Stellite was invented by Elwood Haynes[1] in the early 1900s, initially as a material for making cutlery that would not stain or require constant cleaning.
Stellite alloys also tend to have extremely high melting points due to the cobalt and chromium content.
Typical applications for Stellite alloys include saw teeth, hardfacing, and acid-resistant machine parts.
In the early 1980s, experiments were done in the United Kingdom to make artificial hip joints and other bone replacements out of precision-cast Stellite alloys.
Care was needed in grinding the blanks and these were marked at one end to show the correct orientation, without which the cutting edge could chip prematurely.
There the cobalt would be activated by the neutron flux in the reactor and become cobalt-60, a radioisotope with a five-year half life that releases very energetic gamma rays.
[5] Additionally, due to its strength retention at high temperatures, it is employed in power generation, chemical processing, and the food and pharmaceutical industries.