V-36 is a cast cobalt-base superalloy identified internationally by the DIN designation CoCr25Ni20MoWNb, placing it apart from the wear-resistant hardfacing Stellites covered elsewhere in this library. Where alloys like Stellite 4, 6 and 7 are optimized primarily for room- and moderate-temperature wear resistance via carbide hardfacing, V-36 belongs to the cast high-temperature cobalt superalloy family, strengthened by a combination of solid-solution hardening (chromium, molybdenum) and carbide precipitation, with a substantial 20% nickel addition that is unusual for a cobalt-base grade and improves matrix ductility and toughness relative to the more highly carbide-laden hardfacing alloys.

The niobium addition implied by the DIN designation is characteristic of cast cobalt superalloys used in hot-section turbine components: niobium is a strong carbide former that helps refine and stabilize the carbide network at elevated temperature, improving creep and thermal-fatigue resistance compared to alloys relying on chromium carbides alone. V-36 is a genuinely obscure, lightly documented designation - it does not appear in current major manufacturer alloy catalogs we were able to verify - so this page presents only the composition data we could confirm, with gaps stated plainly rather than filled in.

Cast cobalt superalloys of the V-36 type present a different machining profile than the wear-resistant hardfacing Stellites. Where the hardfacing grades derive their difficulty mainly from a hard, abrasive carbide phase, cast turbine-grade cobalt superalloys combine that carbide hardness with high retained strength at elevated temperature and pronounced work hardening under mechanical load - the alloy is designed specifically not to soften in service, so it will not soften usefully under the heat of the cutting process either. Low thermal conductivity concentrates heat at the tool-chip interface rather than carrying it away in the chip, accelerating crater wear.

As with all cobalt- and nickel-base superalloys, maintaining a constant, adequately heavy chip load is critical - hesitation or rubbing at the cutting edge generates a hardened surface layer that is significantly tougher to machine on the following pass. Rigid setups, sharp positive cutting edges, hard PVD/CVD-coated carbide grades formulated for heat-resistant superalloys, and generous, consistent coolant delivery are the standard countermeasures. Because this is a cast structure, expect some variability in machinability depending on grain size, porosity, and any post-cast heat treatment applied to the specific part.