Dispersion Hardened Alloys

A dispersion hardened alloy has ultrafine non-metallic particles thoroughly dispersed in the matrix giving a very high resistance to plastic deformation. These find particles are highly stable at high temperature and thus do not undergo the process of grain coarsening even at temperature where Co and Ni base superalloys begin to coarsen. These ultrafine dispersed particles are generally ceramics. TD Nickel is perhaps the only such material available for practical application. Particles of thoria (ThO₂) are dispersed in this material and impart such high strength that room temperature forming becomes very difficult. The cost of this material is very high.