Haynes 242 Alloy for Lares 2 Satellite

The satellite LARES 2 is designed to test dragging of inertial frames, or frame-dragging, predicted by Einstein’s theory General Relativity, with accuracy a few parts in thousand. For this purpose, besides the typical requirements for space construction, high density alloy must be used. In paper are reported studies performed on nickel alloy, Haynes 242, that considered possible candidate manufacturing all metallic and other passive geodetic satellites. 242 mechanical properties compliant mission. Three different casting nominal composition have been prepared tested along commercial bar 242. results tensile hardness tests several specimens aging time reported, relevant metallographic analysis. Furthermore, machinability, screw, which most demanding item from point view, reported.