Ferralloy is a leading supplier of high-performance metals including Inconel® metal alloys, superalloys, stainless steel, refractory metals, and titanium. We provide bar, wire, sheet, plate, and tubing as well as custom metal castings, forgings, and machined and fabricated components for many applications and industries.

Learn more about Inconel® alloys and how they are used.

What is Inconel®? An Overview

Inconel® alloys are a group of high-performance superalloys valued for their high strength and resistance to corrosion and oxidation. They are used for applications in the most harsh environments, including aerospace, pollution, waste processing, oil and gas extraction, petrochemical processing, and offshore industrial and marine settings.

The original Inconel® 600 alloy features a composition of >72% nickel, 14-17% chromium, 6-10% iron, approximately 1% manganese, and traces of copper, silicon, carbon, and sulfur. Additional grades have been developed over the years.

While Inconel® variants are made primarily from nickel, chromium, and iron, the different grades contain varying combinations of additional metals like molybdenum, niobium, tantalum, cobalt, aluminum, and titanium. The proportions of materials in each grade make them well-suited to different conditions and uses.

Inconel® 625

Inconel® 625 (UNS N06625/W.Nr. 2.4856) is a high-strength material with excellent fabricability and corrosion resistance. Due to its combination of molybdenum and niobium, it is resistant to pitting and crevice corrosion, as well as chloride-ion stress corrosion cracking. This superalloy is easily weldable, brazeable, and offers high thermal-fatigue strength while resisting oxidation. 

Inconel® 625 can be used in everything from cryogenic conditions to temperatures up to 1800 °F (982 °C). Common applications include: 

  • Aircraft ducting systems
  • Steam-line bellows
  • Submarine auxiliary propulsion motors 
  • Wire rope for mooring cables 
  • Propeller blades for motor patrol gunboats

Inconel® 718

Inconel® 718 (UNS N07718/W.Nr. 2.4668) is a high-strength, corrosion-resistant superalloy, specified as solution annealed and precipitation hardened. It can be easily fabricated into complex parts and is suitable for exposure to temperatures between -423 °F to 1300 °F. Since Inconel® 718 features good fatigue-, creep-, and rupture resistance, it is commonly used in applications such as:

  • Liquid-fueled rocket components
  • Casings
  • Rings
  • Cryogenic tankage
  • Aircraft sheet metal parts
  • Gas turbine engine components 
  • Fasteners 

Inconel® Alloy Forms

Inconel® alloys are available in raw material grades as well as forgings and castings, such as open die, closed die, or rolled ring forms. Our services also include finishing, including both rough and finished machining.

Our raw material forms include:

  • Bar
  • Wire
  • Sheet
  • Plate
  • Forged Shapes
  • Rolled Rings
  • Forged Discs
  • Flanges
  • Tube

Inconel® Alloy Applications

Inconel® alloys are commonly used in high-pressure, high-temperature, and corrosive or oxidative environments. Some examples include:

Aerospace and Jet Engines

The high nickel content of Inconel® alloys gives them low rates of thermal expansion at high temperatures. This is beneficial in jet engines, which can reach temperatures over 2,000°F. Inconel® also resists corrosion and oxidation at high temperatures so structural integrity of the metal is maintained. Engine, frame, and exhaust components may be made of Inconel® alloys.

Oil and Gas Extraction/Petrochemicals

Inconel® retains high fatigue and thermal fatigue strength in the presence of high temperatures and resists damage from volatile and corrosive gasses. In oil and gas extraction applications, it is often used for fluid separation equipment and lining transfer piping.

Pollution Control and Waste Processing

Pollution and waste applications involve high volumes of hazardous and acidic substances. Inconel® alloys with higher proportions of molybdenum are less prone to pitting and crevice corrosion for storage vessels, pipelines, and other structures. Welded components made from these grades are not subject to carbide precipitation and are therefore good choices for welding applications.

Marine Industry

Inconel® materials are resistant to sodium chloride, making them useful in saltwater conditions as high-temperature alternatives to 316 stainless steel. Seawater systems in factories near the ocean, offshore platforms, or power and processing plants that use seawater as a coolant all benefit from Inconel® components. It can also be used for wire ropes, propeller blades, motor components, and equipment fasteners and hangers in underwater communication systems.

Ferralloy is a Leading Supplier of Custom Engineered Inconel® Alloys

Ferralloy is a premier supplier of Inconel® and other superalloys, stainless steel, titanium, and refractory metals. We also provide castings, forgings, machining, aluminizing, and fabrications to meet a range of demanding industrial applications. We are dedicated to exceeding expectations with our products, engineering support, and customer service.

Contact us to learn more about our selection of materials and capabilities, or to request a quote for your next project.

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