Description
C103 Niobium Alloy Plate is a niobium-hafnium-titanium refractory alloy used in aerospace, propulsion, vacuum, thermal, and research applications. Its nominal alloy designation is Nb-10Hf-1Ti, with approximately 10% hafnium and 1% titanium in a niobium base.
NiTiCu supplies C103 Niobium Sheet, plate, strip, foil, and custom-cut material. ASTM B654/B654M covers these flat-product forms in UNS R04295; requirements for finished components must be specified separately. For a quote, send the thickness, width × length, quantity, material condition, and tolerances, plus a drawing when applicable. The required standard edition, acceptance criteria, inspection, and documentation are agreed in the order specification.
✦ UNS R04295
✦ Nb-10Hf-1Ti Alloy
✦ ASTM B654/B654M
✦ Custom Sizes & Cut-to-Size
✦ COA / MTC / EN 10204 3.1 Requirements Confirmed at RFQ
✦ Prototype & Production Quantities
◈ Why C103 Is Different
Hafnium contributes to strengthening, while titanium is a secondary alloying addition. C103 combines elevated-temperature mechanical capability with formability and weldability when material condition, fabrication procedures, and contamination control are suitable.
| ✦ Key Feature | ✦ Engineering Benefit |
|---|---|
| 🌡️ Elevated-Temperature Strength | Suitable for hot structures and propulsion hardware |
| 🧪 Nb-Hf-Ti Alloy System | Hafnium and titanium strengthen the niobium matrix |
| ⚙️ Good Fabricability | Can be formed, cut, machined, and welded with proper procedures |
| 🚀 Aerospace Heritage | Long history in rocket and spacecraft hardware |
| 📐 Multiple Product Forms | Plate, sheet, strip, foil, and custom blanks |
| 🎯 Custom Processing | Dimensions, condition, tolerance, and surface can be specified |
| 🧾 Material Traceability | Chemistry and inspection documentation available |
| 📦 Protected Export Packing | Packaging adapted to thin sheet or heavy plate |
⚙️ Product Specifications
| ❖ Item | ❖ Typical Supply |
|---|---|
| Product | C103 Niobium Alloy Plate / C103 Niobium Sheet |
| Alloy Family | Niobium-Hafnium-Titanium |
| Nominal Alloy | Nb-10Hf-1Ti |
| UNS Number | R04295 |
| Standard | ASTM B654/B654M |
| Product Forms | Plate / Sheet / Strip / Foil / Cut Pieces |
| Condition | Annealed unless otherwise specified |
| Thickness | Custom |
| Width & Length | Custom / Cut to Drawing |
| Surface | Rolled / Cleaned / Ground / Machined as agreed |
| Processing | Rolling / Annealing / Cutting / Forming / Machining |
| Inspection | Chemistry / Dimensions / Surface / Mechanical Test as required |
| Documentation | COA / MTC / EN 10204 3.1 on request |
| Packaging | Protective Export Packaging |
🧪 Chemistry of Nb-10Hf-1Ti
ASTM B654/B654M identifies UNS R04295 as a niobium-base alloy containing approximately 10% hafnium and 1% titanium. For specification-controlled orders, request the actual heat chemistry and identify any additional impurity limits; the nominal Nb-10Hf-1Ti designation alone does not define the complete acceptance criteria.
| 🧪 Element | 🔬 Engineering Consideration |
|---|---|
| Nb | Base refractory metal |
| Hf | Main strengthening alloy addition |
| Ti | Secondary alloying addition |
| O | Interstitial element affecting strength and ductility |
| N | Important to control for critical fabrication |
| C | Controlled residual / interstitial element |
| H | Requires control in specification-sensitive projects |
| Ta / W / Zr | Residual elements controlled by specification |
For drawing-controlled components, state any chemistry requirements beyond the agreed material specification in the RFQ.
🔬 Engineering Characteristics
Material condition and processing requirements should match the intended component.
🌡️ Refractory-Metal Capability
The niobium base provides the alloy’s high-temperature character. Suitability depends on the service temperature, atmosphere, exposure duration, loading, and oxidation protection.
⚙️ Useful Ductility
Properly processed C103 retains useful ductility for sheet forming, rolling, bending, and fabrication when suitable procedures are followed.
🔧 Machinability
Plate and thicker sections can be cut, drilled, milled, turned, or otherwise machined into finished components.
Tooling, cutting parameters, heat generation, contamination control, and final surface requirements should be considered when tight tolerances are involved.
🔥 Weldability
C103 can be welded, but the reactive nature of niobium alloys means that shielding and cleanliness are extremely important.
Oxygen, nitrogen, hydrogen, and other contaminants can adversely affect weld quality when the material is hot.
🌡️ High-Temperature Service Considerations
C103 Niobium Alloy Plate is used in applications where elevated-temperature mechanical performance and fabrication requirements must be considered together. Typical application areas include:
🔥 Hot Structures → 🚀 Propulsion → 🔬 Vacuum Systems → 🛰️ Space Hardware → 🧪 High-Temperature Research
NASA has documented C-103 in radiation-cooled rocket hardware. This historical application illustrates its role in propulsion systems where material selection, fabrication, and oxidation protection must be considered together. NASA report: Advanced materials for radiation-cooled rockets
⚠️ High-Temperature Capability ≠ Oxidation Resistance
C103 has useful high-temperature mechanical capability, but bare C103 is not inherently resistant to rapid oxidation in hot oxygen-containing environments. Depending on the application, oxidation protection may involve coatings, atmosphere control, cooling, or other engineering measures.
| 🌡️ Service Environment | ⚙️ Important Consideration |
|---|---|
| High Vacuum | Favorable for reducing oxidation exposure |
| Inert Atmosphere | Oxygen contamination and gas purity matter |
| Hot Air / Oxygen | Protective coating or another oxidation-control method may be required |
| Rocket Propulsion | Coating, cooling, heat flux, and thermal cycling must be considered |
| Laboratory Furnace | Temperature, atmosphere, and exposure duration should be defined |
A NASA report describes protective coatings used on C-103 radiation-cooled rocket hardware. Suitability depends on the complete material system and operating conditions. NASA report on C-103 oxidation protection
When requesting an Nb-10Hf-1Ti Plate for high-temperature service, send us the temperature, atmosphere, pressure, exposure time, and drawing whenever possible.
🚀 Aerospace & Propulsion Applications
C103 is particularly well known in aerospace because it combines refractory-metal performance with practical fabrication characteristics.
A C103 Refractory Alloy Sheet can be useful where engineers require a relatively thin, formable section capable of operating in demanding thermal environments.
| 🚀 Application Area | 🔧 Typical Components |
|---|---|
| Rocket Propulsion | Nozzle sections, thrusters, hot structures |
| Spacecraft Systems | Thermal hardware, brackets, high-temperature components |
| Vacuum Equipment | Hot-zone structures and test assemblies |
| Aerospace R&D | Experimental hardware and prototype structures |
| Thermal Systems | Heat-exposed structural components |
| Laboratory Research | Coupons, blanks, fixtures, test specimens |
| Specialty Fabrication | Formed, welded, or machined refractory-metal components |
Thicker plate may be selected for machined structures and blanks, while sheet is generally more suitable for formed and welded assemblies.
⚙️ Forming, Welding & Machining
C103 Niobium Sheet can be formed into components when the material condition, bend radius, tooling, and fabrication procedure are suitable.
✦ Typical Processing Route
Rolling → Annealing → Precision Cutting → Forming → Machining → Welding → Final Inspection
The operations required for an order depend on the product form and drawing.
During welding and high-temperature fabrication, strict cleanliness is important because niobium-based materials can absorb interstitial elements while hot.
For precision components, please provide:
📐 Dimensions
🎯 Tolerances
⭕ Hole Locations
✂️ Edge Requirements
🔥 Heat-Treatment Condition
🔩 Weld Details
✨ Surface Requirements
For a finished C103 Niobium Alloy Plate component, a complete engineering drawing is preferable to nominal dimensions alone.
📐 Plate, Sheet, Strip or Foil?
Specify the actual dimensions and required fabrication route when choosing plate, sheet, strip, foil, or a custom blank.
| 📐 Form | 🔧 Typical Selection |
|---|---|
| Plate | Machined components, structural blanks, thicker sections |
| Sheet | Formed structures, welded assemblies, aerospace hardware |
| Strip | Narrow continuous or cut-length material |
| Foil | Very thin sections and specialized research uses |
| Custom Blank | Drawing-specific prototypes or machined parts |
An ASTM B654 C103 Plate and a C103 Refractory Alloy Sheet use the same basic UNS R04295 alloy, but thickness, dimensional tolerance, condition, flatness, surface requirements, and processing routes may differ significantly.
✨ Surface & Dimensional Control
C103 is frequently used in high-value components, so surface and dimensional requirements should be agreed before manufacturing.
Depending on the order, NiTiCu can review:
| 📏 Control Item | 🔧 Available Requirement |
|---|---|
| Thickness | Standard / Custom tolerance |
| Width & Length | Cut to size |
| Flatness | Agreed before production |
| Surface | Rolled / Cleaned / Ground / Machined |
| Edge | Cut / Machined / Customer specified |
| Condition | Annealed / Customer specified |
| Machining | Cutting / Milling / Drilling as agreed |
| Drawing Inspection | Available for custom components |
A C103 Niobium Sheet intended for forming may require different surface and flatness control from a plate intended for CNC machining.
💡 Engineering Tip:
The tightest tolerance is not always the best tolerance. Selecting dimensions according to the final functional requirement can reduce manufacturing cost and lead time.
🔍 Quality Control & Traceability
For specification-controlled projects, define the inspection scope, acceptance criteria, and heat identification requirements in the purchase specification. Confirm the required inspection and documentation before production.
| 🔍 Inspection | ✅ Availability |
|---|---|
| Chemical Composition | ✓ |
| Heat / Material Identification | ✓ |
| Thickness | ✓ |
| Width & Length | ✓ |
| Flatness | ✓ |
| Surface Inspection | ✓ |
| Dimensional Inspection | ✓ |
| Mechanical Testing | When specified |
| Third-Party Inspection | On request |
| Final Packaging Inspection | ✓ |
🧾 Documentation to Specify in Your RFQ
✦ COA — Certificate of Analysis
✦ MTC — Material Test Certificate
✦ EN 10204 3.1 — On Request
✦ Dimensional Inspection Report
✦ Chemical Composition Report
✦ Third-Party Inspection — When Required
For Nb-10Hf-1Ti Plate, identify the required documents and tests in the RFQ. Availability and document scope, including EN 10204 3.1 requirements, are confirmed in the quotation before production.
📦 Protection for a High-Value Refractory Alloy
C103 is a high-value material, so packaging should protect both the surface and dimensional condition.
For thin C103 Refractory Alloy Sheet, packaging may include rigid backing, clean interleaving materials, moisture-resistant wrapping, reinforced cartons, and external wooden protection.
✦ Typical Packing Process
Clean Surface Protection → Rigid Support / Separation → Moisture-Resistant Barrier → Reinforced Export Packaging → Wooden Case When Required
For thicker plates or machined blanks, pieces can be separated and secured to minimize movement, impact, and edge damage in international transportation.
❖ Why Choose NiTiCu?
NiTiCu supplies refractory and non-ferrous metal materials for international industrial customers. For C103 Niobium Alloy Plate, our team reviews material availability, dimensions, condition, processing, inspection, packaging, and shipping requirements for prototype and production inquiries.
✉️ Request a Custom Quote
To quote C103 Niobium Sheet, plate, strip, or custom parts accurately, please provide as much of the following information as possible:
| ✉️ Required Information | 📋 Example |
|---|---|
| Alloy | C103 / UNS R04295 |
| Product Form | Plate / Sheet / Strip |
| Thickness | Required value |
| Width × Length | Required dimensions |
| Quantity | Pieces / kg |
| Condition | Annealed / Custom |
| Surface | Rolled / Cleaned / Ground / Machined |
| Tolerance | Standard / Drawing |
| Certification | COA / MTC / EN 10204 3.1 |
| Application | Temperature + Atmosphere |
| Drawing | Recommended for precision parts |
For an ASTM B654 C103 Plate, specify the required standard edition and any additional chemistry limits, mechanical-property requirements, special testing, or traceability requirements at the RFQ stage.
For custom orders, the final dimensions, material condition, quantity, and delivery scope are confirmed in the quotation.
Related Products and Purchasing Information
Compare other niobium material options and review the information needed for an RFQ. Match grade, product form and operating conditions to the project; these materials are not automatic substitutes.
Nb-1Zr plate and sheet · unalloyed niobium plate · purchasing guide
💬 Contact NiTiCu
Need a custom C103 Refractory Alloy Sheet, plate, or Nb-Hf-Ti component?
Send us your specifications and our team will review material availability, manufacturing feasibility, testing, lead time, and quotation.
Reviews
There are no reviews yet.