Therma 4622Nb®: where smart Niobium (Nb) alloying makes the difference for high temperature performance of a new ferritic stainless steel
During these growth years, many emerging players developed their own capacities to produce conventional and commodity grades, bringing the consumption of stainless steels up. At the same moment, the market leaders continued to invest in R&D and kept on the vanguard of technology and innovation, adding new stainless steel alloys to their portfolio.
The implementation of these high-performance alloys enabled the development of important sectors, like the automotive and energy generation industries. For example, internal combustion engine vehicles that have exhaust systems operating in extreme temperatures (>1000°C) can be quite efficient in the catalytic conversion process, reducing the impact of exhaust gases in the environment, while power-plants operating with higher temperatures can also be more thermal efficient, using less fuel to produce energy and therefore generating less carbon emissions.
Within this context, CBMM and Outokumpu have been working together for many years on the development of new alloys and applications stainless steels containing Niobium (Nb). The latest example of this partnership was the development of the Therma 4622Nb® which is a high-chromium ferritic stainless steel with smart Nb alloying, enabling its application in extreme temperature environments and providing a competitive alternative to Ni-alloyed austenitic grades and Mo-alloyed acid proof grades.
Thinking about the application opportunities for the Therma 4622Nb® one of the main effects that Niobium (Nb) additions can bring to ferritic stainless steels is the possibility of controlling the crystallographic texture during production process, promoting the formation of preferential fibres that will enhance the deep drawability of this material and that’s how Therma 4622Nb® can be formed using typical processes including folding, bending, and drawing.
CBMM and Outokumpu will continue to work together for the development of new Nb-bearing stainless steels that will support the transition to a more sustainable future.
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