Nilo / Invar 36 100.0mm Dia Rod

Invar/Nilo Alloy 36

100.0mm dia Rod 
W.Nr 1.3912 UNS K93600 ;
cold drawn and annealed round bar / rod
Controlled Expansion Alloy ; Glass Sealing Alloy ; Thermal Expansion Alloy ;
UK Stockist & Distributor , ship worldwide

Note : Contact us directly if you need larger quantity, custom cut lengths or lengths longer than those listed above. We will be happy to assist you.

1. Aerospace and Composite Tooling

This is currently the largest industrial application for Invar.

• Molds for Carbon Fiber: When manufacturing carbon fiber parts for aircraft (like the Boeing 787 or Airbus A350), the parts are cured in high-temperature autoclaves. Because Invar’s expansion matches that of carbon fiber, the mold doesn't "stretch" the part as it heats up, ensuring perfect aerodynamic shapes.

• Satellite Components: Space environments undergo extreme temperature swings. Invar rods are used as structural supports for cameras and sensors to prevent them from losing focus as the satellite moves between sunlight and shadow.

2. Precision Instruments and Metrology

• Laser Housing: Invar rods provide the framework for laser resonators. If the distance between laser mirrors changes due to heat, the frequency of the laser shifts. Invar keeps that distance "frozen."

• Seismographs: Used in sensors that detect minute movements in the earth’s crust, where thermal expansion of the instrument itself would look like a fake earthquake.

• Measuring Tapes and Gauges: High-precision surveying tapes (Invar tapes) are used for baseline measurements in land surveying because they don't stretch on hot days.

3. Scientific and Optical Equipment

• Telescope Supports: The frames holding large mirrors in astronomical observatories are often made of Invar to ensure the telescope stays in sharp focus throughout the night as the air cools.

• Microscopy: Used in the stages of high-magnification electron microscopes to prevent the sample from "drifting" while it is being viewed.

4. Telecommunications

• Waveguides and Filters: In microwave and radio frequency (RF) equipment, the physical dimensions of a cavity determine the frequency it filters. Invar is used in base stations and satellites to ensure the signal doesn't "drift" off-frequency in different weather conditions.

5. Energy and Cryogenics

• LNG Tankers: Invar is used in the membrane tanks of ships that transport Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG). At $-163\text{°C}$, most metals shrink significantly, which could rupture the tank. Invar stays stable, preventing structural failure.

• Overhead Power Lines: Some high-capacity power lines use an Invar core ($ACCR$ cables). This prevents the power lines from "sagging" toward the ground when they get hot during high electrical demand.