Revolution in material research: the secret of the temperature stable alloy

Revolution in material research: the secret of the temperature stable alloy

Vienna, Österreich - A groundbreaking progress in material research could revolutionize the high-tech industry. Researchers at the Vienna University of Technology, together with the Beijing University of Technology, have developed a new metal alloy, the pyrochlor magnet, which has almost no thermal expansion. This is particularly important because typical materials in temperature changes, such as the metal of the Eiffel Tower, which can expand by up to 15 cm in summer, often cause problems. According to Dr. Sergii Khmelevskyi from the Vienna Scientific Cluster (VSC) has successfully compensated for this avoidable thermal expansion through targeted material combinations, which leads to remarkable stability, such as Ingenieur.de reported.

The newly developed alloy consists of zirconium, niob, iron and cobalt and shows almost no extent over a temperature range from minus 270 to plus 150 degrees Celsius. The researchers used complex computer simulations to understand the so-called Invar effect and to explain the special properties of the new material. The behavior of electrons within the alloy changes with the temperature, which means that the material contracts and the thermal expansion is almost completely compensated for. These findings, similar to the work already published in 2023 in the "Journal of Physical Chemistry C", form the basis for future developments in material technology, such as "https://www.vienna.at/forscher-der-wien-för-fur-raumfahrt/9196549"> vienna.at

unique properties and areas of application

The irregular grid structure of the pyrochlor magnets enables a differentiated reaction to temperature changes within the material, which leads to its special stability. The researchers see enormous potential for this innovative magnet in several high-tech applications, especially in aerospace technology, high-precision measurement technology and in electronic components, which place high demands on thermal stability. The ability to practically not deform itself under extreme temperature fluctuations could significantly influence the future development of these technologies.