Burn-Resistant, Strong Nickel Alloys

Investigators at the Johnson Space Center White Sands Test Facility (WSTF) have developed specifications of the amounts of alloying elements needed to increase the specific strengths of nickel alloys while consistently maintaining their burn resistance. The issue of burn resistance versus strength arises because pure nickel resists burning in pure oxygen at pressures up to >104 psia (>69 MPa), but does not have enough specific strength to satisfy the requirements for use in engineered structures.