Nimocast 80 is the investment-casting grade Henry Wiggin & Co. produced as the cast counterpart to wrought Nimonic 80A, one of the earliest and best-known age-hardenable nickel-chromium superalloys, originally developed for the Whittle jet engine program. It cross-references generally to the BS 3146 investment-casting specification family. Like its wrought parent, Nimocast 80 is strengthened by titanium and aluminum additions that precipitate the gamma-prime (Ni3(Ti,Al)) phase, with roughly 18-21% chromium providing oxidation and hot-corrosion resistance. Wrought Nimonic 80A nominally runs about 1.8-2.7% titanium and 1.0-1.8% aluminum; this record's confirmed composition captures nickel, chromium, iron, and cobalt, but the specific titanium and aluminum percentages for the cast grade were not present in the source data and are omitted here rather than assumed identical to the wrought alloy.

Nimocast 80 was used for gas-turbine components, exhaust valves, and other parts requiring good strength and creep resistance up to roughly 815°C (1500°F) in a cast, near-net-shape form rather than forged or bar stock.

Nimocast 80 presents the classic difficulties of a gamma-prime-strengthened, cast nickel superalloy, made worse relative to wrought Nimonic 80A by the as-cast grain structure. Coarse dendritic grains and localized carbide/eutectic pockets from the casting process act as abrasive high spots that chip and dull cutting edges faster than the same nominal chemistry in wrought bar. Low thermal conductivity keeps heat concentrated at the tool-chip interface instead of carrying it away in the chip, driving crater wear, and the alloy retains a large fraction of its room-temperature strength and hardness well into the red-hot range, so tool edges get no relief from the softening effect that helps when cutting steel faster.

Work hardening is severe and immediate: dwelling, rubbing, or light interrupted cuts harden the surface layer and every subsequent pass has to cut through material tougher than what was there before. A steady, adequate chip load is mandatory. Nimocast 80 also galls and builds up on tool edges readily. Rigid setups, sharp positive-rake coated carbide grades suited to cast superalloys, cutting speeds toward the conservative end for this material class, and continuous, high-volume coolant are the standard countermeasures.