Nickel Alloy K403-HIP (Hot isostatic pressed)
Print state
Choose for high-reliability rotating blades: hot isostatic pressing at ~1200 °C / 120–150 MPa / 4 h closes casting microporosity, raising elongation to 7.5 % and both fatigue and creep life.
Values for the HIP condition
Other K403 tempers and conditions
K403 is listed in 4 conditions; see the grade overview at K403.
Compare all 4 conditionsHide
| Condition · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness | Conductivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
FDefault As fabricated | Pick as the default delivery state for vacuum investment cast turbine blades and nozzle guide vanes used straight from the mould, accepting 5 % elongation and very poor machinability (score 12). | 830 | 940 | 5 | 38 HRC | 1.3 % IACS |
Solution treated 1210 °C / 4 h, air cool | Use when dendritic segregation must be homogenised and γ′ size adjusted by solution treatment at 1210 °C / 4 h and air cool, lifting elongation to 6 % and giving more consistent creep and ductility. | 840 | 960 | 6 | 39 HRC | 1.3 % IACS |
HIPThis page Hot isostatic pressed | Choose for high-reliability rotating blades: hot isostatic pressing at ~1200 °C / 120–150 MPa / 4 h closes casting microporosity, raising elongation to 7.5 % and both fatigue and creep life. | 850 | 985 | 7.5 | 39 HRC | 1.3 % IACS |
Hot isostatic pressed, solution treated and aged | Specify for critical long-life hot-section parts; densification followed by solution treatment and ageing refines γ′ morphology for the best overall balance of 1000 MPa tensile and 8 % elongation. | 865 | 1,000 | 8 | 40 HRC | 1.3 % IACS |
What is K403-HIP?
K403-HIP is K403 in the HIP condition — choose for high-reliability rotating blades: hot isostatic pressing at ~1200 °C / 120–150 MPa / 4 h closes casting microporosity, raising elongation to 7.5 % and both fatigue and creep life. K403-HIP has a yield strength of 850 MPa (123 ksi) and a tensile strength of 985 MPa (143 ksi) — stronger than 89% of nickel alloy grades. Elongation at break is 7.5% and the elastic modulus is 202 GPa (29.3 Msi). K403-HIP has a density of 8.2 g/cm³ (0.296 lb/in³), lighter than 63% of nickel alloy grades. It melts at 1,290°C (2,354 °F). F is the default condition FabDigit quotes; HIP is available on request or by drawing note.
Advantages
- High strength — 850 MPa (123 ksi), better than 89% of nickel alloy grades
Limitations
- Limited formability — 4/100, worse than 93% of nickel alloy grades
- Difficult to weld — 12/100, worse than 90% of nickel alloy grades
- Limited ductility — 7.5%, worse than 87% of nickel alloy grades
- Low fracture toughness — 68 MPa·√m (61.9 ksi·√in), worse than 86% of nickel alloy grades
- Hard to polish — 60/100, worse than 84% of nickel alloy grades
K403-HIP properties
Typical room-temperature values for K403-HIP; 22 are specific to this condition. Other listed values are K403 reference data and may not represent this condition. Bars are the position among nickel alloy grades.
Physical3
K403-HIP has a density of 8.2 g/cm³ (0.296 lb/in³), lighter than 63% of nickel alloy grades. It melts at 1,290°C (2,354 °F).
Mechanical16
K403-HIP has a yield strength of 850 MPa (123 ksi) and a tensile strength of 985 MPa (143 ksi) — stronger than 89% of nickel alloy grades. Elongation at break is 7.5% and the elastic modulus is 202 GPa (29.3 Msi).
Thermal6
K403-HIP is rated for continuous service to 950°C (1,742 °F). It conducts heat at 11 W/m·K (6.36 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 60% of nickel alloy grades. Thermal expansion is 11.6 µm/m·K (6.44 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
K403-HIP conducts electricity at 1.3 % IACS, worse than 89% of nickel alloy grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is very good (72/100), worse than 71% of nickel alloy grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of K403-HIP takes about 230 MJ of energy and emits 14.5 kg of CO₂ — more than 91% of nickel alloy grades. Typical recycled content is 25%.
Manufacturability8
K403-HIP's machinability is not recommended (12/100, worse than 86% of nickel alloy grades); weldability not recommended (12/100); formability not recommended (4/100).
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Confirm any required mill or lot documentation when quoting.
Working with K403-HIP
Is K403 easy to machine?
Extremely difficult to cut: airfoil surfaces are produced near net shape by precision casting, and fir-tree roots by creep-feed grinding, EDM or ECM. For turning and milling use solid carbide or ceramic tooling at low speed with heavy feed and ample high-pressure coolant.
Can K403 be welded?
Poor fusion weldability, as Al+Ti above 8% promotes strain-age cracking. Repair is limited to preheated vacuum brazing or laser/micro-plasma cladding followed immediately by heat treatment, and must be qualified under the applicable airworthiness repair procedure.
Can K403 be formed, bent or molded?
Vacuum induction melted master alloy is vacuum investment cast in ceramic shells with controlled pouring and cooling rates to suppress shrinkage porosity; HIP is applied for densification when required. The alloy cannot be forged or cold formed.
What surface finishes work on K403?
The normal route is HIP, grit blasting or chemical cleaning, then fluorescent penetrant and X-ray inspection, followed by aluminide or MCrAlY coating. Film-cooling holes are produced by EDM or laser drilling.
K403 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 |
|---|---|---|
| C | 0.11 – 0.18 | 0.15 |
| Cr | 10 – 12 | 11 |
| Co | 4.5 – 6 | 5.2 |
| W | 4.8 – 5.5 | 5.1 |
| Mo | 3.8 – 4.5 | 4.1 |
| Algamma-prime forming element | 5.3 – 5.9 | 5.6 |
| Tigamma-prime forming element | 2.3 – 2.9 | 2.6 |
| Bgrain boundary strengthening | 0.01 – 0.02 | 0.02 |
| Zr | ≤ 0.06 | 0.03 |
| Cetrace rare earth, melt purification | ≤ 0.02 | — |
| Feimpurity | ≤ 2 | — |
| Mnimpurity | ≤ 0.4 | — |
| Siimpurity | ≤ 0.4 | — |
| Pimpurity | ≤ 0.02 | — |
| Simpurity | ≤ 0.01 | — |
| Ni | balance | — |
K403-HIP — frequently asked
What is K403-HIP used for?
K403-HIP is typically used for turbine blades, guide vanes and industrial gas turbine hot parts. In short: equiaxed 950 °C blade alloy; cast near-net airfoils; very low machinability.
What is the yield strength of K403-HIP?
K403-HIP has a typical yield strength of 850 MPa (123 ksi) and a tensile strength of 985 MPa (143 ksi) — stronger than 89% of nickel alloy grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 4 listed tempers.
Is K403-HIP easy to machine?
Not especially — machinability is rated not recommended (12/100, worse than 86% of nickel alloy grades). Extremely difficult to cut: airfoil surfaces are produced near net shape by precision casting, and fir-tree roots by creep-feed grinding, EDM or ECM. For turning and milling use solid carbide or ceramic tooling at low speed with heavy feed and ample high-pressure coolant.
Can K403-HIP be welded?
Not readily — weldability is rated not recommended (12/100). Poor fusion weldability, as Al+Ti above 8% promotes strain-age cracking. Repair is limited to preheated vacuum brazing or laser/micro-plasma cladding followed immediately by heat treatment, and must be qualified under the applicable airworthiness repair procedure.
What surface finishes work on K403-HIP?
The normal route is HIP, grit blasting or chemical cleaning, then fluorescent penetrant and X-ray inspection, followed by aluminide or MCrAlY coating. Film-cooling holes are produced by EDM or laser drilling.
Can K403-HIP be formed, bent or molded?
Vacuum induction melted master alloy is vacuum investment cast in ceramic shells with controlled pouring and cooling rates to suppress shrinkage porosity; HIP is applied for densification when required. The alloy cannot be forged or cold formed.
What is the maximum service temperature of K403-HIP?
K403-HIP is rated for continuous use to about 950°C (1,742 °F). Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
What is the difference between K403-F and K403-HIP?
F is the default condition — pick as the default delivery state for vacuum investment cast turbine blades and nozzle guide vanes used straight from the mould, accepting 5 % elongation and very poor machinability (score 12). HIP: choose for high-reliability rotating blades: hot isostatic pressing at ~1200 °C / 120–150 MPa / 4 h closes casting microporosity, raising elongation to 7.5 % and both fatigue and creep life. Yield strength is 830 MPa in F versus 850 MPa in HIP.
Sources
- ASM Handbook Vol.1 — Properties and Selection: Irons, Steels, and High-Performance Alloys (cast Ni superalloys) — ASM International (1990)
- Superalloys II (C.T. Sims et al.) — Wiley (1987)
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.