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REFRACTORY METAL ALLOY
Niobium C-103
Cb-103, AMS 7847
Refractory Metal AlloyVery High Cost
DENSITY
9 kg/m³
MELTING POINT
2,349°C
TENSILE STRENGTH
400 MPa
MAX SERVICE TEMP
1,370°C
Niobium C-103 is a refractory metal alloy used in aerospace applications. Melting point: 2,349 °C. Tensile strength: 400 MPa.
ABOUT NIOBIUM C-103
Niobium C-103 is a niobium alloy containing 10% hafnium and 1% titanium, developed for rocket propulsion applications. It maintains useful strength at temperatures above 1300°C and is the primary material for liquid rocket engine nozzle extensions, including the SpaceX Merlin Vacuum engine nozzle. It requires a silicide coating to prevent oxidation.
CHEMICAL COMPOSITION
Nb 89%, Hf 10%, Ti 1%
ROCKET & SPACECRAFT APPLICATIONS
●Merlin Vacuum nozzle extension
●RL10 nozzle extension
●Satellite thruster nozzles
●Rocket engine radiation-cooled nozzles
●Heat shields for reentry probes
MANUFACTURING PROPERTIES
CORROSION RESISTANCE
Poor (needs coating)
WELDABILITY
Good (inert atmosphere)
MACHINABILITY
Fair
COST RATING
Very High
MECHANICAL PROPERTIES
| DENSITY | 9 kg/m³ |
| TENSILE STRENGTH | 400 MPa |
| YIELD STRENGTH | 270 MPa |
| STRENGTH-TO-WEIGHT | 45197.7 kN·m/kg |
THERMAL PROPERTIES
| MELTING POINT | 2,349 °C |
| MAX SERVICE TEMPERATURE | 1,370 °C |
| THERMAL CONDUCTIVITY | 41.9 W/m·K |
| THERMAL EXPANSION | 7.2 µm/m·K |
COMPLETE SPECIFICATIONS
| CATEGORY | Refractory Metal Alloy |
| DESIGNATIONS | Cb-103, AMS 7847 |
| MANUFACTURER | ATI / CBMM |
| DENSITY | 9 kg/m³ |
| TENSILE STRENGTH | 400 MPa |
| YIELD STRENGTH | 270 MPa |
| MELTING POINT | 2,349 °C |
| MAX SERVICE TEMP | 1,370 °C |
| THERMAL CONDUCTIVITY | 41.9 W/m·K |
| THERMAL EXPANSION | 7.2 µm/m·K |
| CORROSION RESISTANCE | Poor (needs coating) |
| WELDABILITY | Good (inert atmosphere) |
| MACHINABILITY | Fair |
| COST RATING | Very High |
