Nickel cast superalloy demand seen to rise sharply
Date: 19-Oct-01
Country: UK
The total market for nickel-based super-alloys is around 120,000 tonnes a year, of which 40,000 tonnes is for more highly alloyed cast specialities. By 2010, global demand for cast nickel base superalloys could be as high as 102,000 tonnes.
"This represents an increase of approximately 250 percent on current demand, which is itself historically very high," La Braca said at Metal Bulletin's "nickel and its markets" conference.
More highly alloyed superalloys have to be investment cast, due to their inherent strength, whereas less alloyed nickel-based super alloys are more ductile and tend to be used for wrought applications.
La Braca said that industrial gas turbine (IGT) power generation sector demand will leap from 12,500 tonnes to 60,000 tonnes during the forecast period as natural gas becomes more available and operating efficiencies improve.
"This has been exacerbated by pollution concerns, with the use of coal and public worries over the safety issues about nuclear power," he said.
Aerospace area consumption will also increase, albeit not by the same rate, from the current 20,000 tonnes a year to 30,000 tonnes, as air travel growth will see passenger traffic rising by around five percent and cargo traffic up between six and seven percent.
Finally, the automotive industry will account for 12,000 tonnes of demand by 2010, up from 7,500 tonnes as turbocharger use in diesel engines continues to rise. A turbocharger can increase the power of the engine and improve overall efficiency.
"Manufacturers are turning towards increased diesel penetration as a way of meeting emission regulation. Another trend is for vehicles to have smaller engines, but turbocharged to compensate for the size reduction," La Braca said.