Invar 36[1], also known within the industry as Nilo 36[2], is a nickel-iron superalloy known for its low coefficient of thermal expansion. Containing 36% nickel, it maintains nearly constant dimensions as well as good strength and hardness over a wide range of temperatures. Invented by Swiss physicist Charles Edouard Guillaume, Invar was created as a low-cost solution to a meter once made of platinum and iridium. Guillaume's work led to the discovery of a relatively inexpensive iron-nickel alloy—a steel-like material—that expands very little when heated. He named the alloy Invar because it was almost unchanging or "invariable."

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Invar 36 is typically machined, but what many people don’t know is that it can be cast.

Invar 36 Success

One of our customers came to us specifically wanting to use INVAR 36 for a component requiring the near constant dimensions and long-term dimensional stability this alloy is known for. Due to confidentiality agreements, we cannot name the customer, but what we can tell you is that like with many other projects, our engineers rose to the challenge. They not only cast Invar 36 successfully but completely exceeded the customer's expectations while saving them money. After all, isn’t that the end goal? Create a quality component at the lowest total cost.

Why did our customer need Invar 36? The slightest change in dimension or shape of their component could alter their end product, even though they were already in a temperature-controlled room. A few degrees could impact the function of the part. They knew they needed to work with a material like Invar 36, but machining it from solid was becoming costly.

How did we help? We had never worked with Invar 36 before, yet our engineers are always ready to take on new challenges. After some research and testing, we developed a casting material that performed as well as, if not better, than wrought material, enabling us to cast net-shape successfully. We not only reduced final part costs since they didn’t have to machine the part, but our final part cost turned out to be cheaper than the original block of metal prior to machining.

The end result? A very happy customer who saved significantly, and a new material added to our offerings. Invar 36 maintains nearly constant dimensions at temperatures below -150 degrees Celsius up to 260 degrees Celsius.

Who Should Use Invar 36?

Customers working under strict temperature constraints will likely see the advantages of using Invar 36. Unfortunately, those currently machining from solid may not realize that casting net-shape is an option. Invar 36 is commonly used in measuring devices, precision mechanical systems, laser components, thermostat rods, meters, and components that transport liquefied gases, just to name a few.

Invar Industry Applications

Invar can be employed in various applications within the aerospace, medical, and consumer electronics industries. However, where superalloys with low CTE have shown remarkable performance is in automotive technologies. With the rise of autonomous vehicles, sensors, radars, and cameras are becoming increasingly advanced and vital to the cars' functionality. LiDAR, which stands for light detection and ranging, utilizes light waves from a laser to calculate how long it takes for the light to hit an object and return, measuring the distance of surrounding objects. An alloy with near-constant dimensions and long-term dimensional stability like Invar 36 is crucial in such intricate devices. Alternative alloys, like Kovar, also offer low CTE and are viable options for casting LiDAR sensors. Investment casting provides a cost-effective solution compared to machining LiDAR parts from solid.

Contact us to discuss your requirements of INvar Material. Our experienced sales team can help you identify the options that best suit your needs.

Invar 36 Spotlight