Nickel Alloy Inconel® 600 – Properties, Applications and Technical Data
Inconel 600 is a nickel-chromium alloy designed for excellent oxidation resistance, corrosion resistance and reliable performance across a wide temperature range. The material combines high strength with good fabricability and is particularly valued in environments involving heat, chemical exposure and mechanical stress. Inconel 600 is widely used in energy systems, chemical processing, furnace components and aerospace applications where long-term stability is critical.
Properties of Inconel 600
Inconel 600 is a solid solution strengthened nickel alloy in which chromium provides oxidation resistance while nickel ensures corrosion resistance and structural stability. The alloy maintains mechanical integrity at elevated temperatures and resists chloride stress corrosion cracking. It offers good weldability and formability, making it suitable for complex components exposed to demanding service conditions.
- Type: Nickel-chromium alloy
- Alloy: Ni-Cr (Inconel 600)
- Structure: Austenitic nickel-based alloy
- Designations: Inconel 600, Alloy 600, UNS N06600, Werkstoffnr 2.4816, ASTM B166, ASTM B168, AMS 5540
Advantages
- Excellent resistance to oxidation and high-temperature corrosion
- Good mechanical strength across a wide temperature range
- Resistant to chloride stress corrosion cracking
- Good weldability and formability
- Reliable long-term thermal stability
Limitations
- Higher cost compared to standard stainless steels
- Lower strength than precipitation-hardened nickel alloys
- Not optimized for extremely sulfur-rich environments
Typical applications
Energy & Heat processing
Furnace components, heat treating equipment and thermal processing systems.
Chemical processing
Reactors, heat exchangers and piping exposed to corrosive media.
Aerospace industry
High-temperature structural components and exhaust systems.
Industrial heating systems
Heating elements, retorts and insulation hardware.
Corrosion resistance
Inconel 600 provides excellent resistance to oxidation, carburization and many corrosive chemicals. The alloy performs well in chloride environments and maintains surface stability at elevated temperatures, making it suitable for long service life in aggressive industrial atmospheres.
Environments where Inconel 600 performs well:
- High-temperature oxidizing atmospheres
- Chloride-containing environments
- Heat treating and furnace conditions
- Moderate chemical processing environments
Environments to avoid:
- Highly sulfurous atmospheres at elevated temperatures
- Applications requiring very high mechanical strength beyond alloy capability
Technical data (annealed condition)
| Yield strength (0.2%): |
~240–380 MPa |
| Tensile strength: |
~550–690 MPa |
| Elongation at break: |
~30–45% |
| Density: |
~8.47 g/cm³ |
| Modulus of elasticity: |
~205 GPa |
| Thermal conductivity: |
~14.9 W/m·K |
| Recommended maximum temperature: |
≤1150°C |
| Weldability: |
Very good – recommended filler material: AWS A5.14 ERNiCr-3 |
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Contact us if you need technical advice or a quote – we will help you find the right material for your application.
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- Large stock of nickel alloys
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