Invar® / Controlled Expansion Alloys
A specialized family of Nickel-Iron alloys engineered to have an exceptionally low or controlled coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE). Essential for precision applications where dimensional stability is critical.
Invar 36
A 36% nickel-iron alloy with the lowest coefficient of thermal expansion of any commercially available metal (approx. 1/10th that of carbon steel) from cryogenic temperatures up to 400°F.
View Invar 36 Details
Invar 42
A 42% nickel-iron alloy designed with a constant rate of thermal expansion that matches silicon chips, glass, and alumina ceramics. Critical for electronic packaging and hermetic sealing.
View Invar 42 DetailsWhy Controlled Expansion Matters?
Most metals expand significantly when heated. In precision instruments, this expansion causes misalignment. In electronics, the mismatch between a metal chip frame and the silicon chip causes cracking.
Invar Alloys solve this. Invar 36 essentially does not expand at all near room temperature. Invar 42 expands at a specific, controlled rate to move exactly in sync with electronic components.
| Alloy Grade | Nickel Content | Expansion Characteristic | Primary Application |
|---|---|---|---|
| Invar 36 | 36% | Near Zero expansion up to 400°F (200°C). | Composite molds, laser positioning, LNG piping. |
| Invar 42 | 42% | Controlled expansion to match Silicon/Ceramic. | Lead frames, hermetic glass-to-metal seals. |
Because dimensional stability is critical across vastly different industries—from massive aerospace composite molds to microscopic electronic chips—we supply Invar alloys in a highly specialized range of product forms:
Tooling Plate & Sheet
Heavy Invar 36 plate is the industry standard for machining massive lay-up molds used in manufacturing aerospace carbon fiber composites.
Cryogenic Pipe & Tube
Seamless piping used extensively in LNG (Liquefied Natural Gas) transport and storage, where extreme cold causes standard steel to contract and fail.
Precision Strip & Wire
Ultra-thin Invar 42 strip and wire engineered for stamping electronic lead frames, bimetallic thermostats, and glass-to-metal hermetic seals.
Bar & Rod
Round bar stock supplied for CNC machining precision laser housing components, optical instrument bases, and dimensional reference gauges.
Pipe Fittings
Elbows, tees, and reducers to complete dimensionally stable piping networks in cryogenic and specialized chemical applications.
Flanges
Low-expansion weld neck and blind flanges designed to maintain a secure, leak-proof seal during extreme temperature drops in LNG systems.
Need Precision Alloy Material?
We stock Invar 36 and 42 in plate, sheet, and round bar. Cut-to-size services available for tooling plate.
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