Measurements of the strain gage factor
Gf, the electrical resistivity ρ at temperatures from 293 to 1273 K, the temperature coefficient of electrical resistivity
Cf and the thermo-emf relative to copper
Emf, and X-ray diffraction were carried out for the Fe-15%Cr-10∼40%Co+0∼40%Ni alloys reduced 98% in sectional area by cold-drawing.
The values of
Gf of the Fe-Cr-Co-Ni quaternary alloys are generally small as compared with those of Fe-15%Cr-Co ternary alloys. The maximum value shifts to the lower side of cobalt content and decreases with increasing Ni content. The minimum and the maximum of
Gf appear in the alloys added 10∼15% and 20∼25%Ni, respectively.
Gf in the vicinity of the composition range where the maximum appears is a little increased only in the composition range of 25∼30%Co, but the composition dependence of
Gf is slightly larger than that of Fe-15%Cr-Ni ternary alloys. Both the values of ρ and
Emf show the minimum and
Cf the maximum, respectively, in the alloy added 15%Ni. The above abnormalities of the gage characteristics are closely related to the coexistence of the α′ phase (
bcc) caused by the strain-induced transformation and the γ phase (
fcc) scarecely changed by cold-working. Moreover, the workability deteriorates in alloys with lower Ni content due to the phase changes of γ→α+ε at lower temperatures and subsequently α′ induced by drawing. The alloys with higher Ni content show very good workability due to the single γ phase.
The gage characteristics of the typical Fe-12.6%Cr-25.0%Co-16.9%Ni alloy are:
Gf=3.9, ρ=0.78 μΩ·m,
Cf=6.9×10
−4 K
−1 and
Emf=−2.0 μV·K
−1. Therefore, these alloys are suitable for use as the strain gage elements in load cells and micro-strain sensors etc.
View full abstract