Our Metals
Our extraordinary metals : The Vulkalloys®
Changing the atomic organization of a metal = completely changing its properties
Based on this concept and built on nearly 30 years of research carried out at the SIMaP laboratory in Grenoble, France, the Vulkam technical team has developed a range of new metals with unrivalled properties.
Vulkalloys® are innovative Amorphous Metallic Alloys (often named metallic glasses) : their atomic structure differs from crystalline metals. In contrast to classical metals, such as steels or titanium alloys, they are characterized by a random atomic distribution. This change in atomic organisation, fundamentaly overhauls the properties of the material, but also their forming ability. Vulkalloys® have unique and totally isotropic properties which allow to push back their mechanical and physical limits of the conventionnal alloys.
Vulkalloys® are therefore opening up new possibilities both as functional properties and as parts manufacturing procedures.
VULKAM has developed a range of eight alloys, the Vulkalloys® based on Zirconium, Copper, Nickel or Hafnium, and their properties of use are exceptional: They meet the most demanding needs, especially in terms of mechanical resistance, tribology, amagnetism, corrosion resistance, or biocompatibility.
The Vulkalloys® structure also gives them exceptional manufacturing properties: their shaping capacity is close to that of plastic or glass, opening the way toward new geometries. The properties of Vulkalloys® depend on their chemical formulation. According to the their chemical formulation they provide :
- A high mechanical strength: up to 3000 MPa
- Elastic deformation of around 2%, i.e. up to twice as much as spring steels
- High hardness (wear and scratch resistance) up to more than 60 HRC
- Non-magnetic properties, excellent biocompatibility, corrosion resistance...
- Excellent tribological properties, including very low friction coefficients and wear rates
The Vulkalloys® properties coming from the various formulations can also be compared with other crystalline metals. Graphics herebelow group certain mechanical properties of Vulkalloys® according to their main chemical constituent (Copper, Zirconium, Nickel, etc.).
Five examples
Nickel-based Vulkalloy® Ni:
Unique characteristics for watchmaking applications
Nickel-based amorphous alloys, Vulkalloys® Ni are perfectly suited for the production of micro-mechanisms that require a high level of mechanical properties, geometric and surface finish. Their properties are exceptional: extreme yield strength, hardness and fatigue life, flexibility, non-magnetism, outstanding tribological properties (friction and wear coefficients) and excellent corrosion resistance.
Zirconium-based Vulkalloy® Zr-Med : An innovative material dedicated to medical applications
The Vulkalloy® Zr-Med family of amorphous zirconium-based alloys has been specifically developed for the medical field and more particularly for instrumentation.
Biocompatible, it also has very high mechanical characteristics allowing the miniaturisation of instruments adapted to more precise and less invasive surgery.
Its functionnal properties can be coupled with Vulkam’s unique thermo-moulding process to miniaturise your instruments.
Copper-based Vulkalloy® Cu :
unique shaping properties for micromechanics.
Copper-based amorphous alloys, Vulkalloys® Cu are ideally suited to produce high-precision microcomponents and micro-mechanisms.
They have excellent tribological characteristics and are non-magnetic.
Developed for Silicon thermo-moulding (proprietary and patented technology), these new metals pave the way for the production of miniature parts with extreme levels of precision, optimised geometries and the design of complex shapes, unique in the world as they cannot be achieved by any other process.
Vulkalloy® Zr-Inox : Alloys for watch decoration parts
The Vulkalloy® Zr-Inox family of amorphous zirconium-based alloys is used for the production of corrosion-resistant decorative parts. Their bright white appearance, light weight and high hardness make these alloys ideal candidates for this type of part.
Highly resistant to corrosion, these alloys represent an innovative, aesthetic and particularly elegant alternative for the production of parts in contact with the skin. This alloy complies with the requirements for nickel release (EN 1811) with a release rate at least ten times lower than the standard limit.
Vulkalloy® Nb-Med: high strength alloys for highly stressed parts of medical devices
Niobium-based amorphous alloys, Vulkalloys® Nb-med are perfectly suited for the production of millimeter-sized parts that require biocompatibility coupled with a high level of mechanical properties and surface finish.
Their properties are exceptional: extreme yield strength, hardness and fatigue resistance, flexibility, non-magnetism, outstanding tribological properties (friction and wear coefficients). They also have excellent corrosion resistance similar to that of Titanium alloys.
Vulkalloy® Precious
Niobium-based amorphous alloys, Vulkalloys® Nb-med are perfectly suited for the production of millimeter-sized parts that require biocompatibility coupled with a high level of mechanical properties and surface finish.
Their properties are exceptional: extreme yield strength, hardness and fatigue resistance, flexibility, non-magnetism, outstanding tribological properties (friction and wear coefficients). They also have excellent corrosion resistance similar to that of Titanium alloys.
