Aging-treatment-induced soft magnetism in nickel-chromium-based superalloy X-750

The precipitation-hardenable nickel-chromium-based superalloy X-750 exhibits excellent mechanical properties at high-to-cryogenic temperatures. However, little is known about its other properties, even though it is used in a wide range of applications. To elucidate the additional properties of X-750, we studied the effects of its nanostructural evolution on both its mechanical and magnetic properties. We found that precipitation not only mechanically hardens this superalloy, but also induces soft magnetism as well as notable magnetic losses at ultralow temperatures. This information should aid the design of superconducting instruments based on the X-750 superalloy as a structural material.