Nickel Alloy Alloy 52 Annealed
Temper · default condition
UNS N14052 · ASTM F30 Alloy 52
Standard stocked condition for strip, sheet, rod and wire that will be formed and then glass-sealed.
Values for the Annealed condition
Other Alloy 52 tempers and conditions
Alloy 52 is listed in 8 conditions; see the grade overview at Alloy 52.
Compare all 8 conditionsHide
| Condition · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness | Conductivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Wet-hydrogen (decarburising) annealed | Pick when the part must be gas-free and carbon-free for hermetic glass-to-metal or vacuum-tube service. | 260 | 490 | 38 | 140 HB | 4 % IACS |
AnnealedDefaultThis page bright/vacuum annealed, soft (sealing condition) | Standard stocked condition for strip, sheet, rod and wire that will be formed and then glass-sealed. | 280 | 520 | 35 | 150 HB | 4 % IACS |
Hot rolled / hot finished bar and plate | Economical starting stock for machined feedthrough bodies and flanges; anneal before sealing. | 300 | 540 | 30 | 160 HB | 4 % IACS |
after forming/machining, dimensional stabilisation | Use for machined or drawn parts that must hold dimensions and expansion match without full softening. | 380 | 580 | 28 | 178 HB | 4 % IACS |
Cold drawn bar / wire (as-drawn, ~1/2 hard) | Choose for straight, close-tolerance pins and lead wire needing higher strength and better chip control. | 560 | 720 | 15 | 21 HRC | 3.9 % IACS |
Cold rolled strip, 1/2 hard | Strip temper for stamped lids, eyelets and thermostat bimetal laminates needing some springback. | 620 | 760 | 10 | 24 HRC | 3.8 % IACS |
Cold rolled strip, full hard (≥50 % reduction) | Maximum strength/stiffness sheet condition for flat springs and shims; very limited bending. | 830 | 950 | 3 | 31 HRC | 3.9 % IACS |
Spring temper wire (hard drawn) | Hard-drawn fine wire for springy leads and coil elements where expansion match still matters. | 950 | 1,080 | 2 | 34 HRC | 3.7 % IACS |
What is Alloy 52 Annealed?
Alloy 52 Annealed is Alloy 52 in the Annealed temper — standard stocked condition for strip, sheet, rod and wire that will be formed and then glass-sealed. Alloy 52 Annealed has a yield strength of 280 MPa (40.6 ksi) and a tensile strength of 520 MPa (75.4 ksi) — weaker than 82% of nickel alloy grades. Elongation at break is 35% and the elastic modulus is 150 GPa (21.8 Msi). Alloy 52 Annealed has a density of 8.3 g/cm³ (0.3 lb/in³), lighter than 52% of nickel alloy grades. It melts at 1,425°C (2,597 °F).
Advantages
- Low embodied carbon — 7.5 kg CO₂/kg, better than 96% of nickel alloy grades
- High electrical conductivity — 4 % IACS, better than 93% of nickel alloy grades
- Forms and bends easily — 80/100, better than 91% of nickel alloy grades
- Easy to machine — 30/100, better than 90% of nickel alloy grades
Limitations
- Needs corrosion protection — 30/100, worse than 99% of nickel alloy grades
- Low stiffness — 150 GPa (21.8 Msi), worse than 95% of nickel alloy grades
- Low strength — 280 MPa (40.6 ksi), worse than 82% of nickel alloy grades
- Limited service temperature — 500°C (932 °F), worse than 78% of nickel alloy grades
Alloy 52 Annealed properties
Typical room-temperature values for Alloy 52 Annealed; 21 are specific to this condition. Other listed values are Alloy 52 reference data and may not represent this condition. Bars are the position among nickel alloy grades.
Physical3
Alloy 52 Annealed has a density of 8.3 g/cm³ (0.3 lb/in³), lighter than 52% of nickel alloy grades. It melts at 1,425°C (2,597 °F).
Mechanical15
Alloy 52 Annealed has a yield strength of 280 MPa (40.6 ksi) and a tensile strength of 520 MPa (75.4 ksi) — weaker than 82% of nickel alloy grades. Elongation at break is 35% and the elastic modulus is 150 GPa (21.8 Msi).
Thermal5
Alloy 52 Annealed is rated for continuous service to 500°C (932 °F). It conducts heat at 13.5 W/m·K (7.8 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 73% of nickel alloy grades. Thermal expansion is 9.9 µm/m·K (5.5 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
Alloy 52 Annealed conducts electricity at 4 % IACS, better than 93% of nickel alloy grades.
Chemical & Environmental2
Corrosion resistance is poor (30/100), worse than 99% of nickel alloy grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of Alloy 52 Annealed takes about 95 MJ of energy and emits 7.5 kg of CO₂ — less than 97% of nickel alloy grades. Typical recycled content is 30%.
Manufacturability7
Alloy 52 Annealed's machinability is poor (30/100, better than 90% of nickel alloy grades); weldability very good (70/100); formability very good (80/100).
Common Calculations5
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Confirm any required mill or lot documentation when quoting.
Working with Alloy 52 Annealed
Is Alloy 52 easy to machine?
Machines like an austenitic Ni-Fe alloy: gummy and work-hardening — use sharp positive-rake carbide, rigid setup, 20–40 m/min, heavy flood of sulphurised oil, avoid dwelling.
Can Alloy 52 be welded?
TIG, laser, resistance and electron-beam welding all sound with matching 52 filler; keep carbon and sulphur out of the joint and re-anneal to restore expansion behaviour.
Can Alloy 52 be formed, bent or molded?
Excellent deep-drawing, stamping and wire-drawing in the annealed state; interstage anneal at 800–950 °C in dry hydrogen or vacuum after heavy reductions.
What surface finishes work on Alloy 52?
No anodizing; use controlled oxidation (thin adherent Fe-Ni oxide) for glass wetting, or electroless/electrolytic Ni and Ni+Au plating for corrosion protection and solderability.
Alloy 52 chemical composition (wt %)
Limits by weight percent from the governing specification, written the way the spec states them — a single maximum for impurities, a range for alloying elements, and the base element as balance. Nominal is the typical mid-range value.
| Element | Spec limit (wt %) | Nominal |
|---|---|---|
| NiNi (+Co) per ASTM F30 Alloy 52; GB 4J50 specifies 49.5–50.5 Ni | 50 – 51 | 50.5 |
| Coresidual, counted with Ni | ≤ 0.5 | — |
| Mn | 0.3 – 0.6 | 0.45 |
| Si | 0.15 – 0.3 | 0.2 |
| Clow C for gas-tight sealing | ≤ 0.05 | 0.03 |
| Cr | ≤ 0.25 | — |
| Al | ≤ 0.1 | — |
| Ti | ≤ 0.1 | — |
| Mg | ≤ 0.1 | — |
| Zr | ≤ 0.1 | — |
| P | ≤ 0.03 | — |
| S | ≤ 0.03 | — |
| Fe | balance | — |
Alloy 52 Annealed — frequently asked
What is Alloy 52 Annealed used for?
Alloy 52 Annealed is typically used for glass-to-metal seals, vacuum tube components and hermetic connector pins. In short: higher expansion than Alloy 42; hard-glass sealing standard; wide temper range available.
What is the yield strength of Alloy 52 Annealed?
Alloy 52 Annealed has a typical yield strength of 280 MPa (40.6 ksi) and a tensile strength of 520 MPa (75.4 ksi) — weaker than 82% of nickel alloy grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 8 listed tempers.
Is Alloy 52 Annealed easy to machine?
Not especially — machinability is rated poor (30/100, better than 90% of nickel alloy grades). Machines like an austenitic Ni-Fe alloy: gummy and work-hardening — use sharp positive-rake carbide, rigid setup, 20–40 m/min, heavy flood of sulphurised oil, avoid dwelling.
Can Alloy 52 Annealed be welded?
Yes — weldability is rated very good (70/100). TIG, laser, resistance and electron-beam welding all sound with matching 52 filler; keep carbon and sulphur out of the joint and re-anneal to restore expansion behaviour.
What surface finishes work on Alloy 52 Annealed?
No anodizing; use controlled oxidation (thin adherent Fe-Ni oxide) for glass wetting, or electroless/electrolytic Ni and Ni+Au plating for corrosion protection and solderability.
Can Alloy 52 Annealed be formed, bent or molded?
Excellent deep-drawing, stamping and wire-drawing in the annealed state; interstage anneal at 800–950 °C in dry hydrogen or vacuum after heavy reductions.
What is the maximum service temperature of Alloy 52 Annealed?
Alloy 52 Annealed is rated for continuous use to about 500°C (932 °F). Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
Sources
- ASTM F30 — Standard Specification for Iron-Nickel Sealing Alloys — ASTM International (2018)
- ASM Handbook Vol.2 — Properties and Selection: Nonferrous Alloys and Special-Purpose Materials (Low-Expansion Alloys) — ASM International (1990)
- NILO Alloy 52 datasheet — Special Metals / Precision Castparts (2004)
- Glass Sealing Alloy 52 technical data — Carpenter Technology (2017)
- YB/T 5241 / GB/T 15018 4J50 (2019)
Property data is compiled from published supplier and standards handbooks and normalised for comparison. Nothing on this page is a certification — request mill certs, CoC or material test reports with your order.