{ "spore": "profile", "id": "nickel-aluminide", "spore_version": "0.2", "family": "nickel-alloys", "name": "Nickel aluminide", "abbreviation": "Ni3Al, NiAl", "role": "structural intermetallic", "category": "metals", "type": "nickel-superalloys", "summary": "Nickel aluminides are ordered intermetallic compounds of nickel and aluminium. Ni3Al (gamma-prime, L1_2 structure) is the strengthening phase of nickel-based superalloys and is also used alone as a turbine blade and vane alloy, with a review quoting density 7.5 g/cm3 and a Young's modulus of 200 GPa for micro and nano forms. NiAl (beta, B2 structure) has excellent oxidation resistance, but NASA finds it less ductile than leaner-aluminium alloys, and its scale fails when aluminium falls below about 40 at percent. No space-environment or flight data were found for either compound.\n", "best_for": "High-temperature strength and oxidation resistance for turbine parts and hot-section coatings, where the material is run inside its stated temperature range", "weakest_at": "Lower ductility of stoichiometric NiAl (NASA), no sourced ductility value for Ni3Al, and no sourced melting point or flight record for either compound", "identity": { "formula": "Ni3Al (gamma-prime, L1_2 structure) and NiAl (beta, B2 structure): ordered intermetallic compounds of nickel and aluminium", "designations": [], "source": "wiki-nickel-aluminide", "where": "Comparison table, Crystal structure (Strukturbericht) row: L12 for Ni3Al, B2 for NiAl (structure labels only; no numbers taken from this page)" }, "tags": { "environments": [], "stresses": [ "extreme-heat", "thermal-cycling" ], "applications": [ "propulsion-and-tanks", "electronics-and-chips" ] }, "properties": [ { "benchmark": "density", "label": "Density, Ni3Al (micro and nano forms)", "value": 7.5, "bound": "exact", "unit": "g/cm3", "scope": "material", "conditions": { "material": "Ni3Al, micro and nano forms as tabulated", "temperature": "not stated" }, "method": "Value printed in Table 2 of an open review (Jozwik, Polkowski and Bojar, 2015) for micro and nano Ni3Al", "status": "ground", "source": "jozwik2015", "where": "Table 2, Section 3.2, density row", "source_detail": { "title": "Applications of Ni3Al Based Intermetallic Alloys: Current Stage and Potential Perspectives", "id": "doi:10.3390/ma8052537 (Materials 8, 2537-2568, PMC5455558)", "url": "https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5455558/", "year": 2015, "kind": "paper", "license": "MDPI open access (licence not read in this run)" } }, { "benchmark": "elastic_modulus", "label": "Young's modulus, Ni3Al (micro and nano forms)", "value": 200, "bound": "exact", "unit": "GPa", "scope": "material", "conditions": { "material": "Ni3Al, micro and nano forms as tabulated", "temperature": "not stated" }, "method": "Value printed in Table 2 of an open review (Jozwik, Polkowski and Bojar, 2015)", "status": "ground", "source": "jozwik2015", "where": "Table 2, Section 3.2, Young's modulus row", "source_detail": { "title": "Applications of Ni3Al Based Intermetallic Alloys: Current Stage and Potential Perspectives", "id": "doi:10.3390/ma8052537 (Materials 8, 2537-2568, PMC5455558)", "url": "https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5455558/", "year": 2015, "kind": "paper", "license": "MDPI open access (licence not read in this run)" } }, { "benchmark": "ultimate_tensile_strength", "label": "Tensile strength, Ni3Al micro form", "value": 2300, "bound": "exact", "unit": "MPa", "scope": "material", "conditions": { "form": "micro form of Ni3Al as tabulated", "temperature": "not stated" }, "method": "Value printed in Table 2 of an open review (Jozwik, Polkowski and Bojar, 2015)", "status": "ground", "source": "jozwik2015", "where": "Table 2, Section 3.2, tensile strength row, micro", "source_detail": { "title": "Applications of Ni3Al Based Intermetallic Alloys: Current Stage and Potential Perspectives", "id": "doi:10.3390/ma8052537 (Materials 8, 2537-2568, PMC5455558)", "url": "https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5455558/", "year": 2015, "kind": "paper", "license": "MDPI open access (licence not read in this run)" } }, { "benchmark": "ultimate_tensile_strength", "label": "Tensile strength, Ni3Al nano form", "value": 2900, "bound": "exact", "unit": "MPa", "scope": "material", "conditions": { "form": "nano form of Ni3Al as tabulated", "temperature": "not stated" }, "method": "Value printed in Table 2 of an open review (Jozwik, Polkowski and Bojar, 2015)", "status": "ground", "source": "jozwik2015", "where": "Table 2, Section 3.2, tensile strength row, nano", "source_detail": { "title": "Applications of Ni3Al Based Intermetallic Alloys: Current Stage and Potential Perspectives", "id": "doi:10.3390/ma8052537 (Materials 8, 2537-2568, PMC5455558)", "url": "https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5455558/", "year": 2015, "kind": "paper", "license": "MDPI open access (licence not read in this run)" } }, { "benchmark": "specific_stiffness", "label": "Specific stiffness, Ni3Al (micro and nano forms)", "value": 26, "bound": "exact", "unit": "GN/kg·m", "scope": "material", "conditions": { "material": "Ni3Al, micro and nano forms as tabulated", "temperature": "not stated" }, "method": "Value printed in Table 2 of an open review (Jozwik, Polkowski and Bojar, 2015); the review gives the same figure for both forms", "status": "ground", "source": "jozwik2015", "where": "Table 2, Section 3.2, specific stiffness row", "source_detail": { "title": "Applications of Ni3Al Based Intermetallic Alloys: Current Stage and Potential Perspectives", "id": "doi:10.3390/ma8052537 (Materials 8, 2537-2568, PMC5455558)", "url": "https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5455558/", "year": 2015, "kind": "paper", "license": "MDPI open access (licence not read in this run)" } }, { "benchmark": "specific_strength", "label": "Specific strength, Ni3Al micro form", "value": 0.31, "bound": "exact", "unit": "MN/kg·m", "scope": "material", "conditions": { "form": "micro form of Ni3Al as tabulated", "temperature": "not stated" }, "method": "Value printed in Table 2 of an open review (Jozwik, Polkowski and Bojar, 2015)", "status": "ground", "source": "jozwik2015", "where": "Table 2, Section 3.2, specific strength row, micro", "source_detail": { "title": "Applications of Ni3Al Based Intermetallic Alloys: Current Stage and Potential Perspectives", "id": "doi:10.3390/ma8052537 (Materials 8, 2537-2568, PMC5455558)", "url": "https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5455558/", "year": 2015, "kind": "paper", "license": "MDPI open access (licence not read in this run)" } }, { "benchmark": "specific_strength", "label": "Specific strength, Ni3Al nano form", "value": 0.39, "bound": "exact", "unit": "MN/kg·m", "scope": "material", "conditions": { "form": "nano form of Ni3Al as tabulated", "temperature": "not stated" }, "method": "Value printed in Table 2 of an open review (Jozwik, Polkowski and Bojar, 2015)", "status": "ground", "source": "jozwik2015", "where": "Table 2, Section 3.2, specific strength row, nano", "source_detail": { "title": "Applications of Ni3Al Based Intermetallic Alloys: Current Stage and Potential Perspectives", "id": "doi:10.3390/ma8052537 (Materials 8, 2537-2568, PMC5455558)", "url": "https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5455558/", "year": 2015, "kind": "paper", "license": "MDPI open access (licence not read in this run)" } }, { "benchmark": "stress_rupture_strength", "label": "Stress-rupture strength, IC6 Ni3Al-based alloy", "value": 100, "bound": "exact", "unit": "MPa", "scope": "material", "conditions": { "alloy": "IC6, a Ni3Al-based blade and vane alloy", "temperature": "1100 °C", "time": "100 h" }, "method": "Value printed in Section 3.1.1 of an open review (Jozwik, Polkowski and Bojar, 2015)", "status": "ground", "source": "jozwik2015", "where": "Section 3.1.1, IC6 stress-rupture paragraph", "source_detail": { "title": "Applications of Ni3Al Based Intermetallic Alloys: Current Stage and Potential Perspectives", "id": "doi:10.3390/ma8052537 (Materials 8, 2537-2568, PMC5455558)", "url": "https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5455558/", "year": 2015, "kind": "paper", "license": "MDPI open access (licence not read in this run)" } }, { "benchmark": "max_service_temp", "label": "Service temperature, newer Ni3Al-based alloys", "value": 1373, "bound": "exact", "unit": "K", "scope": "material", "conditions": { "alloys": "IC6CX, IC10 and VKNA, as named in the review" }, "method": "Value printed in Section 3.1.1 of an open review (Jozwik, Polkowski and Bojar, 2015)", "status": "ground", "source": "jozwik2015", "where": "Section 3.1.1, service temperature for newer alloys (given in kelvin in the review)", "source_detail": { "title": "Applications of Ni3Al Based Intermetallic Alloys: Current Stage and Potential Perspectives", "id": "doi:10.3390/ma8052537 (Materials 8, 2537-2568, PMC5455558)", "url": "https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5455558/", "year": 2015, "kind": "paper", "license": "MDPI open access (licence not read in this run)" } }, { "benchmark": "max_service_temp", "label": "Operating range upper limit, IC6 blades and vanes", "value": 1100, "bound": "exact", "unit": "°C", "scope": "material", "conditions": { "alloy": "IC6 blades and vanes", "note": "the review gives the range 1050 to 1100 °C; 1100 °C is the upper limit" }, "method": "Value printed in Section 3.1.1 of an open review (Jozwik, Polkowski and Bojar, 2015)", "status": "ground", "source": "jozwik2015", "where": "Section 3.1.1, IC6 operating range", "source_detail": { "title": "Applications of Ni3Al Based Intermetallic Alloys: Current Stage and Potential Perspectives", "id": "doi:10.3390/ma8052537 (Materials 8, 2537-2568, PMC5455558)", "url": "https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5455558/", "year": 2015, "kind": "paper", "license": "MDPI open access (licence not read in this run)" } }, { "benchmark": "max_service_temp", "label": "Working temperature, Ni3Al thin foils", "value": 1300, "bound": "exact", "unit": "°C", "scope": "material", "conditions": { "form": "thin foils used in MEMS and MECS parts" }, "method": "Value printed in Section 3.2 of an open review (Jozwik, Polkowski and Bojar, 2015)", "status": "ground", "source": "jozwik2015", "where": "Section 3.2, thin foils paragraph", "source_detail": { "title": "Applications of Ni3Al Based Intermetallic Alloys: Current Stage and Potential Perspectives", "id": "doi:10.3390/ma8052537 (Materials 8, 2537-2568, PMC5455558)", "url": "https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5455558/", "year": 2015, "kind": "paper", "license": "MDPI open access (licence not read in this run)" } }, { "benchmark": "activation_energy_isothermal_oxidation", "label": "Activation energy, isothermal oxidation, Ni-50.2 at percent Al with 0.04 at percent Zr", "value": 60.8, "bound": "exact", "unit": "kcal/mole/deg", "scope": "material", "conditions": { "alloy": "beta-NiAl, Ni-50.2 at percent Al with 0.04 at percent Zr (report label p50.2+)", "temperature_range": "1100 to 1400 °C, isothermal", "note": "the report prints the unit as kcal/mole/deg" }, "method": "Arrhenius fit of parabolic growth rate constants, printed in Table 11 of the NASA Lewis report", "status": "ground", "source": "doychak1988", "where": "Table 11, Activation Energies for Isothermal Oxidation, row p50.2+", "source_detail": { "title": "The Oxidation of Ni-Rich Ni-Al Intermetallics (NASA Technical Memorandum 101455)", "id": "NASA TM 101455; NTRS 19890005862", "url": "https://ntrs.nasa.gov/api/citations/19890005862/downloads/19890005862.pdf", "year": 1988, "kind": "report", "license": "public domain (NASA)" } }, { "benchmark": "reaction_temperature", "label": "Peritectoid formation of gamma-prime Ni3Al, Ni-Al-O system", "value": 1633, "bound": "exact", "unit": "K", "scope": "material", "conditions": { "system": "Ni-Al-O with Al2O3 present", "reaction": "gamma + beta (+ Al2O3) gives gamma-prime (+ Al2O3)", "note": "the reaction composition is not given; the report prints 1633 +/- 1 K" }, "method": "Invariant reaction temperature measured by NASA Glenn in the Ni-Al-O system", "status": "ground", "source": "copland2007", "where": "Text, paragraph on the peritectoid reaction", "source_detail": { "title": "Solidification Behavior of gamma-prime-Ni3Al Containing Alloys in the Ni-Al-O System", "id": "NTRS 20070021778 (CALPHAD XXXVI, 2007)", "url": "https://ntrs.nasa.gov/citations/20070021778", "year": 2007, "kind": "paper", "license": "public domain (NASA)" } }, { "benchmark": "reaction_temperature", "label": "Eutectic reaction, Ni-Al-O system", "value": 1640, "bound": "exact", "unit": "K", "scope": "material", "conditions": { "system": "Ni-Al-O with Al2O3 present", "reaction": "L (+ Al2O3) gives gamma + beta (+ Al2O3)", "note": "the report prints 1640 +/- 1 K; this is a reaction temperature, not the melting point of either compound" }, "method": "Invariant reaction temperature measured by NASA Glenn in the Ni-Al-O system", "status": "ground", "source": "copland2007", "where": "Text, paragraph on the eutectic reaction", "source_detail": { "title": "Solidification Behavior of gamma-prime-Ni3Al Containing Alloys in the Ni-Al-O System", "id": "NTRS 20070021778 (CALPHAD XXXVI, 2007)", "url": "https://ntrs.nasa.gov/citations/20070021778", "year": 2007, "kind": "paper", "license": "public domain (NASA)" } }, { "benchmark": "liquid_composition", "label": "Liquid composition at the eutectic, Ni-Al-O system", "value": 24.8, "bound": "exact", "unit": "at percent Al", "scope": "material", "conditions": { "system": "Ni-Al-O, unknown oxygen content", "note": "the report prints +/- 0.2 at percent Al" }, "method": "Composition printed with the eutectic reaction in NASA Glenn's Ni-Al-O study", "status": "ground", "source": "copland2007", "where": "Text, eutectic reaction paragraph", "source_detail": { "title": "Solidification Behavior of gamma-prime-Ni3Al Containing Alloys in the Ni-Al-O System", "id": "NTRS 20070021778 (CALPHAD XXXVI, 2007)", "url": "https://ntrs.nasa.gov/citations/20070021778", "year": 2007, "kind": "paper", "license": "public domain (NASA)" } } ], "corrosion": [ { "environment": "Oxygen and carbon-bearing atmospheres up to 1100 °C", "headline": "Ni3Al resists corrosion in these atmospheres up to 1100 °C, according to the review.", "effect": "The review states that the corrosion resistance of Ni3Al holds up to 1100 °C in oxygen- and carbon-bearing atmospheres. It does not give mass-gain numbers or test durations for this claim.", "rating": "low", "conditions": { "atmosphere": "oxygen- and carbon-bearing atmospheres, not further specified in the text read", "temperature_limit": "1100 °C" }, "source": "jozwik2015", "where": "Section 2, corrosion resistance statement" }, { "environment": "Isothermal and cyclic oxidation, 1000 to 1400 °C, beta-NiAl with Zr additions", "headline": "Beta-NiAl forms a protective alumina scale, and Zr additions give the best oxidation performance in NASA tests.", "effect": "NASA Lewis found that a stoichiometric NiAl alloy doped with Zr was superior to other alloy compositions in both cyclic and isothermal oxidation. The scale growth was controlled by grain-boundary diffusion, and Zr additions reduced the scale growth rates.", "rating": "low", "conditions": { "material": "beta-NiAl with Zr additions (the labelled alloys carry about 0.04 at percent Zr)", "temperature": "1000 to 1400 °C", "duration": "up to 100 h isothermal, cyclic tests as stated in the report" }, "source": "doychak1988", "where": "Abstract, Isothermal Oxidation section, Summary of Results 4)" }, { "environment": "Cyclic heating at 1200 °C, 1-hour cycles, aluminium below about 40 at percent", "headline": "Low-aluminium NiAl loses its protective scale under cyclic heating at 1200 °C.", "effect": "After 200 one-hour cycles at 1200 °C, alloys with less than about 40 at percent Al showed a sharp drop in weight change, which NASA linked to a less protective scale. The report concludes that the upper temperature limit for these alloys is below 1200 °C.", "rating": "moderate", "conditions": { "test": "200 cycles, 1 h at 1200 °C, about 20 min cooling each cycle", "material": "Zr-doped NiAl and two-phase NiAl with gamma-prime" }, "source": "doychak1988", "where": "Cyclic Oxidation section and Conclusions 2)" } ], "risks": { "hazards": [ { "text": "PubChem's ECHA summary for nickel metal (4778 company reports) lists H317 (99.9 percent), H372 (99.7 percent), H351 (72.9 percent), H350 (22.5 percent), H360F (18 percent), H341 (13.5 percent), H334 (10.3 percent) and H412 (47.2 percent), with signal word Danger. No compound-specific classification for Ni3Al or NiAl was found; the bulk-metal entry is used as the closest record.", "ghs": [ "H317", "H372", "H351", "H350", "H360F", "H341", "H334", "H412" ], "source": "pubchem-nickel", "where": "GHS Classification, ECHA C and L Notifications Summary (codes above 10 percent)" }, { "text": "The NIOSH IDLH for nickel metal and other compounds (as Ni) is 10 mg Ni/m3, based on animal acute inhalation data and described as conservative. NIOSH sets a REL of 0.015 mg/m3 TWA, and the OSHA PEL is 1 mg/m3 TWA for metal and insoluble compounds.", "ghs": [], "source": "cdc-idlh-nickel", "where": "Revised IDLH, OSHA PEL and NIOSH REL entries" } ], "failure_risks": [ { "mode": "Limited ductility of stoichiometric NiAl", "trigger": "Structural loading of stoichiometric beta-NiAl", "consequence": "NASA says leaner-aluminium alloys may gain ductility relative to stoichiometric NiAl, which is why they are studied", "severity": "moderate", "source": "doychak1988", "where": "Introduction" }, { "mode": "Loss of protective alumina scale on low-aluminium NiAl", "trigger": "Cyclic heating at 1200 °C in one-hour cycles, alloy below about 40 at percent Al", "consequence": "After 200 cycles the weight change drops sharply, which NASA links to a less protective scale; the report says such alloys have exceeded their useful life under the test", "severity": "high", "source": "doychak1988", "where": "Cyclic Oxidation section and Conclusions 2)" } ], "side_effects": [ { "text": "NiAl forms a protective alumina scale easily (NASA). Loss of that scale in cyclic tests showed as a sharp drop in weight change at about 40 at percent Al.", "affects": "Turbine parts and hot-section coatings", "source": "doychak1988", "where": "Introduction and Cyclic Oxidation section" } ], "handling": [ { "text": "Keep nickel-aluminide dust out of the breathing zone. The NIOSH REL for nickel compounds is 0.015 mg/m3 TWA and the OSHA PEL is 1 mg/m3 TWA.", "source": "cdc-idlh-nickel" }, { "text": "Do not run low-aluminium NiAl (below about 40 at percent Al) in cyclic service at 1200 °C; NASA found its useful life under the test had ended.", "source": "doychak1988" } ], "mitigations": [ { "text": "Keep aluminium at or above about 40 at percent, the level NASA found necessary for protective alumina growth in 200-cycle tests at 1200 °C.", "source": "doychak1988", "where": "Cyclic Oxidation section and Conclusions 2)" }, { "text": "Add zirconium: NASA reports that Zr additions reduce the scale growth rates of alloys in the beta-NiAl and two-phase fields.", "source": "doychak1988", "where": "Summary of Results 4)" } ] }, "uses": [ { "application": "propulsion-and-tanks", "device": "Turbine blades and vanes", "example": "IC6, a Ni3Al-based blade and vane alloy, with an operating range of 1050 to 1100 °C as printed in the review; newer alloys IC6CX, IC10 and VKNA are given up to 1373 K.", "source": "jozwik2015", "where": "Section 3.1.1" }, { "application": "electronics-and-chips", "device": "Thin-foil MEMS and MECS parts and electronic substrates", "example": "Ni3Al thin foils for MEMS and MECS parts, working up to 1300 °C; electronic substrates are given a requirement of at least 1000 °C in the review.", "source": "jozwik2015", "where": "Section 3.2 and Section 3.2.2" }, { "application": "propulsion-and-tanks", "device": "Single-crystal NiAl turbine blade (NASA reliability study)", "example": "NASA Glenn's reliability analysis of single-crystal NiAl turbine blades. The report says the blades allow a reduction of density by as much as a third without significantly sacrificing strength.", "source": "palko1995", "where": "Abstract" }, { "application": "propulsion-and-tanks", "device": "NiAl bond coat under a thermal barrier coating on Ren N5 turbine blades", "example": "A NiAl-AlN-CoCrAlY bond coat studied by NASA Glenn. The baseline TBC on Ren N5 lasted 188 plus or minus 19 cycles, and the new coat specimens stayed intact after 1000 cycles.", "source": "nasa2003-bondcoat", "where": "Test results paragraphs" } ], "supply": [ { "subject": "Nickel", "abundance": "Global nickel resources are estimated to exceed 350 million tons, with 54 percent in laterites and 35 percent in magmatic sulfide deposits (USGS)", "producers": [ { "country": "Indonesia", "share_percent": 66.7, "year": 2025 }, { "country": "Philippines", "share_percent": 6.9, "year": 2025 }, { "country": "Russia", "share_percent": 5.1, "year": 2025 }, { "country": "New Caledonia", "share_percent": 3.6, "year": 2025 }, { "country": "Canada", "share_percent": 3.6, "year": 2025 }, { "country": "China", "share_percent": 3.1, "year": 2025 }, { "country": "Brazil", "share_percent": 1.8, "year": 2025 } ], "critical_lists": [ { "list": "USGS 2025 final list of critical minerals", "listed": true } ], "recycling": "Most secondary nickel came from the nickel content of stainless-steel scrap, and most recycled nickel went into new alloys (USGS).", "substitutes": [], "source": "usgs-mcs2026-nickel", "where": "Salient Statistics, World Mine Production and Reserves (2025e), Recycling; shares calculated here from the printed 2025e world total of 3900000 t" }, { "subject": "Aluminum", "abundance": "Global bauxite resources are estimated at 55 billion to 75 billion tons, sufficient for world demand for aluminum well into the future (USGS)", "producers": [ { "country": "China", "share_percent": 60.8, "year": 2025 }, { "country": "India", "share_percent": 5.7, "year": 2025 }, { "country": "Russia", "share_percent": 5.3, "year": 2025 }, { "country": "Canada", "share_percent": 4.5, "year": 2025 }, { "country": "United Arab Emirates", "share_percent": 3.6, "year": 2025 } ], "critical_lists": [ { "list": "USGS 2025 final list of critical minerals", "listed": true } ], "recycling": "In 2025 the US recovered about 3.6 million tons of aluminum from purchased scrap, and old scrap was about 28 percent of apparent consumption (USGS).", "substitutes": [], "source": "usgs-mcs2026-aluminum", "where": "World Smelter Production and Capacity table (2025e), Recycling; shares calculated here from the printed 2025e world total of 74000 thousand tons" } ], "media": [], "documents": [ { "title": "Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026, Nickel (USGS)", "type": "report", "url": "https://pubs.usgs.gov/periodicals/mcs2026/mcs2026-nickel.pdf", "year": 2026 }, { "title": "Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026, Aluminum (USGS)", "type": "report", "url": "https://pubs.usgs.gov/periodicals/mcs2026/mcs2026-aluminum.pdf", "year": 2026 }, { "title": "Applications of Ni3Al Based Intermetallic Alloys: Current Stage and Potential Perspectives (Materials 8, 2537)", "type": "paper", "url": "https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5455558/", "year": 2015 }, { "title": "The Oxidation of Ni-Rich Ni-Al Intermetallics, NASA TM 101455", "type": "report", "url": "https://ntrs.nasa.gov/api/citations/19890005862/downloads/19890005862.pdf", "year": 1988 }, { "title": "Reliability Analysis of Single Crystal NiAl Turbine Blades, NASA TM-111138", "type": "report", "url": "https://ntrs.nasa.gov/citations/19960007500", "year": 1995 } ], "gaps": [ "Melting point of Ni3Al and NiAl: no measured value found in a source read in this run. The two Ni-Al-O reaction temperatures are recorded as properties but are not melting points.", "Yield strength against temperature for Ni3Al: the review shows it only in a figure and gives only the range 600 to 900 °C for the anomalous increase. No numbers were copied from the figure.", "Elongation, ductility and hardness of Ni3Al: no value found. The review was read for Table 2 and Sections 2, 3.1 and 3.2 only; its last 50000 characters were not read.", "Density, Young's modulus and melting point of NiAl: the NASA sources read here give no numbers, so only qualitative statements are used.", "Oxidation mass-gain values for Ni3Al: none in the review text; NASA weight-change values are in figures only.", "Corrosion in sulfur, chloride, aqueous or molten-salt environments: no source read.", "Atomic oxygen, outgassing, radiation, thermal vacuum and flight data for Ni3Al or NiAl: none found.", "Ageing and long-term microstructure stability of Ni3Al and NiAl: not sourced.", "CAS number, compound-specific SDS and PubChem record for Ni3Al or NiAl: not found. Hazards use the nickel metal record.", "Aluminium powder flammability and dust-explosion data: not sourced.", "European Commission critical raw materials list status for nickel and aluminium: not checked in this run.", "Non-canonical property names used: specific_stiffness, specific_strength, stress_rupture_strength, activation_energy_isothermal_oxidation, reaction_temperature, liquid_composition. Not in property-canon.yaml.", "Recycling of Ni3Al or NiAl parts specifically: not sourced; the supply entries cover the base metals only." ], "story": { "why": "Nickel aluminides are intermetallic compounds of nickel and aluminium that keep their strength at high temperature because their atoms order into a fixed lattice. Ni3Al is the gamma-prime phase that strengthens nickel superalloys, and a review of Ni3Al alloys describes a strength that rises with temperature between about 600 and 900 °C. NiAl is valued for its protective alumina scale, and NASA finds stoichiometric NiAl less ductile than leaner alloys.", "uses": [ { "where": "Turbine blades and vanes", "line": "The review describes Ni3Al-based blade and vane alloys, including IC6 with an operating range of 1050 to 1100 °C, and newer alloys up to 1373 K. The review presents these as Ni3Al-based alloys." }, { "where": "Thin-foil MEMS parts", "line": "The review describes Ni3Al thin foils for MEMS and MECS parts working up to 1300 °C, and electronic substrates that need at least 1000 °C." }, { "where": "NiAl bond coats for turbine blades", "line": "A NASA Glenn study of a NiAl-AlN-CoCrAlY bond coat on Ren N5 blades reported a baseline thermal barrier coating life of 188 plus or minus 19 cycles, and a coat whose specimens stayed intact after 1000 cycles." } ], "can_do": [ { "label": "Density", "line": "A review gives Ni3Al a density of 7.5 g/cm3 for micro and nano forms. No density for NiAl was found in the sources read.", "benchmark": "density", "scope": "material", "value": "7.5 g/cm3" }, { "label": "Stiffness", "line": "Young's modulus of 200 GPa is printed for Ni3Al in the same review. The review gives no value for NiAl's stiffness.", "benchmark": "elastic_modulus", "scope": "material", "value": "200 GPa" }, { "label": "Service temperature", "line": "Newer Ni3Al-based blade and vane alloys are given a service temperature of up to 1373 K, which is about 1100 °C. The review gives this limit as printed; no creep or life data were read for it.", "benchmark": "max_service_temp", "scope": "material", "value": "Up to 1373 K" }, { "label": "Oxidation", "line": "NASA Lewis measured an isothermal oxidation activation energy of 60.8 kcal/mole/deg for beta-NiAl with 0.04 at percent Zr, in the 1100 to 1400 °C range. Zr doping reduces scale growth, but the value is for NiAl, not Ni3Al.", "benchmark": "activation_energy_isothermal_oxidation", "scope": "material", "value": "60.8 kcal/mole/deg" } ], "compare": "Ni3Al is the gamma-prime phase that strengthens nickel superalloys, and the review presents it as a blade and vane alloy in its own right. NiAl is valued in the NASA studies mainly for its oxidation resistance, and NASA finds it less ductile than leaner-aluminium alloys. The table compares them on properties the sources give.", "compare_rows": [ { "label": "Density", "benchmark": "density", "scope": "material" }, { "label": "Service temperature", "benchmark": "max_service_temp", "scope": "material" }, { "label": "Tensile strength", "benchmark": "ultimate_tensile_strength", "scope": "material" } ], "handling": [ "Keep dust below the NIOSH REL of 0.015 mg/m3 for nickel compounds and the OSHA PEL of 1 mg/m3.", "Do not run NiAl with less than about 40 at percent Al in cyclic service at 1200 °C.", "Use zirconium doping to slow scale growth, as NASA Lewis found." ], "good_for": [ "Turbine blades and vanes that run near 1100 °C. The review gives a 1050 to 1100 °C operating range for IC6.", "Oxidation-resistant hot-section coatings. The NiAl-AlN-CoCrAlY bond coat studied by NASA Glenn stayed intact on test specimens after 1000 cycles." ], "watch_out": [ "Lower ductility for stoichiometric NiAl (NASA), and no sourced ductility value for Ni3Al.", "Low-aluminium NiAl loses its scale under cyclic heating at 1200 °C.", "No melting point, flight record or space-environment data were found for either compound." ], "verdict": "Nickel aluminides are strong, oxidation-resistant intermetallics for hot parts. The Ni3Al figures here are the strongest sourced ones, and NiAl needs enough aluminium to keep its scale. There is no space record and no sourced melting point.", "recipe": { "line": "Ni3Al is an ordered compound with three nickel atoms for each aluminium atom, and NiAl has one of each. The gamma-prime Ni3Al phase is the strengthening precipitate in nickel-based superalloys.", "parts": [ { "name": "Nickel", "symbol": "Ni", "role": "The base metal, which forms the ordered lattice with aluminium and gives the compounds their high-temperature strength." }, { "name": "Aluminium", "symbol": "Al", "role": "Forms the protective alumina scale on the surface in oxidizing service; lowering it below about 40 at percent weakens that scale in NASA's tests." } ] }, "risk_groups": [ { "title": "For people", "lead": "No hazard record for Ni3Al or NiAl was found, so the nickel metal classification is used. Nickel metal is a skin sensitiser and is classed as a possible carcinogen.", "points": [ { "label": "Skin", "line": "The ECHA summary lists H317 (May cause an allergic skin reaction) for 99.9 percent of company reports." }, { "label": "Dust", "line": "NIOSH gives an IDLH of 10 mg Ni/m3 and a REL of 0.015 mg/m3 TWA for nickel metal and compounds." }, { "label": "Cancer", "line": "The ECHA summary lists H351 (Suspected of causing cancer) for 72.9 percent of reports." } ], "level": 2, "verdict": "Nickel sensitiser and possible carcinogen" }, { "title": "If the part is heated and cycled", "lead": "These results come from laboratory cyclic tests, not from flight or field service.", "points": [ { "label": "Scale", "line": "After 200 one-hour cycles at 1200 °C, NiAl with less than about 40 at percent Al lost protection, according to NASA Lewis." }, { "label": "Low temperature", "line": "NASA says leaner-aluminium NiAl alloys may gain ductility relative to stoichiometric NiAl, which is why they are studied." } ], "level": 1, "verdict": "Low-aluminium NiAl loses its scale at 1200 C" }, { "title": "Handling and storage", "points": [ { "label": "Exposure", "line": "Keep dust below the NIOSH REL of 0.015 mg/m3 and the OSHA PEL of 1 mg/m3 for nickel compounds." } ], "level": 1, "verdict": "Dust controlled by nickel exposure limits" } ] }, "updated": "2026-10-26", "review": { "status": "draft", "method": "assistant", "checked_values": 15, "unreachable": 0, "caveats": 0, "note": "Written by an AI assistant on 2026-10-26 from pages fetched in this run. Values are as printed in the cited sources; the melting point of Ni3Al and NiAl is not sourced." }, "sources": { "jozwik2015": { "title": "Applications of Ni3Al Based Intermetallic Alloys: Current Stage and Potential Perspectives", "id": "doi:10.3390/ma8052537 (Materials 8, 2537-2568, PMC5455558)", "url": "https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5455558/", "year": 2015, "kind": "paper", "license": "MDPI open access (licence not read in this run)" }, "doychak1988": { "title": "The Oxidation of Ni-Rich Ni-Al Intermetallics (NASA Technical Memorandum 101455)", "id": "NASA TM 101455; NTRS 19890005862", "url": "https://ntrs.nasa.gov/api/citations/19890005862/downloads/19890005862.pdf", "year": 1988, "kind": "report", "license": "public domain (NASA)" }, "palko1995": { "title": "Reliability Analysis of Single Crystal NiAl Turbine Blades", "id": "NASA TM-111138; NTRS 19960007500", "url": "https://ntrs.nasa.gov/citations/19960007500", "year": 1995, "kind": "report", "license": "public domain (NASA)" }, "nasa2003-bondcoat": { "title": "High-Temperature Oxidation-Resistant and Low Coefficient of Thermal Expansion NiAl-Base Bond Coat Developed for a Turbine Blade Application", "id": "NTRS 20050214552 (Research and Technology 2002)", "url": "https://ntrs.nasa.gov/citations/20050214552", "year": 2003, "kind": "report", "license": "public domain (NASA)" }, "copland2007": { "title": "Solidification Behavior of gamma-prime-Ni3Al Containing Alloys in the Ni-Al-O System", "id": "NTRS 20070021778 (CALPHAD XXXVI, 2007)", "url": "https://ntrs.nasa.gov/citations/20070021778", "year": 2007, "kind": "paper", "license": "public domain (NASA)" }, "pubchem-nickel": { "title": "PubChem compound record, Nickel (CID 935; CAS 7440-02-0)", "id": "CID 935; CAS 7440-02-0", "url": "https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/935", "year": 2026, "kind": "database", "license": "public domain (NCBI)" }, "cdc-idlh-nickel": { "title": "NIOSH IDLH entry, Nickel metal and other compounds (as Ni)", "id": "CAS 7440-02-0", "url": "https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/idlh/7440020.html", "year": 2026, "kind": "database", "license": "public domain (CDC)" }, "usgs-mcs2026-nickel": { "title": "Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026, Nickel", "id": "USGS MCS 2026, February 2026", "url": "https://pubs.usgs.gov/periodicals/mcs2026/mcs2026-nickel.pdf", "year": 2026, "kind": "report", "license": "public domain (USGS)" }, "usgs-mcs2026-aluminum": { "title": "Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026, Aluminum", "id": "USGS MCS 2026, February 2026", "url": "https://pubs.usgs.gov/periodicals/mcs2026/mcs2026-aluminum.pdf", "year": 2026, "kind": "report", "license": "public domain (USGS)" }, "usgs-crit2025": { "title": "About the 2025 List of Critical Minerals (USGS, 60 minerals)", "id": "USGS final 2025 list, November 2025", "url": "https://www.usgs.gov/programs/mineral-resources-program/science/about-2025-list-critical-minerals", "year": 2025, "kind": "web", "license": "public domain (USGS)" }, "wiki-nickel-aluminide": { "title": "Nickel aluminide (Wikipedia)", "id": "Wikipedia article, comparison table (structure labels only)", "url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nickel_aluminide", "year": 2026, "kind": "web", "license": "CC BY-SA 4.0" } }, "license": "CC-BY-4.0", "url": "https://spacemushroom.com/profiles/nickel-aluminide/" }