Nickel-base alloy for the electro-welding of nickel alloys and steels, welding wire and use

Abstract

The alloy contains, by weight, less than 0.05% of carbon, from 0.015% to 0.5% of silicon, from 0.4% to 1.4% of manganese, from 28% to 31.5% of chromium, from 8% to 12% of iron, from 2% to 7% of molybdenum, from 0% to 0.75% of aluminium, from 0% to 0.8% of titanium, from 0.6% to 2% in total of niobium and tantalum, the ratio of percentages of niobium plus tantalum and of silicon being at least 4, less than 0.04% of nitrogen, from 0.0008% to 0.0120% of zirconium, from 0.0010% to 0.0100% of boron, less than 0.01% of sulphur, less than 0.020% of phosphorus, less than 0.30% of copper, less than 0.15% of cobalt and less than 0.10% of tungsten, the remainder of the alloy, with the exception of unavoidable impurities of which the total content is at most 0.5%, consisting of nickel. The alloy is used, in particular, for the production of wires for the electro-gas welding of units or components of nuclear reactors and, more particularly, of pressurised water-cooled nuclear reactors.

1 . A nickel-based alloy for the electro-welding of nickel alloys and steels, the alloy comprising, by weight: less than 0.05% carbon, 0.015% to 0.5% silicon, 0.4% to 1.4% manganese, 28% to 31.5% chromium, 8% to 12% iron, 2% to 7% molybdenum, 0.6% to 2% in total of niobium and tantalum, the ratio of percentages of niobium plus tantalum and of silicon being at least 4, less than 0.04% nitrogen, 0.0008% to 0.0120% zirconium, 0.0010% to 0.0100% boron, 0% to 0.75% aluminium, 0% to 0.8% titanium, less than 0.01% sulphur, less than 0.020% phosphorus, less than 0.30% copper, less than 0.15% cobalt and less than 0.10% tungsten, the remainder of the alloy containing nickel, with the exception of impurities having a content less than or equal to 0.5%.  
     
     
         2 . An alloy according to  claim 1 , containing less than 0.20% silicon, about 4% molybdenum, 0.006% zirconium and 0.004% boron.  
     
     
         3 . Welding wire for the electro-gas welding of nickel alloys and steel, produced from the alloy according to  claim 1 .  
     
     
         4 . Welding wire for the electro-gas welding of nickel alloys and steel produced from the alloy according to  claim 2 .  
     
     
         5 . Use of an alloy according  claim 1 , for the welding of components of a nuclear reactor during construction, assembly or repair of a component.  
     
     
         6 . Use of an alloy according  claim 2 , for the welding of components of a nuclear reactor during construction, assembly or repair of a component.