Special stainless steels from VDM Metals

Corrosive media such as sea water, acids, alkali and salt solutions make for a rough and aggressive environment in many fields, where the materials used will need to possess an above average service life stability. The corrosion-resistant alloys of VDM Metals are an important part of production and processing plants for phosphorus and sulfuric acid or acid gas output. And they are highly suitable for processes involving acidic materials. In addition, our materials are among the most resistant in processes handling acidic media. They are used for reactors for acetic acid production and tanks for the storage and transportation of nitric and hydrofluoric acid mixtures. In offshore engineering they are found in gas pipelines, production tubing, drill stems, pipe claddings, umbilicals for oil production, seawater pipe, condensers and coolers.

Our heat conducting and resistance alloys are characterized by relatively high and/or constant specific electrical resistance values. The materials spectrum ranges from austenitic nickel-iron-chromium alloys to aluminum-containing ferritic chrome steels like VDM® Aluchrom Y Hf.

Heat conducting and resistance alloys are mostly found in the electronics industry as specialty wires or as brake and starting resistors for electric drive system. In addition, they are used wherever electrical energy is converted into heat, as in ceramic cook tops, toasters or coffee machines. Heat conducting and resistance materials by VDM Metals are usually available as strip or wires.

Our controlled expansion alloys are characterized by extremely low thermal expansion coefficients at low- as well as in high-temperature ranges; furthermore, they possess good ductility and toughness, as well as good mechanical properties and a low propensity to fatigue at low temperatures. These alloys are used for

• Production, storage and transportation of liquefied gases
• Measurement and control instruments for temperatures below 200°C, e.g. thermostats
• Bushes for screwed and riveted joints between dissimilar metals
• Bimetal components and thermostatic bimetals
• Moulds for the production of carbon fiber-reinforced plastic parts (CFRP), especially for aerospace applications
• Frames for electronic control units in satellites and aerospace applications as cold as –200°C
• Support elements for electromagnetic lenses in laser control devices
• Components for the automotive industry
• Lead frames and transistor caps
• Electronic components

The small group of specialty alloys consists of materials with special physical or mechanical characteristics: VDM® Crofer 22 H, for instance, distinguishes itself with special expansion behavior, coordinated with the ceramic components of the so-called high-temperature fuel cells (solid oxide fuel cells). This ferritic steel contains between 20 and 24 percent chromium plus tungsten, niobium and lanthanum. VDM® NeutroShield is an austenitic stainless steel which is alloyed with boron. The finely-distributed boron secretions enable the absorption of thermal neutrons.