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Technical Guide

Rene 80 (UNS N07180) Cast Nickel Superalloy: Investment-Cast Gas-Turbine Blade & Vane Alloy

UNS N07180 / W.Nr 2.4869 (typical) — A gamma-prime strengthened, tungsten- and molybdenum-hardened cast nickel-base superalloy engineered for first- and second-stage turbine blades and vanes in aero and industrial gas turbines.

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Rene 80 investment-cast nickel superalloy gas-turbine blade and vane components
Rene 80 vacuum investment-cast turbine blades and vanes for aero and industrial gas turbines.

⚡ Rene 80 Quick Specs

N07180 (typ.)
2.4869 (typ.)
Cast γ′ Ni-base
Investment casting
~8.2 g/cm³
~1270–1340°C
1100–1300 MPa
850–1000 MPa
5–12%
35–40 HRC
760–982°C
Turbine blades & vanes

1. Introduction: Why Rene 80 Cast Nickel Superalloy?

Rene 80 is a gamma-prime (γ′) strengthened, nickel-base cast superalloy developed by General Electric / Special Metals for the most demanding gas-turbine hot-section components. It combines tungsten and molybdenum solid-solution strengthening with a high volume fraction of γ′ precipitate (Ni₃(Al,Ti)) to deliver strong creep-rupture and tensile performance at 760–982 °C. Because it is optimized for the casting route rather than for forging, it is the classic material of choice for investment-cast first- and second-stage turbine blades and vanes in both aero-derivative and industrial gas turbines.

The alloy's design is a careful balance: roughly 14% chromium and 3% aluminum give oxidation and moderate hot-corrosion resistance, while ~9.5% cobalt plus the refractory elements tungsten and molybdenum raise the γ′ solvus and high-temperature strength. The high aluminum-plus-titanium content (≈8 wt%) drives the strong γ′ precipitation that underpins its creep life. As a proprietary grade it is usually specified by its GE / Special Metals trade name and OEM numbers (e.g., casting specs C50TF47 and C50TF28, repair wire GE B50TF259) more than by a generic UNS.

Hangbo Alloy Group supports turbine OEMs and MRO (maintenance, repair & overhaul) shops with Rene 80 investment castings and matching repair welding wire, supplied against the governing engine specification with full traceability.

Need Rene 80 Castings or Repair Wire?

Hangbo Alloy Group supplies Rene 80 investment-cast turbine blades, vanes and hot-section components, plus matching Rene 80 / GE B50TF259 repair welding wire — all with full material certification and traceability. Request a quote for your drawings or repair program.

✉ serena@hangboalloy.com  |  ☎ +86 166 2109 2936  |  WhatsApp Available
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2. Chemical Composition

The chemistry of Rene 80 is tuned for castability and high-temperature strength. The high refractory (W, Mo) and γ′-former (Al, Ti) content is responsible for its creep resistance; chromium and aluminum provide the protective oxide scale. Typical (nominal) composition ranges are listed below.

ElementTypical Range (wt%)Role in the Alloy
Nickel (Ni)Balance (~60–62)Austenitic FCC matrix; high-temperature stability
Chromium (Cr)13.7 – 14.3Cr₂O₃ protective scale; oxidation & hot-corrosion resistance
Cobalt (Co)9.0 – 10.0Raises γ′ solvus, solid-solution strengthening, thermal stability
Tungsten (W)3.7 – 4.3Potent solid-solution strengthener at high temperature
Molybdenum (Mo)3.7 – 4.3Solid-solution strengthening; improves creep resistance
Aluminum (Al)2.8 – 3.2Primary γ′ (Ni₃Al) former; oxidation resistance
Titanium (Ti)4.8 – 5.2Primary γ′ (Ni₃Ti) former; precipitation hardening
Carbon (C)0.15 – 0.19Forms MC / M₂₃C₆ carbides for grain-boundary strength
Zirconium (Zr)0.02 – 0.10Boron-like grain-boundary reinforcement; creep-rupture life
Boron (B)0.010 – 0.020Grain-boundary strengthening; ductility & creep life
Iron (Fe)≤ 0.35Controlled residual impurity

Key insight: With Al+Ti ≈ 8 wt%, Rene 80 carries a very high γ′ volume fraction (often 50–60%+), which is the source of its elevated-temperature strength and creep life. The deliberately moderate chromium level is a trade-off — enough for oxidation protection, but kept below the levels of more corrosion-oriented alloys so that the strengthening γ′ phase dominates.

3. Physical Properties

Physical properties of cast Rene 80 are typical of a heavily alloyed γ′-strengthened nickel superalloy: high density, low thermal conductivity, and a low-to-moderate coefficient of thermal expansion.

PropertyTypical ValueNotes
Density~8.2 g/cm³Cast condition
Melting / Solidus Range~1270 – 1340 °CSubsolidus solution below this range
Thermal Expansion (20–1000°C)~12.5 × 10−6 /°CModerate, typical of cast Ni superalloys
Thermal Conductivity~11 – 12 W/(m·K)Low; controls cooling & machining
Elastic Modulus (RT)~200 GPaDecreases with temperature
Specific Heat~460 J/(kg·K)Typical nickel-alloy value
Crystal StructureFCC γ matrix + γ′ (L1₂) precipitate

4. Mechanical Properties

4.1 Typical Room-Temperature Tensile Properties (Fully Heat Treated)

PropertyTypical ValueNotes
Tensile Strength (Rm)1100 – 1300 MPaCast + heat treated
Yield Strength (Rp0.2)850 – 1000 MPaOptimized HT >950 MPa
Elongation (A)5 – 12%Ductility retained after aging
Hardness35 – 40 HRC (~350–400 HBW)High γ′ strength

4.2 Elevated-Temperature Tensile Strength (Typical)

Rene 80 retains useful strength across its service band. Representative published tensile data for the heat-treated alloy are summarized below.

TemperatureTensile Strength (MPa)Yield Strength (MPa)
Room Temp~1090~815
600 °C~985~630
700 °C~1060~685
800 °C~775~540
900 °C~660~430
1000 °C~213~138

4.3 Creep & Stress-Rupture Strength

The defining advantage of Rene 80 is long-term creep-rupture life in the 760–982 °C range. Representative published stress-rupture values are:

TemperatureStressRupture Life
870 °C~350 MPa~100 h
870 °C~240 MPa~1000 h
980 °C~160 MPa~100 h
980 °C~105 MPa~1000 h

Note: Creep-rupture values depend strongly on heat treatment, grain structure (equiaxed vs. directional-solidified), section thickness, and service atmosphere. Values above are typical published data for guidance; qualified engine limits are set by the governing OEM specification.

5. Processing & Heat Treatment

5.1 Investment Casting

Rene 80 is produced by vacuum investment (lost-wax) casting. Master alloy is vacuum induction melted and poured into precision ceramic shells to form near-net-shape components. It is most commonly cast as equiaxed (polycrystalline) turbine blades and vanes, and it can also be made as directional-solidified (DS) columnar-grain castings for improved thermal-fatigue and transverse-property performance.

5.2 Heat Treatment

Because of its high γ′ content and segregation tendency, Rene 80 castings require a homogenization / subsolidus solution cycle followed by aging. A representative production schedule is:

  • Solution / homogenization: ~1190–1218 °C for ~2 h (subsolidus, close to but below solidus)
  • Intermediate hold: controlled furnace cool to ~1080–1107 °C, hold ~4 h
  • Controlled cool: slow furnace cool to ~650 °C (~7.5 °C/min)
  • Aging: ~845 °C for ~16 h, then air cool

This cycle dissolves primary γ′, reduces casting microsegregation, and precipitates a controlled bimodal γ′ distribution (cuboidal primary + spheroidal secondary) that maximizes creep-rupture life and microstructural stability.

Buy Rene 80 from a Trusted Superalloy Supplier

Contact Hangbo Alloy Group for Rene 80 investment-cast turbine blades, vanes and hot-section parts, and matching Rene 80 / GE B50TF259 repair welding wire. Competitive Rene 80 price, fast quoting, and full mill test reports with EN 10204 traceability.

✉ serena@hangboalloy.com  |  ☎ +86 166 2109 2936  |  WhatsApp: +86 166 2109 2936
Get Your Quote Now →

6. Corrosion & Oxidation Resistance

Rene 80 provides good oxidation resistance and moderate hot-corrosion resistance for gas-turbine service, achieved through its chromium and aluminum content:

  • Oxidation: Forms a protective Cr₂O₃ scale (with Al₂O₃ contribution) giving useful oxidation resistance to roughly 1000 °C.
  • Hot corrosion: Moderate resistance — adequate for many aero and industrial gas-turbine environments; lower than dedicated hot-corrosion alloys such as Inconel 738 in aggressive sulfidizing conditions.
  • Creep-limited design: Corrosion resistance is deliberately balanced against maximum γ′ strength; protective coatings (aluminide or MCrAlY overlay) are commonly applied in severe service.
  • Coatings: For maximum component life, blades and vanes are typically used with aluminide or thermal-barrier coating (TBC) systems.

7. Applications by Industry

7.1 Aerospace Gas Turbines

  • First- and second-stage turbine blades in jet engines
  • Nozzle guide vanes / stator vanes operating at the highest hot-section temperatures
  • Afterburner and combustor-related structural hot-section hardware
  • Repair & overhaul: weld-rebuild of like-metallurgy blades and vanes using matching filler wire

7.2 Industrial & Marine Gas Turbines

  • Heavy-duty power-generation turbine blades and vanes
  • Marine gas turbine hot-end components
  • Land-based and offshore turbine hot-section parts

7.3 Energy & Other High-Temperature Equipment

  • High-temperature structural castings requiring creep strength to ~982 °C
  • Components where investment-cast near-net shape reduces machining of difficult superalloys

8. Product Forms & Availability

Hangbo Alloy Group supplies Rene 80 in the product forms used by turbine OEMs and MRO facilities, manufactured and inspected to the governing engine / casting specification:

Product FormSpecification / ReferenceTypical Details
Investment-Cast Blades & VanesOEM casting spec (e.g., C50TF47 / C50TF28)Equiaxed or DS; per customer drawing
Rene 80 Repair Welding WireGE B50TF259 / Polymet 880Spooled precision-layer wire; straight lengths 460–914 mm
Cast Billet / Bar (where applicable)OEM / customer specFor machining of non-rotating parts
Coated ComponentsPer engine repair specAluminide or MCrAlY + TBC available

All products are supplied with chemical analysis and, where applicable, heat-treatment records and non-destructive testing (RT, PT, UT) documentation in line with aerospace requirements.

9. Applicable Standards & Specifications

Standard / SpecDescription
GE B50TF259Rene 80 nickel-base welding wire for blade / vane repair
GE C50TF47 / C50TF28Casting specifications for Rene 80 blade & vane material
K480 (China)Chinese equivalent grade of Rene 80
UNS N07180Commonly cited UNS (confirm against procurement spec)
W.Nr 2.4869Commonly cited material number (confirm against procurement spec)
OEM / Airframe Engine SpecFinal qualification governed by engine OEM specification

10. Comparison: Rene 80 vs Inconel 738 vs Rene 41 vs Udimet 720

PropertyRene 80Inconel 738Rene 41Udimet 720
Form / RouteCast (equiaxed / DS)CastWroughtWrought / forged
Typical Cr %~14~16~19~18
Typical Co %~9.5~8.5~11~14.7
Key StrengthenersW, Mo, Al, TiW, Ta, Al, TiMo, Al, TiMo, W, Al, Ti
RT Tensile (MPa)1100–1300~1100–1250~1275~1500+
Service Temp760–982 °C~850–980 °C~650–870 °C~650–900 °C
Hot-corrosion resist.ModerateGood (higher Cr)GoodGood
Primary useTurbine blades / vanesTurbine blades / vanesSheet, blades, ductsDiscs, blades (high strength)

Selection guide: Choose Rene 80 for cast turbine blades and vanes needing strong creep life to ~982 °C with moderate oxidation resistance. Inconel 738 is the preferred cast alternative where higher chromium improves hot-corrosion resistance. Rene 41 is an older wrought alloy for sheet and medium-temperature blades, while Udimet 720 delivers the highest forged strength for discs and high-load blades.

11. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What is Rene 80 cast nickel superalloy?

Rene 80 is a gamma-prime (γ′) strengthened, nickel-base cast superalloy developed by General Electric / Special Metals for investment-cast gas-turbine hot-section components. It combines tungsten and molybdenum solid-solution strengthening with a high volume fraction of γ′ precipitate to deliver strong creep-rupture and tensile performance at 760–982°C. It is widely used as a first- and second-stage turbine blade and vane alloy in aero and industrial gas turbines.

Q2: What is the chemical composition of Rene 80?

The nominal (typical) composition of Rene 80 in wt% is: Nickel balance; Chromium 13.7–14.3 (≈14); Cobalt 9.0–10.0 (≈9.5); Molybdenum 3.7–4.3 (≈4); Tungsten 3.7–4.3 (≈4); Aluminum 2.8–3.2 (≈3); Titanium 4.8–5.2 (≈5); Carbon 0.15–0.19; Boron 0.010–0.020; Zirconium 0.02–0.10; Iron ≤0.35. Chromium and aluminum provide oxidation resistance, cobalt and the refractory elements W, Mo raise high-temperature strength, and the high Al+Ti content drives the γ′ precipitation hardening.

Q3: What are the physical properties of Rene 80?

Typical physical properties of cast Rene 80 are: density ~8.2 g/cm³; melting / solidus range ~1270–1340°C; coefficient of thermal expansion ~12.5 × 10⁻⁶ /°C (20–1000°C); thermal conductivity ~11–12 W/(m·K); elastic (Young's) modulus ~200 GPa at room temperature; and a fully austenitic FCC matrix with a high volume fraction of γ′ precipitate.

Q4: What are the mechanical properties of Rene 80?

In the fully heat-treated condition Rene 80 typically shows: room-temperature tensile strength 1100–1300 MPa, yield strength 850–1000 MPa, elongation 5–12%, and hardness 35–40 HRC (≈350–400 HBW). Published optimum heat treatments give UTS >1040 MPa and yield >950 MPa with good ductility. At elevated temperature it retains strong strength — for example around 1000 MPa tensile at 650°C and ~660 MPa at 900°C.

Q5: What is the creep and stress-rupture capability of Rene 80?

Rene 80 is valued for long-term creep-rupture strength in the 760–982°C range. Representative published values are: stress-rupture strength of ~350 MPa at 870°C for 100 h and ~240 MPa at 870°C for 1000 h; and ~160 MPa at 980°C for 100 h and ~105 MPa at 980°C for 1000 h. A standard subsolidus solution + two-step aging heat treatment plus a fine, stable γ′ distribution delivers this rupture life.

Q6: How is Rene 80 processed and cast?

Rene 80 is produced by vacuum investment casting. Master alloy is vacuum induction melted and poured into ceramic shells to produce equiaxed (polycrystalline) castings; it can also be made as directional-solidified (DS) columnar-grain castings for improved thermal-fatigue resistance. Because of its high γ′ content and segregation tendency, components receive a homogenization / subsolidus solution heat treatment followed by a two-step aging cycle.

Q7: What heat treatment is used for Rene 80?

A representative production heat treatment is: solution / homogenization at ~1190–1218°C for about 2 h (subsolidus), controlled furnace cooling to ~1080–1107°C held ~4 h, slow cooling to ~650°C, then final aging at ~845°C for ~16 h, followed by air cooling. Exact cycles are specified by the OEM casting specification and tuned to optimize γ′ coarsening, carbide distribution, and creep-rupture life.

Q8: What corrosion and oxidation resistance does Rene 80 have?

Rene 80 forms a protective Cr₂O₃ scale from its ~14% chromium and an Al₂O₃ contribution from ~3% aluminum, giving good oxidation resistance to roughly 1000°C and adequate hot-corrosion resistance for many gas-turbine environments. Its moderate chromium level is a deliberate compromise — high enough for oxidation/hot-corrosion protection, low enough to maximize the γ′ volume fraction and creep strength. In aggressive sulfidizing service, overlay or aluminide coatings are normally applied.

Q9: What is Rene 80 used for?

Rene 80 is used mainly for investment-cast gas-turbine hot-section parts: first- and second-stage turbine blades, nozzle guide vanes / stator vanes, and other vanes; afterburner and combustor-related components; and marine and industrial gas-turbine blades. It is also available as repair welding wire (cross-referenced as Polymet 880 / GE B50TF259) for refurbishing like-metallurgy blades and vanes.

Q10: How does Rene 80 compare to Inconel 738, Rene 41 and Udimet 720?

Rene 80, Inconel 738 and Udimet 720 are all γ′-strengthened high-temperature alloys, but Rene 80 and Inconel 738 are cast blade/vane alloys (Inconel 738 has higher Cr for better hot-corrosion resistance), whereas Rene 41 and Udimet 720 are more highly wrought/forged alloys — Rene 41 is an older wrought sheet/blade alloy and Udimet 720 is a very high-strength disc/blade alloy. Rene 80 sits in the cast-blade category with strong creep life up to ~982°C.

Q11: What standards and specifications cover Rene 80?

Rene 80 is a proprietary GE / Special Metals alloy and is most often controlled by OEM specifications: GE B50TF259 (repair welding wire), and casting specifications C50TF47 and C50TF28 for blade and vane material. In China it is the equivalent of grade K480. Public trade references sometimes list UNS N07180 and W.Nr 2.4869, though these designations should be confirmed against the specific procurement specification.

Q12: What product forms does Rene 80 come in?

Hangbo Alloy Group can supply Rene 80 in the forms most relevant to turbine manufacturers and repair shops: investment-cast blades, vanes and other near-net-shape hot-section castings; Rene 80 weld-repair wire (spooled precision-layer-wound wire and straight lengths) cross-referenced to GE B50TF259 / Polymet 880; and associated billet or bar where applicable. All material can be supplied with chemical analysis and, for castings, heat-treatment and NDT documentation.

Q13: What is the price and lead time for Rene 80?

Rene 80 is a high-value, engineered cast superalloy. Pricing depends strongly on form (casting vs. repair wire), section complexity, certification level, and nickel/cobalt/tungsten market conditions. Investment-cast blades and vanes are quoted per part on drawings; repair welding wire is typically priced per kg with premiums for tight chemistry and lot traceability. Lead times are commonly several weeks for wire and longer for new castings subject to tooling and qualification. Contact serena@hangboalloy.com for a competitive quote.

Q14: Is Rene 80 weldable for repair?

Rene 80 can be weld-repaired using matching nickel-base filler (commonly supplied as Rene 80 / GE B50TF259 welding wire), but it is difficult to weld and is susceptible to liquation cracking and post-weld-heat-treatment cracking. Successful repair requires controlled preheat/interpass management, clean joint preparation, low restraint, and often a post-weld heat treatment consistent with the OEM repair specification. Hangbo Alloy Group supplies the matching repair wire with full traceability for qualified repair shops.