Nickel Alloy 600

Inconel 600, also known as Nickel Alloy 600, is a superalloy with extraordinary properties that make it highly suitable for demanding applications. This nickel-chromium alloy is renowned for its excellent mechanical strength, resistance to oxidation, and superior surface stability. It is designed to withstand both cryogenic and elevated temperatures, making it ideal for a wide range of industries, including aerospace, chemical processing, and power generation. The material’s ability to perform in extreme environments is largely due to the strengthened solution, which incorporates precipitation strengthening mechanisms. These secondary phase precipitates, such as gamma prime and carbides, contribute to Inconel 600's outstanding thermal creep resistance. Inconel 600 is particularly valuable for its high resistance to oxidation and corrosion, even in aggressive environments. The alloy’s high chromium content helps protect against oxidation, while the nickel content ensures its stability at elevated temperatures. This makes Nickel Alloy 600 an excellent choice for use in applications that involve exposure to high heat and corrosive substances, such as heat exchangers, furnace components, and gas turbines. Inconel 600’s face-centered cubic crystal structure, characteristic of many austenitic-nickel-chromium alloys, contributes to its exceptional toughness and ductility. Its ability to perform reliably in both cryogenic and high-temperature conditions, ranging up to 2000°F (1093°C), further underscores its versatility. This makes Nickel Alloy 600 a crucial material in industries that demand both high temperature and corrosion resistance, ensuring the long-term performance of critical components.

Corrosion Resistance

Fabrication and Heat Treatment

Applications

Weldability

Inconel 600 material is highly resistant to corrosion in many organic acids, such as acetic acid, formic acid, stearic acid, and others. However, it exhibits only medium resistance in inorganic acids. Despite this, Inconel 600 is particularly valuable in the nuclear industry, where it is used in the high-purity water systems of nuclear reactors. Its resistance to corrosion is critical in the first and second recycling stages of high-purity water, helping to prevent the risk of corrosion cracking in such environments. Inconel 600’s excellent performance in these demanding applications can be attributed to its strong chemical composition, which is optimized for corrosion resistance.

However, Inconel 600 material can be susceptible to stress corrosion cracking in environments where high temperatures and caustic alkalies are present. To mitigate this risk, Inconel 600 must undergo complete stress-relieving at temperatures of 1650°F (1 hour) or 1450°F (4 hours) (900°C/1 hr or 790°C/4 hr) before processing. Operating stresses should also be minimized to prevent failure. Furthermore, when Inconel 600 comes into contact with mercury at higher temperatures, it can experience stress-corrosion cracking. In such cases, appropriate service conditions should be applied to avoid damage.

Inconel 600 is widely used in furnace and heat-treating applications, including for parts like boxes, muffles, roller hearths, and retorts that require resistance to oxidation and high-temperature furnace atmospheres. Additionally, its ability to withstand nitrogen at high temperatures makes Inconel 600 the standard material for nitriding containers, highlighting its strength in high-temperature applications.

The Inconel 600 chemical composition includes a high percentage of nickel and chromium, which contributes to its excellent corrosion resistance. This makes it an ideal material for critical applications in environments subject to extreme conditions.

‍Physical properties

Grade	Density (g/cm3)	Melting Point °C	Elastic Modulus (GPa)	Co-eff of Thermal Expansion (μm/m/°C)	Thermal Conductivity (W/m.K)	Specific Heat ( J/Kg.K)	Electrical Resistivity (μΩ.m)
Grade	Density (g/cm3)	Melting Point °C	Elastic Modulus (GPa)	21-93°C	Thermal Conductivity (W/m.K)	At 20°F	Electrical Resistivity (μΩ.m)
Inconel 600	8.43	1413	207	13.3	14.8	500	1.04

[#corrosion-resistance]Nickel Alloy 600 Corrosion resistance[#corrosion-resistance]

Inconel alloy 600 is highly corrosion-resistant, making it an ideal choice for a wide range of applications in industries exposed to harsh environments. The chromium content in Inconel alloy 600 enhances its corrosion resistance, particularly in oxidizing environments. This makes it far superior to other alloys, such as Nickel Alloy 200 and Nickel Alloy 201, especially in applications involving exposure to oxygen, steam, or other oxidative agents. The alloy’s high chromium content creates a protective oxide layer on the surface, which shields it from corrosion.

The nickel content in Inconel 600 also plays a crucial role in its outstanding performance under reducing conditions. It enables the alloy to resist corrosion from various organic and inorganic compounds, including acids and salts, making it highly versatile in applications ranging from chemical processing to aerospace. The nickel in Inconel 600 further improves its resistance to chloride-ion stress corrosion cracking, a common problem in many alloys exposed to chloride-rich environments.

Additionally, Inconel 600 exhibits remarkable resistance to alkaline solutions, which is essential for industries dealing with harsh alkaline chemicals. The combination of nickel and chromium in Inconel 600 gives it excellent durability and reliability in a wide variety of applications. This makes Inconel 600 the material of choice in demanding environments, where corrosion resistance and high-temperature performance are paramount.

‍Specifications

GRADE	UNS	OLD BRITISH		G0ST	OR	AFNOR	JIS
INCONEL 600	N0600	BS	EN	XH60BT	ЭИ868	NC15FE11M	NCF 600
INCONEL 600	N0600	NA 14	NiCr15Fe	XH60BT	ЭИ868	NC15FE11M	NCF 600

[#machinability]Nickel Alloy 600 Machinability[#machinability]

Inconel 600 ASTM is slightly less machinable than Type 303 free-machining stainless steel and slightly more machinable than Type 304 stainless. The Inconel 600 alloy can be best handled with heavy-duty equipment e.g. with cutting tools large and heavy enough to bear the loads and to instantly get it dissipated due to the generated heat. Tools need to be sharp and with the proper geometry.

‍[#fabrication-and-heat-treatment]Nickel Alloy 600 Heat Treatment[#fabrication-and-heat-treatment]

Inconel 600 is non-magnetic and possesses excellent mechanical properties, and showcases the needed combination of high strength and good weldability properties under various temperatures. Alloy Inconel 600 ASTM is also heat resistant and provides freedom from aging or stress corrosion both in annealed and extremely cold work conditions.

[#applications]Nickel Alloy 600 Application[#applications]‍

1. In Pressure Vessel and Reactors

2. Chemical processing, food processing, and aerospace industries.

3. In nuclear equipment, steam generators, superheaters, and electronic parts.

4. It is common in Gas turbine blades, seals, and combustors, Turbocharger rotors, and seals.

5. Inconel is now widely being used in the boilers of waste incinerators.

6. Inconel alloy is also used in the automobile industry.

7. Inconel 600 is recommended in the petrochemical works production of catalytic regeneration applications where a temperature of more than 700°C is recommended to obtain a longer service life.

NOTE: Inconel 600 is a registered trademark of Special Metals Corporation.