising: 
 about 60 to about 75 weight percent nickel;    about 12 to about 17 weight percent cobalt;    about 4 to about 16 weight percent chromium;    about 1 to about 4 weight percent aluminum; and    about 1 to about 4 weight percent titanium.    
     
     
         25 . A metal alloy, consisting essentially of: 
 at least 72 weight percent nickel;    less than 10 weight percent chromium;    about 12 to about 17 weight percent cobalt; and    less than about 10 weight percent of gamma prime formers.    
     
     
         26 . The metal alloy of  claim 25 , wherein said gamma prime formers consist of aluminum and titanium.  
     
     
         27 . The metal alloy of  claim 26 , further consisting essentially of manganese.  
     
     
         28 . A metal alloy consisting of: 
 about 70 to about 80 weight percent nickel;    about 10 to about 17 weight percent cobalt;    about 7 to about 9 weight percent chromium;    about 2.25 to about 4 weight percent titanium;    about 1 to about 3 weight percent aluminum;    about 0 to about 0.05 weight percent carbon; and    less than about 0.10 weight percent of other materials.