In aerospace, nuclear industry, semiconductor and other high-tech fields, high temperature has always been the core problem of materials application. High-temperature structural components are prone to deformation, lack of strength, poor creep resistance and other problems, seriously restricting the stability and service life of the equipment.

What is TZM molybdenum alloy?

TZM alloy is known as Titanium-Zirconium-Molybdenum Alloy in Chinese and Titanium-Zirconium-Molybdenum Alloy in English, which is a molybdenum-based reinforced alloy in nature.

It is a molybdenum-based alloy commonly used in a high-temperature alloy, the main component contains 0.40% ~ 0.55% titanium, 0.06% ~ 0.12% zirconium, 0.01% ~ 0.04% carbon, the rest is molybdenum (residual, about 99%), belongs to the diffusion strengthened molybdenum-based materials, but also one of the most widely used molybdenum alloys at present.

Advantages of TZM molybdenum alloys

The advantages of TZM molybdenum alloys. Compared with pure molybdenum, it is strengthened by micro-alloying and achieves significant improvements in high-temperature strength, creep resistance, grain boundary stability, etc. TZM is the ideal material for high-end high-temperature working conditions.

Tensile strength at high temperatures

TZM molybdenum alloy has outstanding high temperature strength, the specific data are as follows:

1. room temperature tensile strength: 110 KSI (approx. 760 MPa), similar to pure molybdenum;
2. 1000℃ tensile strength: 350~450 MPa, still maintaining a high load carrying capacity;
3. Above 1300℃: the load-bearing strength is 2 times that of pure molybdenum, which can meet the extreme high temperature load demand.

Creep resistance

Creep resistance is one of the advantages of TZM molybdenum alloy, TZM molybdenum alloy rods can still retain 92% of their strength after 10,000 hours of work at 900 ℃, while pure molybdenum rods retain only 88% of their strength under the same conditions, which is a significant difference.

High recrystallization temperature

The recrystallization temperature determines the structural stability of the material at high temperatures. The recrystallization temperature of TZM molybdenum alloys is about 1400°C, which is much higher than that of pure molybdenum, which is between 900 and 1100°C.

This means that TZM molybdenum alloys can maintain a stable grain structure at high temperatures below 1,400°C without any degradation in performance due to grain coarsening, making them suitable for long-term high-temperature work.

Other properties

In addition to the core properties mentioned above, TZM molybdenum alloys have the following excellent characteristics:

1. low coefficient of expansion: 4.5 µm/m-K, low thermal expansion and deformation, which reduces thermal stress in high-temperature environments;
2. low vapor pressure: non-volatile at high temperatures, suitable for vacuum high temperature scenarios;
3. excellent heat and corrosion resistance: it can resist oxidation and corrosion in complex high temperature environments and extend service life;
4. good processability and weldability: easy to be processed into various product forms to meet the needs of different scenarios;
5. other parameters: density 10.2 g/cm³, melting point of about 2620 ℃, thermal conductivity of about 120 W/(m-K).

TZM molybdenum alloy product and specifications

How to choose TZM Material Products?

COMBAT is a long-experienced molybdenum material manufacturer. All TZM molybdenum alloys are manufactured in strict accordance with ASTM B386 and ASTM B387 international standards to ensure consistency in composition, performance and specifications.

Temperature and Load Matching

1. If the working temperature is between 700~1400℃, and need to withstand high load, long-term operation, prefer TZM molybdenum alloy;
2. if the working temperature is lower than 900℃, and the purity requirement is very high, and the strength requirement is not high, you can choose pure molybdenum to reduce the procurement cost;
3. If the working temperature exceeds 1400℃, consult with the manufacturer to see if they need to customize the TZM alloy with special formula, taking into account the specific load conditions.

TZM product type selection

The product form should be determined according to the specific application to avoid size waste or performance mismatch:

1. support parts, control rods, shafts: choose TZM molybdenum rods;
2. high-temperature furnace heat screen, mold inserts, large-area structural parts: choose TZM molybdenum sheet;
3. electronic components, sheet heat screen: choose TZM molybdenum sheet;
4. fluid conduction, heat exchange: choose TZM molybdenum tube;
5. special shaped structure: choose customized parts, provide drawings to manufacturers for processing.

TZM supplier selection suggestions

TZM molybdenum alloy belongs to the high-end materials, the strength of the supplier directly determines the quality of the product, the purchase of the following types of manufacturers to give priority to,:

1. with ISO certification to ensure that the production process is standardized, product quality can be controlled;
2. mature production process (especially powder metallurgy method);
3. fast delivery capability to meet the needs of bulk purchase and urgent orders;
4. perfect after-sales service, can provide selection advice, technical support and quality assurance.

COMBAT has all these qualities.

Main applications of TZM molybdenum alloys

Aerospace

TZM molybdenum alloy is used in aerospace field:

1. Rocket engines: nozzles, throat components, high-temperature propellant nozzles, gas rudders, etc., suitable for combustion environments above 2500℃, relying on excellent high-temperature strength and thermal fatigue resistance to maintain structural stability;
2. aerospace equipment: high-temperature structural components, thermal protection components, etc., can work stably for a long time under the vacuum and high-temperature environment in space.

Nuclear industry

In the high temperature and high radiation environment of the nuclear industry, TZM molybdenum alloy is mainly used for:

1. nuclear reactors: control rods, high-temperature support structures, fuel assembly structural parts, etc., which can maintain long-term strength and stability in high-temperature, high-radiation environment;
2. nuclear fusion experimental equipment: high heat load components, suitable for extreme high temperature conditions, creep resistance and excellent corrosion resistance.

High-temperature furnace field

In high-temperature furnace equipment, TZM molybdenum alloy is mainly used to make core components, to enhance the equipment's high temperature resistance and service life, specific applications include:

1. HIP furnace (Hot Isostatic Pressure Furnace): furnace body components, hot screen, etc;
2. Vacuum furnace: hot screen, heating element support, high-temperature tray, etc., which can work stably for a long time under the vacuum environment of 1200~1500℃.

Electronics and semiconductor field

Electronics and semiconductor field requires very high purity and stability of materials, TZM molybdenum alloy's low vapor pressure and high purity characteristics make it an ideal choice, mainly used in:

1. X-ray equipment: anode target, relying on high temperature performance and corrosion resistance, to ensure the stable operation of X-ray equipment;
2. Electron tubes: cathode, gate and other components;
3. Semiconductors: thin film integrated circuits, single crystal furnace hot field structural parts, etc., suitable for vacuum and high purity environment.

Metal casting and mold field

TZM molybdenum alloy's high temperature resistance and resistance to thermal stress cracking characteristics make it suitable for high temperature molds and casting parts, specific applications include:

1. aluminum alloy die casting molds: core components, mold inserts, etc;
2. hot isostatic pressing molds: suitable for high temperature and high pressure molding process;
3. hot runner nozzles: for high temperature and high pressure injection molding, with excellent temperature resistance, corrosion resistance and oxidation resistance;
4. hot piercing head: China's TZM sintered molybdenum head manufactured by powder metallurgy technology, raw material consumption is only 50% of the cast state, and the average service life is increased by 1.5 to 2 times.

Other fields

In addition to the above fields, TZM molybdenum alloy is also widely used in:

1. TZM in the glass industry: electrodes for glass melting kilns, components for glass fiber drawing equipment, etc., suitable for high corrosion and high temperature working conditions;
2. TZM for laboratory equipment: high temperature experimental crucibles, high temperature test sample racks, etc., to meet the extreme high temperature testing needs of the laboratory.

Production process of TZM molybdenum alloy

At present, the mainstream production process of TZM molybdenum alloy has two main types: arc melting-casting method (arc melting-casting) and powder metallurgy method (powder metallurgy technology).

Process 1: Arc melting-casting

The manufacturing process of TZM by arc melting-casting is relatively simple, with the core steps divided into three. 1:

1. pure molybdenum is melted at high temperatures generated by an electric arc;
2. adding titanium, zirconium and other alloying elements to the molten molybdenum liquid in a preset proportion to ensure a homogeneous mix;
3. Through the conventional casting molding process, the uniformly mixed alloy liquid is cooled and molded to obtain TZM molybdenum alloy blanks.

Process 2: Powder metallurgy method

The core steps for manufacturing TZM molybdenum alloy by powder metallurgy are as follows:

1. Mixing of raw materials: High-purity molybdenum powder, TiH2 powder, ZrH2 powder and graphite powder are mixed in precise proportions to ensure consistent distribution of each component;
2. Cold isostatic pressing molding: put the mixed powder into the mold and press molding by cold isostatic pressing technology to obtain the preliminary blank;
3. High-temperature sintering: the molded billet is put into a protective atmosphere (to avoid oxidation) for high-temperature sintering to obtain TZM molybdenum alloy rough billet;
4. Rolling/forging: the rough billet is subjected to high-temperature hot rolling, medium-temperature hot rolling, and warm rolling to gradually optimize the structure of the billet;
5. Heat treatment: interspersed with high-temperature annealing and medium-temperature annealing processes in the rolling/forging process;
6. Finished product processing: after multi-step processing, obtain the finished product of TZM molybdenum alloy.

Comparison of the application scenarios of the two processes

Arc melting and casting method: suitable for the production of basic-grade TZM billets, used for ordinary high-temperature scenarios with low performance requirements, large batch sizes and cost sensitivity;

Powder metallurgy method: suitable for the production of high-performance TZM finished products, used in aerospace, nuclear industry and other high-end fields, can meet the severe requirements of extreme high temperature and high load.

FAQs about TZM Molybdenum Alloy

Q: What is the difference in creep resistance between TZM molybdenum alloy and pure molybdenum?

A: The difference in creep resistance between the two is significant, and the specific data are as follows: after 10,000 hours of work at 900°C, the strength retention rate of TZM molybdenum alloy is 92%, while that of pure molybdenum is only 88%.

Q: What are the main production methods for TZM molybdenum alloys?

A: There are two mainstream production methods for TZM molybdenum alloys: arc fusion casting and powder metallurgy.

Q: What international standards do TZM molybdenum alloy products meet?

A: All TZM molybdenum alloy products are manufactured in strict compliance with the ASTM B386 and ASTM B387 international standards.

Q: Can customized TZM molybdenum alloy shaped parts COMBAT provide?

A: Yes. COMBAT can process and customize all kinds of shaped TZM molybdenum alloy parts according to the drawings provided by customers.

Conclusion: choose TZM molybdenum alloy

If you are purchasing TZM molybdenum alloy, give priority to COMBAT, we are an ISO certified and matured process supplier from China, which ensures product quality and delivery time, and gives full play to the advantages of TZM molybdenum alloy.