PART IV - Physical Properties of Some Niobium (Columbium) Alloys at Low Temperature

Thermal-expansion and electrical-resistivity measurements have been carried out below 400°K on niobium and two niobium alloys containing tungsten. For anonaly in the expansion us temperature curve below aboct 300°K. This reslt is consistent with an earlier obsercation that Young's modilus joy Cb-132 lms an unusiully strong -tenperati-e dependence below roon temperature. No anonulous behavior was observed in the resistiuity vs temperature curve for either alloy or in the magnetic susceptibility us tenperature curve for Cb-132. These results are disclssed in terms of various electronic and bonding theories of the transition metals and their alloys, but it has not been possible to reach any definite conclusion as to the cause of the results obtained. ALONG with investigations of the low-temperature mechanical behavior of niobium and its alloys, some of the physical properties of these materials have also been studied. In the work described here, thermal expansion and electrical resistivity were measured below 400°K for niobium and two of its alloys, Cb-132 and D-43. In addition, the magnetic susceptibility of Cb-132 was measured over the same temperature range. The alloys are representative of two distinct tion-hardened alloy such as might find service as a turbine blade, while D-43 (Nb, 5.3 at. pct W, 1.1 at. pct Zr. and 0.08 at. pct C) is a solution- and dispersion-hardened alloy, of considerably lower strength than Cb-132. which is a potential vane material. Their significant common feature is the presence of tungsten as the principal source of solution hardening. EXPERIMENTAL TECHNIQUES Thermal-expansion measurements were made with a quartz-tube dilatometer using baths of liquid nitrogen, liquid bromoethane, and a liquid polyalkylene glycol derivative to cover the range 80 to 400 K. Results are recorded as expansion relative to that of quartz, and the probable maximum error in any value of relative expansion. All, is about il pct. The metallurgical condition of the specimens, which were in rod form. will be discussed in the section dealing with experimental results. Resistivity was measured on recrystallized wires 0.030 in. in diam using a potentiometric technique. The same baths were used for temperatures between 80' and 400°K as were used for the expansion measurements. and in addition the resistance of D-43 and Cb-132 was measured at 4.2 K by immersion in liquid helium. The maximum expected experimental error in any resistivity value is about 3 pct and that in any change in resistivity about i0.05 pct. Temperatures in both sets of experiments were measured with liquid-in-glass thermometers with an accuracy usually better than 1°K. EXPERIMENTAL RESULTS 1) Thermal Expansion. In Fig. 1 is shown the relative linear expansion of recrystallized niobium. D-43. and Cb-132. The curve for Cb-132 is composed of results from several runs on three different samples. Two of the samples were annealed for an hour at 1500°C to cause recrystallization and the third was annealed for an hour at 2000'C to remove some mi-crosegregation of tungsten which was known to be present in the wrought alloy received from the manu-