What is Pure Iron

Aerospace engines operate in hellish conditions: temperatures up to 1,200°C, extreme pressure, and constant vibration. The alloys used to make turbine blades and combustion chambers must be able to withstand these forces—and their performance starts with the base material: high purity iron. SLH High Purity Iron has become the preferred choice for aerospace alloy manufacturers, delivering the ultra-low impurity levels and consistency needed to create alloys that meet the industry’s strictest standards.

Aerospace alloys (like nickel-based superalloys) rely on high purity iron to form strong, uniform grain structures. Even tiny impurities—like phosphorus (which causes “hot cracking” at high temperatures) or sulfur (which weakens grain boundaries)—can make an alloy fail. SLH High Purity Iron has a total impurity content of less than 0.02%, with phosphorus ≤0.006% and sulfur ≤0.005%. This is far below the industry standard of 0.05% total impurities and matches the purity of expensive imported high purity iron.

A leading aerospace alloy manufacturer tested SLH High Purity Iron against an imported grade (from a German supplier) in their turbine blade alloy. The results were identical in terms of alloy performance: both alloys had a creep strength of 350 MPa at 1,100°C (a measure of resistance to deformation under high heat). But SLH offered two key advantages: cost and lead time. SLH’s High Purity Iron costs 30% less than the imported grade, and its lead time is 7–10 days, compared to 3–6 months for the German supplier.

This was a game-changer for the alloy manufacturer, which had struggled with supply chain delays due to import issues. By switching to SLH, they reduced their safety stock by 40% and eliminated the risk of production shutdowns. They also saved $2.4 million annually on material costs—funding the development of a new, more heat-resistant alloy.

Consistency is another critical factor for aerospace manufacturers. Each batch of alloy must perform exactly like the last, as even small variations can lead to costly rejections. SLH uses a “multi-point sampling” process for every batch of High Purity Iron: 12 samples are taken from different positions in the ingot, and each is tested with a direct-reading spectrometer. This ensures batch-to-batch composition variation is under 0.002%, compared to 0.005% for the imported grade.

The alloy manufacturer reported that after switching to SLH, their alloy scrap rate dropped from 8% to 2%. This was because the SLH iron’s consistent composition meant the alloy’s grain structure was more uniform, reducing the risk of defects like cracks or voids.

For the aerospace industry, where safety and performance are non-negotiable, SLH High Purity Iron delivers the reliability and quality needed to push the boundaries of engine design. As aerospace companies work to create more fuel-efficient, environmentally friendly engines, SLH’s commitment to purity and consistency will remain a critical part of their success.