Académique Documents
Professionnel Documents
Culture Documents
4
Kanthal or Nikrothal ?
The two main types of alloys have their own mechanical properties in the hot state. Kanthal
specific properties, with advantages and disadvan- APM™ has, however, creep strength at elevated
tages, and are supplied in many different grades temperatures in the same level as Nikrothal.
and forms.
For the furnace user, using Kanthal results in less
In general Kanthal type alloy is superior to amount of element material and also a longer life.
Nikrothal in respect of performance and life and The table below shows an example of weight sav-
is therefore nowadays a standard material choice ing obtained by using Kanthal instead of nickel-
when it comes to metallic heating elements for chromium alloys. This lower element weight will
industrial furnaces. also result in considerable cost savings regarding
support system, because fewer suspension hooks
The Nikrothal alloy may have special advantages are necessary.
if you need a heating element having very good
A 120 kW furnace equipped with ROB elements. Three elements of 40 kW each, 380 V
5
Kanthal APM™ heating material
Kanthal APM™ is a resistance material which can Creep rupture strength for industrial wire 4 mm
be used to improve the performance at high tem-
peratures, where conventional metallic elements Time, h Temperature 1000°C, MPa
are getting problems like bunching, creeping, oxide
spallation and to open up new applications where 100 5.6
metallic elements are not used today.
1000 3.4
Elongation at 1300°C element temperature Sagging test diameter 9.5 mm, 1300°C and 1400°C,
300 mm between supports
Elongation, % Sagging, mm
15
1400°C
30
10 1300°C
20
5
10
0
1400°C
1300°C
- 5 0
0 100 200 300 400 500 600 0 50 100 150
Time, h Time, h
Kanthal APM™ Kanthal® A-1 Kanthal APM™ Kanthal® A-1
6
Physical and mechanical properties
Max continuous operating temp. °C 1425 1400 1300 1300 1200 1250 1150 1100
Nominal composition, % Cr 22 22 22 22 20 30 15 20
Al 5.8 5.8 5.3 4.8 – – – –
Fe balance balance balance balance – 5% balance balance
Ni – – – – balance balance 60 35
Resistivity at 20°C, Ωmm-2m-1 1.45 1.45 1.39 1.35 1.09 1.18 1.11 1.04
Density, g/cm3 7.10 7.10 7.15 7.25 8.3 8.1 8.2 7.9
Coefficient of thermal 20–750°C 14 × 10 14 × 10 14 × 10 14 × 10 16 × 10 16 × 10 16 × 10 18 × 10-6
-6 -6 -6 -6 -6 -6 -6
expansion, K-1 20–1000°C 15 × 10-6 15 × 10-6 15 × 10-6 15 × 10-6 17 × 10-6 17 × 10-6 17 × 10-6 19 × 10-6
Thermal conductivity at 20°C,
13 13 13 13 15 13 13 13
W m-1 K-1
Specific heat capacity at 20°C,
0.46 0.46 0.46 0.46 0.46 0.46 0.46 0.50
KJ kg-1 K-1
Melting point, °C 1500 1500 1500 1500 1400 1380 1390 1390
Tensile strength, N mm-2 680 680 680 650 810 820 730 675
Yield point, N mm-2 470 475 475 450 420 430 370 340
Elongation at rupture, % 20 18 18 18 30 30 35 35
Emissivity, fully oxidized condition 0.70 0.70 0.70 0.70 0.88 0.88 0.88 0.88
* The values given apply for wire sizes of 4 mm diameter for the Kanthal alloys and of 1 mm for the Nikrothal alloys
7
Element surface load
Since Kanthal® alloys can be operated at higher Maximum recommended loop length:
temperatures than Nikrothal® alloys, a higher < 900°C 300 mm
surface load can be accepted without jeopardiz- 1000°C 250 mm
ing element life. Element design is also of great 1100°C 200 mm
importance. The more freely radiating the element 1200°C 150 mm
form, the higher the maximum surface load can be. 1300°C 100 mm
Therefore the ROB (rod over bend) type element
(corrugated heavy wire, mounted on the surface), For finer wire diameters and smaller strip thick-
can be loaded the highest, followed by the corru- nesses lower surface loads and shorter loop lengths
gated strip element. must be chosen to avoid element deformation and
subsequent shorter element life.
Coil elements on ceramic tubes can be loaded
higher than coil elements in grooves. The values in Element type c:
the diagrams on page 9 are given for the following Wire element on ceramic tube. Wire diameter
design conditions: minimum 3 mm.
8
Note: s = (3 – 6) d s = (2 – 3) d
The diagrams are valid
for thyristor control. D= D=
For on-off control lower (10 – 14) d (5 – 8) d
surface loads should be
chosen (about - 20%). d d
Maximum recommended surface loads for Kanthal A-1, Kanthal AF and Kanthal APM alloys in industrial furnaces
Surface load, W/cm2
12
10
800 850 900 950 1000 1050 1100 1150 1200 1250 1300
Furnace temperature, °C
9
Operating life and maximum permissible temperature
500
400
300
200
100
Kanthal APM™ Kanthal® AF Kanthal A-1 Kanthal D Nikrothal® 80 Nikrothal 60 Nikrothal 40
10
increased, more alloying element is available per heating elements should be carried out at regular
surface unit to form a new oxide. Thus, at given intervals.
temperature, thicker wires will give a longer life
than thinner wires. Accordingly, for strip elements, Avoid corrosion from
increased thickness gives a longer life. As a general solid substances, fluids and gases
rule, we recommend minimum 3 mm wire diameter Impurities in the furnace atmosphere, for instance
and 2 mm strip thickness. oil, dust, volatiles or carbon deposits can damage
the heating elements.
Adjust the element temperature
to the furnace atmosphere Sulphur is harmful to all nickel alloys. Chlorine
The table shows some common furnace atmo- in different forms will attack both Kanthal and
spheres and their influence on the maximum Nikrothal alloys. Splashes of molten metal or salt
operating temperature of the heating elements. may also damage the heating elements.
Nikrothal should not be used in furnaces having a
CO-containing protective gas atmosphere due to
the risk of “green rot” at 800– 950°C.
11
Key data for Kanthal® elements
Wire elements
Strip thickness, t, mm – – – –
12
Strip elements
Metallic staples Ceramic tubes Ceramic cup locks Ceramic bushes Ceramic tubes Grooves
50 60 60 60 60 20–40
2.0 – 5.0 ≥ 5.0 – – – –
– – – – – –
40 40 50 50 50 1.5 w
13
Tubothal® –
the most powerful metallic element system
Tubothal® is an ideal electric element used in com- the full in new furnaces and conversions from tra-
bination with powder metallurgy tubes because of ditional radiant tube designs. In both cases, higher
its great advantages, such as – very high power – power and/or higher temperatures can be obtained,
long life – low weight – easy to design to existing or a similar output can be achieved with fewer
power controls and supply. Combined with Kanthal assemblies installed, leading to improved furnace
APM™ tubes, a “maintenance free system” is flexibility and lower costs. The longer life obtained
obtained with high reliability and with no need to with the Tubothal system, ensures highly reliable
remove elements, clean or rotate tubes, if correctly production and uninterrupted furnace operation.
designed.
Tubothal element assemblies are available in a
The variety of applications where the Tubothal sys- wide range of standard diameters, to suit the sizes
tem can be used is vast. The main areas of use are of tubes currently available. In principle, the length
in heat treatment, aluminium and steel industry of element is virtually unlimited, but the practi-
furnaces. calities of packing, shipping and installation may
impose restrictions on the usable length. Tubothal
The high loading capabilities of both Tubothal ele- elements are suitable for both horizontal and verti-
ments and Kanthal APM tubes can be exploited to cal installations.
Maximum design power outputs for all standard element diameters at different furnace temperatures
Power output, kW
70
90 120 140
110 130
60 80
120
100
70 110
90
50 100
60 80
90
40 70 80
50
60 70
30 40 60
50
50
30 40
20 40
30
20 30
20
10 20
10
10 10
Element diameter: Ø 170 mm Ø 154 mm Ø 124 mm Ø 110 mm Ø 80 mm Ø 68 mm
14
Normally, horizontal tubes are simply supported Power supply
at both ends. With very long radiant tubes, it may Although individual elements can operate at a
be necessary to provide supports along the tube voltage lower than that of the supply. In multiple
length. Kanthal APM rod has proved ideal for fab- element installations, groups of elements can be
ricating suitable support systems, hooks, etc. series – connected directly to the main voltage
without the need of transformers. There is no
Higher power output significant ageing of the Kanthal APM elements,
Tubothal elements will operate at a far higher so a variable voltage supply is not required. On/
power output than standard designs of radiant off control can be used, but three-term control,
tube elements. A single Tubothal assembly may be using fast or slow, cycle fired thyristors, will ensure
capable of replacing up to three heaters of a more a more stable element temperature and a longer
conventional design, leading to major savings in element life, as well as offering better control of the
replacement and maintenance costs. furnace temperature.
15
Tubothal® benefits
• Very high power levels
• “Maintenance free”, longer service
intervals
• Low ageing
• Low element weight
• Low thermal mass
• Standardised product for fast delivery
and reliability
• Design flexibility
• Kanthal® powder metallurgy tubes can
also be used for gas heated solutions
16
Kanthal® A-1 and Kanthal APM™
°C 20 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800 900 1000 1100 1200 1300 1400
Ct 1.00 1.00 1.00 1.00 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.02 1.03 1.03 1.04 1.04 1.04 1.04 1.05
Wire standard stock items (at 20°C) Strip standard sizes (at 20°C)
For minor dimensions please contact Sandvik. Contact information can be found on www.kanthal.com
17
Kanthal® AF
°C 20 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800 900 1000 1100 1200 1300 1400
Ct 1.00 1.00 1.01 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.04 1.05 1.05 1.06 1.06 1.06 1.06 1.07
Wire standard stock items (at 20°C) Strip standard sizes (at 20°C)
For minor dimensions please contact Sandvik. Contact information can be found on www.kanthal.com
18
Kanthal D
°C 20 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800 900 1000 1100 1200 1300
Ct 1.00 1.00 1.01 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.06 1.07 1.07 1.08 1.08
Wire standard stock items (at 20°C) Strip standard sizes (at 20°C)
For minor dimensions please contact Sandvik. Contact information can be found on www.kanthal.com
19
Nikrothal® 80
°C 20 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800 900 1000 1100 1200
Ct 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.04 1.04 1.04 1.04 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07
Wire standard stock items (at 20°C) Strip standard sizes (at 20°C)
For minor dimensions please contact Sandvik. Contact information can be found on www.kanthal.com
20
Nikrothal 70
°C 20 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800 900 1000 1100 1200
Ct 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.05 1.04 1.04 1.04 1.05 1.05 1.06
Wire on special order only (at 20°C) Strip standard sizes (at 20°C)
For minor dimensions please contact Sandvik. Contact information can be found on www.kanthal.com
21
Terminals
Resistance and weight data
8 0.0288 357
10 0.0185 558
12 0.0128 803
16 0.0072 1428
Kanthal D
8 0.0269 364
10 0.0172 569
12 0.0119 820
16 0.0067 1460
20 0.0043 2280
Nikrothal® 80
8 0.0217 417
10 0.0172 652
12 0.0119 939
16 0.0067 1670
20 0.0043 2610
Nikrothal 40
8 0.0207 397
10 0.0132 620
12 0.0092 893
22
Sandvik Group
The Sandvik Group is a global high technology enterprise with 47,000 employees in 130 countries. Sandvik’s operations are concentrated
on three core businesses: Sandvik Tooling, Sandvik Mining and Construction and Sandvik Materials Technology – areas in which the group
holds leading global positions in selected niches.
Kanthal is a Sandvik owned brand, under which world class heating technology products and solutions are offered. Sandvik, Kanthal,
Nikrothal, Tubothal and Kanthal APM are trademarks owned by Sandvik Intellectual Property AB.
Quality management
Sandvik Materials Technology has quality management systems approved by internationally recognized organizations. We hold, for example,
the ASME Quality Systems Certificate as a materials organization, approval to ISO 9001, ISO/TS 16949, ISO 17025, and PED 97/23/EC, as
well as product approvals from TÜV, JIS and Lloyd’s Register.
Recommendations are for guidance only, and the suitability of a material for a specific application can be confirmed only when we know
the actual service conditions. Continuous development may necessitate changes in technical data without notice.
This printed matter is only valid for Sandvik material. Other material, covering the same international specifications, does not necessarily
comply with the mechanical and corrosion properties presented in this printed matter.
S-KA041-B-ENG, 1-A-5B-3UK, 09.2011. Printed in Sweden.