Thermal Shock Testing of High-Temperature Metallic Materials

A program of investigation has been undertaken to evaluate the resistance of various materials to thermal shock. A preliminary analysis of thermalshock damage has been carried out on a theoretical basis. The results of this theoretical work indicate that the scope of the problem is so wide that purely analytical methods must be supplemented by experimental data.

An experimental program has, therefore, been set up, and fifteen selected materials have been tested. These include types 304, 310, and 347 stainless steels, K151A and K152B cermets, N-155, cast and wrought S-816, Waspalloy, Hastelloy C, Inconel, Nimonic 80-A, M-252, cast HS-21, and Battellalloy. Suitable apparatus has been constructed which gives reasonable reproducibility of results. A standard specimen shape has been devised after considerable experimentation. Excursions into the subjects of previous specimen history, mechanical fatigue, and thermal wiggling have been made.

Comparative evaluations for the fifteen materials have been made for temperatures between 1600 F and 2000 F.