May 2026 Volume 8

MATERIALS

Figure 8: Product Forms from Ingot to Delivered Forging The process of forging the cast ingots into a smaller shape results in more homogeneous properties and a more refined microstructure. Conventional techniques for converting ingots to billets involve high strain rate forging or extrusion sometimes followed by heat treatments to improve and homogenize the grain structure by recrystallization. As shown in Figure 9, the billets are then fed into conversion processes to make the various product forms including forgings but also bar, plate, sheet, etc.

Figure 9: Flow Chart of Nickel Alloy Manufacturing Process

Figure 10: Nickel Base Alloy Chemistries 3

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