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Alloy 42

Alloy 42 is an iron-nickel alloy, consisting of 42% nickel. This controlled expansion alloy has low thermal expansion characteristics over a range of temperatures and has been developed over time with ceramics in mind.

Low Thermal Expansion alloys are perfectly suited for use in glass and ceramic seals, providing metallic feed‐throughs from interior to exterior components. At City Special Metals, we ensure that every alloy is manufactured to provide the ideal coefficient. Alloy 42 is available in a range of forms including Round Bar, Sheet, and Coil.

Our alloys are reliable and provide perfect hermetically sealed connections. This particular alloy has few limitations in its use and is ideal for use in annealed plates, sheets and rods.

Do you have applications Alloy 42 would be suited to? Speak to us today and receive expert advice from a leading UK speciality metals stockist.

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Alloy 42, and similarly Kovar, should always be manufactured according to exact requirements. In ceramics, a low coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) of must be matched by the feed‐through metal.


Product FormRange FromRange To
Kovar Round Bar iconAlloy 42 Round Bar4mm127mm
Kovar Sheet & Coil iconAlloy 42 Sheet & Coil0.015mm3.2mm

Beneficial Properties

  • Shock-resistant
    Their coefficient thermal expansion makes the seal resistant to shock and cracking
  • Ability to withstand extreme temperatures
    Low thermal expansion over a range of temperatures
  • Flexibility
    Good workability, weldability and easy-to-machine

Applications

  • Electronic components such as: semiconductor packages, tubes, CRT electron guns, automotive & industrial lamps
  • Lead frames
  • Thermostat bimetal

Markets

  • Automotive
  • Computing
  • Lighting

Alloy 42 Chemistry

Mechanical Properties
Metallurgical ConditionAnnealed, Descaled
Yield StrengthKSI (MPa)36 (248) Max
Tensile StrengthKSI (MPa)71 (490) Max
HardnessHB
Elongation50mm>40
Co Efficient of Thermal Expansion
30-300°C10-6/°C4.6
30-350°C10-6/°C5.05
30-400°C10-6/°C6.12
Densityg/cm³8.15
Curie Temp°F
(°C)
626
330
Melting Point°F
(°C)
2597
1425
Modulus of Elasticity at 20°CMPa148
Specific Heat at 20°CJ/g- °C0.50
Thermal Conductivity at 20°CJ/cm.s.°C12.5
Resistivity at 0°CΜohm.cm63
Poisson’s coefficient0.25
Technical Specifications
ASTMUNSWerkstoff 
F1684K941001.3917
Chemistry
NickelNi42
IronFeBalance

More about Alloy 42

Alloy 42 is widely used for military applications. It’s hermeticity and attachability to low‐CTE die to low‐CTE lead frames have been cited as 2 main advantages of using Alloy 42. However, when placed into plastic components Alloy 42 has proven to provide disastrous results.

City Special Metals understands that mismatching can take place with Alloy 42, whether that be a result of surface mount (SM) solder joints connecting materials with different CTEs, or when solder bonds have CTEs that differ from the CTE of solder. We’ll work alongside you to ensure that the desired result is found, with little-to-no SM solder joint failures.

Alloy 42 and Kovar not only cause significant global and local thermal expansion mismatches, but are inherently more difficult to solder because of the low solubility of nickel and iron, the main constituents of these alloys. Pull tests of solder joints show that, under the best of circumstances, a solder joint that includes an Alloy 42 or Kovar surface is only half as strong as one made to copper surfaces.

Alloy 42 is also known by the following trade names;

  • N42®
  • Nilo 42®
  • Dilaton 41®
  • Pernifer 42®
  • Glass Seal 42®

Have any other alloy requirements? See a list of our specialist alloys here. If you can’t find what you’re looking for there, click the following link for other speciality alloys we stock.

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