Materials database

Alpha-beta titanium alloy with Nb replacing V — developed specifically to eliminate vanadium cytotoxicity concerns. Similar mechanical properties to Ti-6Al-4V but with superior biocompatibility and corrosion resistance in body fluids. ISO 5832-11 / ASTM F1295 for surgical implants. Trade name: IMI 367 (originally). Used for hip prostheses, knee replacements, fracture fixation plates, spinal devices, screws, and dental implants.

Titanium carbonitride (TiCN) based cermet with Ni/Co binder. Lighter than WC-Co (density ~6.5–7.2 g/cm³), excellent surface finish capability, low coefficient of friction, high crater wear resistance, and good chemical stability at high temperatures. Hardness 91–93 HRA (~1500–1700 HV), TRS 1500–2000 MPa. Lower toughness than WC-Co. Applications: finish turning of steel and stainless steel, high-speed cutting, precision boring, grooving. Not suitable for heavy interrupted cuts.

The softest and most ductile commercially pure titanium grade. Lowest O content (0.18% max) for maximum formability. Used for plate heat exchangers, chemical plant vessels, explosive cladding, deep-drawn parts, and anodizing applications. Lower strength than Grade 2 but superior formability.

The workhorse commercially pure titanium grade. Best balance of strength, ductility, and corrosion resistance among CP grades. Excellent resistance to seawater, chlorides, and oxidizing acids. Used for heat exchangers, chemical processing, marine hardware, desalination, and medical implants.

The strongest commercially pure titanium grade. Highest oxygen content (0.40% max) for maximum strength among CP grades. UTS min 550 MPa — approaches some Ti alloys. Used for airframe skins, marine hardware, surgical implants, and chemical plant components requiring higher strength than Grade 2.

Styrene-ethylene-butylene-styrene (SEBS) based thermoplastic elastomer — the largest and most versatile TPE family. Hardness adjustable from Shore 0A to 100A through compounding with PP, oil, and fillers. Excellent UV/ozone/aging resistance (superior to SBS). Soft, comfortable touch. Non-toxic, meets EN 71 + REACH + FDA. Bonds well to PP and PE in 2K injection molding. Used for soft-touch grips, seals, gaskets, overmolded handles, baby products, medical tubing, cable jacketing, and shoe soles. Not oil-resistant.

Dynamically vulcanized thermoplastic elastomer — crosslinked EPDM rubber particles dispersed in a PP matrix. Combines the elastic recovery of vulcanized rubber with the processability of thermoplastics (injection moldable, extrudable, recyclable). Shore hardness range 40A to 50D. Compression set resistance far superior to TPE-S (SBS/SEBS). Trade names: Santoprene (Celanese), Sarlink (Teknor Apex), Forprene (So.F.Ter). Used for automotive seals/weatherstrips, wire & cable jacketing, industrial hoses, consumer grips and overmolded soft-touch components. Service temp -40°C to +135°C.

Thermoplastic polyurethane elastomer — bridges the gap between rubber and rigid plastics. Exceptional abrasion resistance, high elongation (300-700%), and good oil/grease resistance. Available in wide hardness range (60 Shore A to 74 Shore D). Ester-based: better oil resistance. Ether-based: better hydrolysis/microbial resistance. Major trade names: Elastollan (BASF), Desmopan/Texin (Covestro), Estane (Lubrizol). Used for seals, hoses, cable jackets, shoe soles, phone cases, wheels/rollers, and 3D printing filament.

Powder metallurgy cold work tool steel by Uddeholm. C 1.4%, Cr 4.7%, Mo 3.5%, V 3.7%. Extremely uniform carbide distribution. Hardness 58–64 HRC. Combines high wear resistance with very good toughness — a PM advantage over D2. Applications: fine blanking, cold forming, powder compacting, food industry knives, plastic injection molds with abrasive fillers.

The simplest and cheapest tool steel — plain high-carbon steel with no significant alloy additions. Water-hardening with shallow hardening depth. Used for cold chisels, center punches, hand tools, scribers, woodworking tools, and simple cutting tools where only the surface needs to be hard.

Nickel-based gamma-prime strengthened superalloy — THE turbine disc material. Excellent creep-rupture strength up to 650°C (rotating) and 870°C (static). Developed 1950s by Pratt & Whitney. Triple-aged (solution + stabilize + precipitation) for peak properties. Superior to Inconel 718 above 650°C. Used for compressor and rotor discs, shafts, spacers, seals, rings, casings, and fasteners in gas turbine engines.

Rare-earth magnesium alloy with yttrium (4%) and neodymium (2.25%) for exceptional high-temperature strength and creep resistance up to 300°C. Passed FAA flammability tests in 2015, lifting the ban on Mg in aircraft cabin interiors. Also biocompatible — used in biodegradable medical implants (stents, screws) with CE marking. Weldable (TIG). Used for helicopter gearbox casings, aircraft seat structures, engine components, racing wheels, and biomedical implants. The premium aerospace magnesium alloy.

Air-hardening medium-alloy cold work tool steel, known as AISI A2. 5% Cr provides good through-hardening and excellent dimensional stability during heat treatment — minimal distortion compared to oil-hardening grades. Hardened to 57–62 HRC. Good combination of wear resistance and toughness — tougher than D2 (1.2379) at similar hardness. Used for blanking dies, trimming dies, forming tools, gauges, shear blades, coining tools and precision components requiring minimal distortion.

High-chromium ferritic stainless steel (23–26% Cr) with aluminum (1.2–1.7%) and silicon (0.7–1.4%) additions for maximum scaling resistance up to 1150°C. The highest oxidation resistance among ferritic stainless steels. Non-hardenable. Resistant to sulfur compounds and reducing gases. Used for furnace linings, kiln rollers, burner parts, thermocouple protection tubes, steam boiler superheater elements, and extreme-temperature components. Equivalent to AISI 446.

High-chromium creep-resistant martensitic steel equivalent to ASTM Grade 91 (P91/T91/F91). V and Nb additions with controlled N provide exceptional creep rupture strength at temperatures up to 580°C. The foundation steel of modern ultra-supercritical (USC) power plants worldwide. Used for main steam pipes, boiler headers, superheater tubes, and high-temperature pressure components in fossil and nuclear power generation.

Work-hardening austenitic stainless — AISI 301. Higher C (0.05-0.15%) than 301LN enables extreme cold-work strengthening to UTS 1300+ MPa in full-hard temper. THE spring-temper stainless: used for flat springs, retaining clips, conveyor belts, automotive structural parts, and rail car body panels. Corrosion resistance similar to 304 in annealed state.

Advanced creep-resistant martensitic steel equivalent to ASTM Grade 92 (P92/T92/F92). Improved version of P91 with 1.5-2.0% tungsten addition for 25-30% higher creep rupture strength. Currently the strongest commercially available steam pipe steel. Enables ultra-supercritical power plant operation up to 300 bar / 600°C. Used for main steam pipes, headers, and pressure components in the most advanced fossil power plants worldwide.

Basic martensitic stainless steel with 12% chromium — the DIN/EN designation for AISI 410. Heat-treatable to a wide range of mechanical properties from soft-annealed (≤730 MPa) to quenched and tempered (650–850 MPa in QT650). Good scaling resistance up to 650°C. Used for cutlery, surgical instruments, turbine blades, shafts, bolts, valve components, and pump parts. Machinability similar to carbon steels at same hardness.

Free-cutting ferritic stainless — AISI 430F equivalent. S 0.15-0.35% + Mo 0.2-0.5% for machinability and slight improvement in pitting resistance. THE ferritic Automatenstahl for CNC screw machines. Used for screws, nuts, bushings, fittings, and automotive components where ferritische Korrosionsbeständigkeit with machinability is needed. Magnetic, not weldable.

Heat-resistant 25Cr-21Ni austenitic stainless — AISI 310S (low-C variant). Oxidation resistance to 1050°C continuous, 1150°C intermittent. Higher Cr+Ni than 304/316 = much better high-temperature scaling resistance. Used for furnace parts, radiant tubes, heat treatment fixtures, kiln linings, and thermocouple protection tubes. Also used in petrochemical cracker tubes.

Martensitic stainless for steam turbine blades and discs — 12Cr-3Ni-Mo-V. Higher Ni (2.5-3.5%) than X20Cr13 gives better toughness and corrosion resistance. V addition for creep strength at elevated temperatures. Used for LP/HP turbine blades, compressor discs, pump shafts, and valves in power generation. Service temperature to ~550°C.

Free-cutting martensitic stainless steel with sulfur addition for improved machinability. Equivalent to AISI 416. Based on X12Cr13 (AISI 410) composition with 0.15-0.35% S added. Can be hardened by heat treatment. Corrosion resistance is somewhat reduced compared to non-free-cutting grades but improves in the quenched and tempered condition. Used for automatic screw machine parts, valves, fittings, bolts, nuts, pump components, and precision turned parts.

Free-cutting martensitic stainless steel with Mo and S additions. Equivalent to AISI 430F. Higher Cr (15.5-17.5%) and Mo addition provide better corrosion resistance than X12CrS13 while maintaining excellent machinability from S content. Used for automatic screw machine parts, fasteners, valve bodies, pump shafts, and precision components requiring both corrosion resistance and easy machining.

High-carbon high-chromium ledeburitic cold work tool steel — AISI D2. 12% Cr + 1.5% C forms massive M7C3 carbides giving outstanding wear resistance and cutting edge retention. Air-hardening with minimal distortion. Lower toughness than H13. Used for blanking/stamping dies, thread rolling dies, cold forming tools, slitting cutters, and wear parts. Also popular as high-end knife steel.