Inconel 600 is a superalloy with extra-ordinary properties like high performance, excellent mechanical strength, better surface stability, thermal creep deformation protected nature, and anti-corrosive from oxidation.

Superalloy production has heavily relied on both chemical and process innovations. Superalloys possess high-temperature quality through the strengthened solution. One of the important strengthening mechanisms is precipitation strengthening that forms secondary phase precipitates like gamma prime and carbides. Aluminium and chromium provide resistance to oxidation and corrosion.

What is Inconel 600 material?

Inconel is a family of superalloy with Austenitic-Nickel-Chromium contents with a popular face-centered cubic crystal-like structure. Inconel 600 is a nickel-chromium alloy developed to suit cryogenic to elevated temperatures in the range of 2000◦ F(1093◦C). Inconel 600 is known as UNS N06600 as mentioned in the international specifications.

Physical properties

Corrosion resistance

Inconel alloy 600 is corrosion resistant to various types of corrosive media. Chromium content in Inconel alloy 600 makes it better corrosion resistant than Nickel (alloy200) and Nickel ( alloy201, low carbon), especially in the oxidizing environment.

The nickel content in the Inconel 600 makes it extremely resistant under reducing conditions and make it corrosion resistant by various organic and inorganic compounds. In Inconel 600, nickel content enables it to be extra-ordinary resistant to chloride-ion stress corrosion cracking and also provides amazing resistance capabilities to alkaline solutions.

Chemical composition of Inconel 600

Inconel 600 material is fairly resistant to corrosion in the acids like acetic acid, formic acid, stearic acid, and other organic acids; but its medium corrosion resistant in the inorganic acids. The Inconel 600 ASTM alloy is an excellent corrosion resistant in the first and the second recycling use of the high purity water in the nuclear reactor to avoid its rink of getting corrosion cracked.

Alloy Inconel 600 ASTM may subject to cracks in stress corrosion environments with higher temperatures, especially in high-strength caustic alkalies. Inconel 600 material hence has to be completely stress-relieved at 1650°F/1 hr or 1450°F/4 hr (900°C/1 hr or 790°C/4 hr) before processing it, and operating stresses need to be kept to a minimum level. When in contact with mercury, Inconel 600 material may stress-corrode cracking at higher temperatures. The suggested caustic-alkali service should be applied if the alloy is worked on in an application where mercury may have a presence at high temperatures.

Alloy Inconel 600 is broadly used in the furnace and heat-treating for boxes muffle, roller hearths, retorts, and similar parts that need to be oxidation and furnace atmosphere resistance. The alloy Inconel 600 is the standard material for nitriding containers as it is resistant to nitrogen at high temperatures.

Specifications 

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

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 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.