III.

PRESENTATION OF THE DIFFERENTES GRADES

III.1 SUPRA 50 and SUPRA 50 SP

These basic grades (isotropic quality) concern all the common applications (typical coercive
field value : Hc = 2.8 A/m). Their high performance levels and their chemical purity make them
particularly suitable for applications requiring high sensitivity and great accuracy.
The SUPRA 50 and SUPRA 50 SP differ from one another by their cold rolling processes and surface
conditions, their dimensional tolerances and the range of thicknesses available.

They are principally used in telephony (receiver components), for safety functions
(components for gas equipment safety caps) and in electrical engineering (transformers, signalling
relays, sensors). They are also used in watch and clock making (motor parts for analog quartz
watches), in aeronautical engineering (hyper-frequency oscillator bodies) in computer peripherals
(printer head pole pieces), in electrical safety devices (relay components for ground fault circuit
breakers) and for medical devices (hearing aids).

III.2 SUPRA 50 T

This semi-isotropic grade is supplied in the form of non-annealed cold rolled strip (typical
thicknesses : 0.08 mm – 0.35 mm), for the stamping of various profiles, or for the production of tape
wound cores.

After appropriate heat treatment, the profiles possess a giant-grained secondary

recrystallisation structure which ensures very high initial permeabilities and a very low coercive field
(Hc = 1.4 A/m).

The principal uses are in telephony, telematics (impedance transformers) and in power control
and measurement systems (current transformers, inductances).

III.3 SUPRA 50 G and SUPRA 50 GSP

These isotropic grades have an improved aptitude for mechanical cut-out compared to the basic
SUPRA 50 and SUPRA 50 SP products.

III.4 SP 510

This grade is characterized by a saturation induction level close to that of Fe-80% Ni, together with a
low coercive field and good corrosion resistance. Because of this property combination, the major
application is in watchmaking, for necked stepper motor stators.
IV. PHYSICAL PROPERTIES

SUPRA 50 – SUPRA 50 SP
SUPRA 50 G – SUPRA 50
Property Units SP 510
GSP
SUPRA 50 T
* -3
Density g.cm 8.2 8.2
-1 -1
Specific heat
* J.kg .°C 500 -
-1 -1
Thermal conductivity
* W.m .°C 13 -
Thermal expansion : mean CTE between -6 -1
10 .°C 8 10
0°C and 100°C
* µΩ.cm
Electrical resistivity 45 100
Curie point °C 450 230
Coefficient of magnetostriction at -6
10 24 -
saturation ∆l/l
Melting temperature °C 1 425 -
Saturation induction
* Tesla 1.6 0.75
*
measured at +20 °C

V. MAGNETIC PROPERTIES

The tables below give the magnetic properties determined after optimum heat treatment, in
compliance with the following standards:

- ASTM : A596
- DIN : 50460
- IEC : 60404

V.1 DC magnetic properties for cold rolled strip

The measurements were made after the optimum heat treatment of 4 hours at 1150°C in pure
dry hydrogen, on ring specimens with 36 mm outside diameter, 25 mm inside diameter and 0.34 mm
thickness for Supra 50, Supra 50 SP, Supra 50T and SP 510 and 1.5 mm thickness for Supra 50 G
and Supra 50 GSP. The figures given below are typical values.

(1)
Bs Br
(1)
B at 100A/m
Grade µmax Hc (A/m)
(Tesla) (Tesla) (Tesla)
Supra 50
1.5 1.1 1.2 190 000 2.8
Supra 50 SP

Supra 50 T 1.5 0.6 1.2 165 000 1.4

Supra 50 G
1.5 1.1 1.2 100 000 5.1
Supra 50 GSP

SP 510 0.75 0.25 0.6 30 000 3.2

(1) practical saturation Bs and remanent induction Br measured for H = 800 A/m.
 V.2 AC magnetic properties for cold rolled strip

The measurements were made after the optimum heat treatment of 4 hours at 1150°C in pure
dry hydrogen, on ring specimens with 36 mm outside diameter, 25 mm inside diameter and 0.34 mm
thickness for Supra 50, Supra 50 SP, Supra 50T and SP 510. The figures given below are typical
values.
60 Hz
Grade
µ4z (1) µZ8 (2)

Supra 50
10 400 54 000
Supra 50 SP

Supra 50 T 16 500 52 000

Supra 510 7 000 -

(1) Initial impedance permeability for a sinusoidal exciting field of 0.4 A/m (peak value)
(2) Impedance permeability for B = 0.8 T

V.3 DC magnetic properties for massive products

The DC measurements are made on 24*20*10 mm core samples after heat treatment for 4
hours at 1150°C in pure dry hydrogen. The figures g iven below are typical values.

Bs (1) Hc (2) µmax cc

Grade
(Tesla) (A/m)

Supra 50 1.5 4.8 80 000

(1) practical saturation measured for H = 800 A/m.

1,4

1,2

1,0

0,8

0,6

0,4

0,2

0,0
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50

Champ appliqué (A/m)

(2) coercive field Hc measured from H = 800 A/m.
Figure 1 : DC magnetization curve for 0.34 mm thick Supra 50 cold rolled strip heat treated for 4 hours
at 1150°C in pure dry H2
 0,7

0,6

0,5

0,4

0,3

0,2

0,1

0
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100

Champ Appliqué (A/m)

Figure 2 : DC magnetization curve for 0.50 mm thick SP 510 cold rolled strip heat treated for 4 hours
at 1150°C in pure dry H2

1,2

0,8

T = -25°C

0,6

T = 20°C

0,4

T = 150°C

0,2

0
0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16

Champ Appliqué (A/m)

Figure 3: DC magnetization curves at –25°C, +20°C a nd +150°C for 0.34 mm thick Supra 50 cold
rolled strip heat treated for 4 hours at 1150°C in pure dry H2.

On request, Imphy Alloys can provide customers with the corresponding data points in computer
format.
VI. HEAT TREATMENT OF FINISHED PARTS

The optimum magnetic properties for the Supra 50 and SP 510 alloy families are obtained by high
temperature heat treatment on the finished components.

- The heat treatment is first of all designed to recrystallize the metal. The treated parts must be
handled with great care, since even the slightest amount of plastic deformation will degrade
the magnetic properties.

- A protective atmosphere is essential to avoid oxidizing the metal. The role of the atmosphere
is extremely important. The use of a reducing atmosphere composed of pure dry hydrogen is
recommended, since it promotes the elimination of certain residual impurities in the metal,
such as carbon, particularly on thin components.

- All necessary precautions must be taken to guarantee the purity of the atmosphere. The parts
to be treated must be degreased and cleaned before annealing. The inert powder (alumina,
magnesia) often used to insulate the parts from one another must be perfectly anhydrous. The
hydrogen must be purified, upstream of the furnace, by the use of a deoxidizing treatment and
a molecular seive. A hydrogen flow rate of the order of 7 volumes per hour is recommended to
continually renew the atmosphere.

During the heating ramp, a 1 to 2 hour hold should be performed at around 400°C, if necessary, to
improve the dew point in the furnace chamber. The dew point should be less than –40°C during
the high temperature heat treatment.
Imphy Alloys’ 47.5% Ni grades are little sensitive to the heating and cooling rates. Common industrial
heating and cooling rates from a few tens to a few hundreds of °C/h are perfectly satisfactory.

VI.1 Oxidation heat treatment

For certain applications, the finished parts must be coated with a thin layer of oxide (for
example, to electrically insulate rotor sheets or profiles). This can be achieved by holding the parts at
around 500°C in an atmosphere with controlled oxyge n partial pressure (e.g. : 1 hour in air).

VI.2 Supra 50 / Supra 50 SP

The table below illustrates the influence of heat treatment temperature between
1050°C and 1150°C, for a holding time of about 4 ho urs. The measurements were made on 0.34 mm
thick ring specimens with an outside diameter of 36 mm and an inside diameter of 25 mm. A high
temperature promotes both coarsening of the primary grains and purification of the metal. This results
in higher permeability values.

Heat treatment temperature

Property
1050°C 1150°C

µmaxcc (1) 135 000 190 000

Hc (A/m) 3.8 2.8

µ4z (2) 7 400 10 400

(1) Maximum DC permeability

(2) Initial impedance permeability for a sinusoidal exciting field of 0.4 A/m (peak value)
 VI.3 SUPRA 50 T

Heat treatment at a high temperature (1 150 – 1 175°C) is essential to ensure satisfactory

secondary recrystallization and very high permeabilities. In this case also, holding for 4 hours is
perfectly adequate.

Thickness (mm) 1050 °C 1150°C

µ4z (1) Hc (A/m) µ4z (1) Hc (A/m)

0.34 9 500 3 16 500 1.4

0.08 6500 4.4 11 000 3

(1) Initial impedance permeability for a sinusoidal exciting field of 0.4 A/m (peak value)

VII. MECHANICAL PROPERTIES

VII.1 Mechanical properties on cold rolled strip

The figures given below are typical values. The measurement techniques comply with the standards :

- NF EN 10002 for tensile testing

- EN ISO 6507 for hardness
- NFA 04102 for grain size

Supra 50 / Supra 50 SP
Supra 510
Supra 50 G / Supra 50 GSP
Finishe
Property d parts Finished
Cold Cold
treated parts
worke Annealed worke Annealed
at treated at
d d
1 150 ° 1 150 °C
C
Hardness (HV) 250 140 100 275 110 100

UTS (MPa) 850 500 450 900 520 -

0.2% PS (MPa) 820 250 200 850 210 -

El (%) 3 40 35 1 40 -

Grain size - 9 0 - 8 -

On request, Imphy Alloys can supply any non standard condition desired by the user.
 VII.2 Mechanical properties on massive products (typical values)

As-hot processed condition

Property
(bars, sheets, forgings)

UTS (MPa) 540

Hardness (HV) 170 +/- 50

Grain size 4 - 10

On request, Imphy Alloys can supply any non standard condition desired by the user.

VIII. IMPLEMENTATION

VIII.1 Cut-out and shearing

These operations are performed on metal in the cold worked condition. It is recommended to
perform several trials on materials of different hardness to adapt the grade to the cutting tools.

VIII.2 Bending, deep drawing, stretching and lathe spinning

For these forming processes, the metal is used in the annealed condition. Difficult deep
drawing operations must be clearly specified, since Imphy Alloys has a condition particularly adapted
for this purpose.

When the initially annealed metal is subjected to marked plastic strain, the resulting increase
in hardness and UTS can be estimated from the following table :

Plastic strain
(% reduction in 10 25 50 75
thickness)
Hardness (HV) 200 225 250 265

UTS (MPa) 590 710 850 930

Elongation (%) 20 7 3 2

It will therefore sometimes be necessary to perform an intermediate softening treatment during

component forming sequences.

Imphy Alloys recommends holding for a minimum of 1 hour at 800°C–850°C. It is essential to

take all necessary precautions to avoid contamination of the metal, including a clean furnace and
clean parts, and a protective atmosphere, which may even be reducing, with a dew point less than –
40°C.
 VIII.3 Machining

Supra 50 is the grade used for machining parts from bulk feedstock, such as bars or hot rolled
sheet.

Supra 50 is a « sticky » alloy with chips that tend to adhere to the tool. Relatively low cutting
speeds are therefore required.

Turning
Milling Drilling
Peeling Cutting

S3 or S4
Tool High speed
High speed steel High speed steel
carbide steel

Lubricant Soluble oil Soluble oil Soluble oil Soluble oil

Cutting angle (°) 12-17 7-10 15 -

Rake angle (°) 5-8 6-10 3-7 9-13

Cutting speed
50-75 15-20 10-15 10
(m/minute)
0.2 to 0.5 0.03 to 0.07 0.05 to 0.10
Advance rate 0.10 mm/rev
mm/rev mm/rev mm/tooth

The parts must be carefully cleaned after machining to reduce the risk of contamination,
particularly by the lubricant.

VIII.4 Welding

The rules for welding the 47.5% Ni alloys are comparable to those for austenitic stainless
steels, but it is recommended to perform a prior stress relieving treatment at 600°C-800°C.

All welding techniques can be employed, including resistance spot welding, electron beam
welding and argon arc welding. When a filler metal is necessary, it is preferable to use the same alloy
(47.5% Ni).

Welding must normally be carried out before final heat treatment of the parts, even in the case
of spot welding.

Large size welds, which impair the magnetic properties of the product, must preferably be
situated in places where the degradation is of less importance.

VIII.5 Brazing

It is imperative to perform any brazing operations after the final high temperature heat
treatment. The magnetic properties of the braze zones will generally be impaired.
 VIII.6 Corrosion resistance

The corrosion resistance of Supra 50 is better than that of carbon steels due to the presence
of nickel. However, these alloys are not stainless and their oxidation resistance must be verified in
each particular case.

IX. AVAILABLE FORMATS

Treated parts Long and
Grade Treated cores (1) Cold rolled strip massive
(1) products (2)

SUPRA 50 ∎ ∎ ∎ ∎

SUPRA 50 SP ∎ ∎ ∎

SUPRA 50 G ∎ ∎ ∎

SUPRA 50 GSP ∎ ∎ ∎

SUPRA 50 T ∎ ∎ ∎

SP 510 ∎ ∎ ∎

(1) : cores, profiles, stacked laminations, rotor and stator sheets, shielding, plates for chemical
machining sold by MECAGIS, a subsidiary of Imphy Ugine Précision, like Imphy Alloys
(2) : bars, profile sections, forgings, hot rolled sheets

IX.1 FLAT PRODUCTS

SUPRA 50, SUPRA 50 SP, SUPRA 50 G, SUPRA 50 GSP

Thickness Maximum width

Format Condition
(mm) (mm)

Cold worked or
0.025 to 0.07 300
annealed
Cold rolled strip delivered in coils
Cold worked or
0.07 to 3 640
annealed

Cold rolled strip delivered as cut-to-length sheets Cold worked or

0.10 to 3 10 to 640
(maximum length 3500 mm) annealed

Hot rolled strip (Supra 50 only) 5 to 50 500 to 2 000 As-rolled and pickled

SUPRA 50 T

Maximum
Maximum width
Format thickness Condition
(mm)
(mm)

Cold rolled strip delivered in coils 0.35 640 Cold worked

 SP 510

Typical
Maximum width
Format thicknesses Condition
(mm)
(mm)

Cold worked or
Cold rolled strip delivered in coils 0.5-0.7 640
annealed

Please consult Imphy Alloys for the dimensional tolerances and for any specific requirements.

IX.2 BARS

SUPRA 50

Diameter φ (mm) Standard lengths (mm)

φ ≤ 13 2000 to 3000

14 ≤ φ ≤ 80 3000 to 4000

Dependent on the diameter and the

φ > 80
quantity ordered

Please consult Imphy Alloys for the dimensional tolerances and for any specific requirements.

IX.3 FORGINGS AND CASTINGS

Please consult us for an estimate.

Ref : MAG/Supra50/UK1 – October 07