How do you select materials for high-temperature applications?

1 Thermal Properties

One of the most important aspects of material selection for high-temperature applications is the thermal properties of the materials. These include the thermal conductivity, the specific heat, the thermal expansion, and the melting point. The thermal conductivity determines how well the material can transfer heat, which affects the temperature distribution and the heat dissipation. The specific heat measures how much energy the material can store or release per unit mass and temperature change, which affects the thermal stability and the thermal shock resistance. The thermal expansion measures how much the material changes its dimensions when heated or cooled, which affects the dimensional stability and the stress development. The melting point indicates the maximum temperature that the material can withstand before losing its solid form, which affects the structural integrity and the safety.

2 Mechanical Properties

Another key aspect of material selection for high-temperature applications is the mechanical properties of the materials. These include the strength, the hardness, the ductility, and the creep resistance. The strength measures how much force the material can resist before breaking, which affects the load-bearing capacity and the fatigue resistance. The hardness measures how well the material can resist abrasion, wear, and deformation, which affects the surface quality and the wear resistance. The ductility measures how much the material can stretch or bend without cracking, which affects the formability and the toughness. The creep resistance measures how well the material can resist deformation under constant stress and high temperature, which affects the long-term reliability and the service life.

3 Chemical Properties

A third crucial aspect of material selection for high-temperature applications is the chemical properties of the materials. These include the corrosion resistance, the oxidation resistance, the reactivity, and the compatibility. The corrosion resistance measures how well the material can resist degradation by chemical agents, such as acids, bases, salts, or gases, which affects the durability and the protection. The oxidation resistance measures how well the material can resist degradation by oxygen, which affects the oxidation rate and the oxide layer formation. The reactivity measures how easily the material can react with other substances, such as fuels, coolants, or solvents, which affects the chemical stability and the safety. The compatibility measures how well the material can interact with other materials in contact, such as coatings, joints, or interfaces, which affects the bonding strength and the performance.

4 Economic and Environmental Factors

A final aspect of material selection for high-temperature applications is the economic and environmental factors that influence the feasibility and sustainability of the materials. These include the cost, the availability, the recyclability, and the environmental impact. The cost measures how much money is required to obtain, process, and use the material, which affects the budget and the profitability. The availability measures how abundant and accessible the material is in nature or in the market, which affects the supply and the demand. The recyclability measures how easy and efficient it is to reuse or recover the material after its service, which affects the waste and the resource conservation. The environmental impact measures how much the material affects the natural environment and human health, which affects the emissions and the regulations.

5 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?