Inconel 600 Alloy 600 (UNS N06600, W.Nr. 2.4816)

spore: profile
id: inconel-600
spore_version: 0.2
family: nickel-alloys
name: Inconel 600
abbreviation: Alloy 600 (UNS N06600, W.Nr. 2.4816)
role: corrosion-resistant nickel-chromium-iron alloy
category: metals
type: nickel-superalloys
summary: |
  Inconel 600 is a solid-solution nickel-chromium-iron alloy with at least 72 % nickel plus cobalt, 14 to 17 % chromium and 6 to 10 % iron. The Special Metals bulletin gives a density of 0.306 lb/in3 (8.47 Mg/m3), a melting range of 1354 to 1413 °C and a Curie temperature of -124 °C. It is not precipitation hardenable, so it is strengthened only by cold work: annealed rod and plate have a yield strength of 170 to 345 MPa and a tensile strength of 550 to 690 MPa. It is virtually immune to chloride-ion stress-corrosion cracking, and its Charpy toughness at -196 °C is still 82.4 J in the transverse direction of 1/2 in plate.
best_for: Hot or cryogenic-to-hot parts in oxidising and corrosive chemical service where chloride stress-corrosion cracking must be avoided, such as furnace parts, heater sheaths, electronic support parts and springs
weakest_at: Strength in the annealed state (170 to 345 MPa yield, so cold work is needed for more), and sensitization between 540 and 760 °C, which makes it prone to intergranular attack; it also cracks in high-temperature, high-strength caustic alkali unless stress-relieved
identity:
  formula: 'Nickel-chromium-iron solid-solution alloy: 72.0 min nickel (plus cobalt), 14.0 to 17.0 chromium, 6.00 to 10.00 iron, with maximum carbon 0.15, manganese 1.00, silicon 0.50, copper 0.50 and sulfur 0.015 (wt%); balance not specified beyond these limits'
  source: sm600
  where: Table 1, Limiting Chemical Composition (Special Metals bulletin SMC-027); UNS N06600 and W.Nr. 2.4816 from the first paragraph
  designations:
    - system: UNS
      code: N06600
      source: sm600
      where: Introduction, first paragraph (UNS N06600/W.Nr. 2.4816)
    - system: EN
      code: '2.4816'
      source: sm600
      where: Introduction, first paragraph (UNS N06600/W.Nr. 2.4816)
    - system: EN name
      code: NiCr15Fe
      source: metalcor
      where: Standards heading, EN name
    - system: BS
      code: NA14
      source: wiki-inconel
      where: Other designations list, Alloy 600 entry (NA14, BS3076, 2.4816 ...)
    - system: DIN
      code: '17742'
      source: hpalloys
      where: Common Specifications table, Identification row (DIN 17742)
    - system: ASTM
      code: B166
      note: bar
      source: hpalloys
      where: Common Specifications table, Bar row
    - system: ASTM
      code: B168
      note: sheet, plate and strip
      source: hpalloys
      where: Common Specifications table, Sheet, Plate, or Strip row
    - system: ASTM
      code: B167
      note: seamless pipe and tube
      source: hpalloys
      where: Common Specifications table, Pipe - Seamless row
    - system: ASTM
      code: B163
      note: seamless tube
      source: hpalloys
      where: Common Specifications table, Tube - Seamless row
    - system: ASTM
      code: B517
      note: welded pipe
      source: hpalloys
      where: Common Specifications table, Pipe - Welded row
    - system: ASTM
      code: B516
      note: welded tube
      source: hpalloys
      where: Common Specifications table, Tube - Welded row
    - system: ASTM
      code: B564
      note: forging and bar
      source: hpalloys
      where: Common Specifications table, Forging row
    - system: AMS
      code: '5665'
      note: bar and forgings
      source: hpalloys
      where: Common Specifications table, Bar and Forging rows
    - system: AMS
      code: '5540'
      note: sheet, strip and plate
      source: hpalloys
      where: Common Specifications table, Sheet, Plate, or Strip row
    - system: AMS
      code: '5580'
      note: seamless tubing
      source: hpalloys
      where: Common Specifications table, Tube - Seamless row
    - system: Trade name
      code: INCONEL alloy 600
      source: sm600
      where: Page header INCONEL alloy 600 and first paragraph INCONEL (nickel-chromium-iron) alloy 600
tags:
  environments: []
  stresses: []
  applications:
    - structures
    - electronics-and-chips
    - mechanisms
properties:
  - benchmark: density
    label: Density, annealed (typical)
    value: 0.306
    unit: lb/in3
    scope: material
    conditions:
      basis: typical physical constant, not for specification use (bulletin text)
      unit_in_source: lb/in3 (printed with 8.47 Mg/m3)
    method: Value printed in a Special Metals physical constants table
    status: ground
    source: sm600
    where: Table 2, Physical Constants, Density row
  - benchmark: density
    label: Density, 20 °C (datasheet for material 2.4816)
    value: 8.5
    unit: g/cm3
    scope: material
    conditions:
      temperature: 20 °C
      grade: 2.4816 (NiCr15Fe)
    method: Value printed in a German datasheet for material 2.4816
    status: ground
    source: metalcor
    where: Physical Properties 20 °C section, Density row
  - benchmark: melting_point
    label: Melting range
    value: 1354
    value_high: 1413
    bound: range
    unit: °C
    scope: material
    conditions:
      unit_in_source: 2470 to 2575 °F
      pressure: not stated
    method: Range printed in a Special Metals physical constants table
    status: ground
    source: sm600
    where: Table 2, Physical Constants, Melting Range, °C row
  - benchmark: curie_temperature
    label: Curie temperature
    value: -124
    unit: °C
    scope: material
    conditions:
      unit_in_source: '-192 °F'
    method: Value printed in a Special Metals physical constants table
    status: ground
    source: sm600
    where: Table 2, Physical Constants, Curie Temperature, °C row
  - benchmark: specific_heat
    label: Specific heat capacity at 20 °C
    value: 444
    unit: J/kg °C
    scope: material
    conditions:
      temperature: 20 °C (the matching row of Table 3 is 20 °C)
      unit_in_source: 0.106 Btu/lb-°F at 70 °F
    method: Value printed in a Special Metals physical constants table
    status: ground
    source: sm600
    where: Table 2, Specific Heat, J/kg-°C row (metric row of Table 3 at 20 °C)
  - benchmark: electrical_resistivity
    label: Electrical resistivity at 20 °C
    value: 1.03
    unit: µΩ·m
    scope: material
    conditions:
      temperature: 20 °C
      unit_in_source: μΩ-m (620 ohm·circ mil/ft at 70 °F)
    method: Value printed in the metric column of a Special Metals thermal properties table
    status: ground
    note: The metalcor datasheet gives 0.98 Ω·mm2/m for the same grade without a stated temperature; the bulletin value is used.
    source: sm600
    where: Table 3, Thermal Properties, Electrical Resistivity column, row 20 °C
  - benchmark: thermal_conductivity
    label: Thermal conductivity at 20 °C
    value: 14.9
    unit: W/(m·K)
    scope: material
    conditions:
      temperature: 20 °C
      unit_in_source: W/m°C; 103 Btu·in/ft2·h·°F at 70 °F
    method: Value printed in the metric column of a Special Metals thermal properties table
    status: ground
    source: sm600
    where: Table 3, Thermal Properties, Thermal Conductivity column, row 20 °C
  - benchmark: thermal_conductivity
    label: Thermal conductivity at 800 °C
    value: 27.5
    unit: W/(m·K)
    scope: material
    conditions:
      temperature: 800 °C
      unit_in_source: W/m°C; 145 Btu·in/ft2·h·°F at 800 °F
    method: Value printed in the metric column of a Special Metals thermal properties table
    status: ground
    source: sm600
    where: Table 3, Thermal Properties, Thermal Conductivity column, row 800 °C
  - benchmark: cte
    label: Mean coefficient of linear thermal expansion at 20 °C
    value: 10.4
    unit: ppm/K
    scope: material
    conditions:
      temperature: 20 °C (room-temperature value measured from -196 °C, per Table 3 footnote a)
      unit_in_source: μm/m·°C
    method: Value printed in the metric column of a Special Metals thermal properties table
    status: ground
    source: sm600
    where: Table 3, Thermal Properties, Coefficient of Expansion column, row 20 °C
  - benchmark: elastic_modulus
    label: Modulus of elasticity at 22 °C
    value: 214
    unit: GPa
    scope: material
    conditions:
      temperature: 22 °C
      unit_in_source: GPa (metric row of Table 4)
    method: Value printed in a Special Metals modulus table
    status: ground
    source: sm600
    where: Table 4, Modulus of Elasticity, Young Modulus column, GPa, row 22 °C
  - benchmark: poissons_ratio
    label: Poisson's ratio at 22 °C
    value: 0.324
    unit: '-'
    scope: material
    conditions:
      temperature: 22 °C
    method: Value printed in a Special Metals modulus table
    status: ground
    source: sm600
    where: Table 4, Modulus of Elasticity, Poisson's Ratio column, metric row 22 °C
  - benchmark: yield_strength
    label: Yield strength 0.2 % offset, cold-drawn rod and bar, annealed (typical range)
    value: 170
    value_high: 345
    bound: range
    unit: MPa
    scope: material
    conditions:
      form: cold-drawn rod and bar
      temper: annealed
      temperature: room temperature
      unit_in_source: 25 to 50 ksi
      note_in_source: composite range for various sizes, not suitable for specification
    method: Nominal range printed in a Special Metals mechanical property table
    status: ground
    source: sm600
    where: Table 6, Typical Mechanical-Property Ranges, Rod and Bar, Cold-Drawn, Annealed row
  - benchmark: ultimate_tensile_strength
    label: Tensile strength, cold-drawn rod and bar, annealed (typical range)
    value: 550
    value_high: 690
    bound: range
    unit: MPa
    scope: material
    conditions:
      form: cold-drawn rod and bar
      temper: annealed
      temperature: room temperature
      unit_in_source: 80 to 100 ksi
      note_in_source: composite range for various sizes, not suitable for specification
    method: Nominal range printed in a Special Metals mechanical property table
    status: ground
    source: sm600
    where: Table 6, Typical Mechanical-Property Ranges, Rod and Bar, Cold-Drawn, Annealed row
  - benchmark: elongation
    label: Elongation, cold-drawn rod and bar, annealed (typical range)
    value: 35
    value_high: 55
    bound: range
    unit: '%'
    scope: material
    conditions:
      form: cold-drawn rod and bar
      temper: annealed
      temperature: room temperature
    method: Nominal range printed in a Special Metals mechanical property table
    status: ground
    source: sm600
    where: Table 6, Typical Mechanical-Property Ranges, Rod and Bar, Cold-Drawn, Annealed row, Elongation column
  - benchmark: yield_strength
    label: Yield strength 0.2 % offset, hot-rolled plate annealed 1600 °F (870 °C) 1 hr
    value: 331
    unit: MPa
    scope: material
    conditions:
      form: hot-rolled plate, 0.875 in
      temper: annealed 1600 °F (870 °C)/1 hr
      temperature: room temperature
      unit_in_source: 48.0 ksi
    method: Value printed in a Special Metals room-temperature property table
    status: ground
    source: sm600
    where: Table 9, Room-Temperature Properties of Hot-Rolled Plate, row 1600 °F (870 °C), Yield Strength column
  - benchmark: ultimate_tensile_strength
    label: Tensile strength, hot-rolled plate annealed 1600 °F (870 °C) 1 hr
    value: 675.7
    unit: MPa
    scope: material
    conditions:
      form: hot-rolled plate, 0.875 in
      temper: annealed 1600 °F (870 °C)/1 hr
      temperature: room temperature
      unit_in_source: 98.0 ksi
    method: Value printed in a Special Metals room-temperature property table
    status: ground
    source: sm600
    where: Table 9, Room-Temperature Properties of Hot-Rolled Plate, row 1600 °F (870 °C), Tensile Strength column
  - benchmark: elongation
    label: Elongation, hot-rolled plate annealed 1600 °F (870 °C) 1 hr
    value: 40
    unit: '%'
    scope: material
    conditions:
      form: hot-rolled plate, 0.875 in
      temper: annealed 1600 °F (870 °C)/1 hr
      temperature: room temperature
    method: Value printed in a Special Metals room-temperature property table
    status: ground
    source: sm600
    where: Table 9, Room-Temperature Properties of Hot-Rolled Plate, row 1600 °F (870 °C), Elongation column
  - benchmark: fatigue_strength
    label: Rotating-beam fatigue strength at 10^8 cycles, annealed
    value: 268.9
    unit: MPa
    scope: material
    conditions:
      temperature: room temperature
      test: rotating-beam, polished specimens
      cycles: 10^8
      temper: annealed
      unit_in_source: 39.0 ksi
    method: Value printed in a Special Metals fatigue table, rotating-beam tests on polished specimens
    status: ground
    source: sm600
    where: Table 16, Room-Temperature Fatigue Strength, Annealed row, Fatigue Strength column
  - benchmark: charpy_impact_energy
    label: Charpy keyhole impact energy, 1/2 in plate, transverse, -196 °C (-320 °F)
    value: 82.4
    unit: J
    scope: material
    conditions:
      temperature: '-196 °C (-320 °F)'
      orientation: transverse
      form: 1/2 in (13 mm) thick hot-rolled plate
      average: three tests
      unit_in_source: 60.8 ft-lb
    method: Average of three Charpy keyhole tests printed in a Special Metals impact table
    status: ground
    note: charpy_impact_energy is a custom benchmark name because no canonical name fits; the bulletin gives 86.1 J at 21 °C in the same orientation.
    source: sm600
    where: Table 12, Impact Strength (Charpy Keyhole) of Plate, Transverse, -320 °F (-196 °C) row
  - benchmark: yield_strength
    label: Yield strength Rp0.2 minimum, datasheet for material 2.4816
    value: 175
    bound: lower
    unit: MPa
    scope: material
    conditions:
      temperature: 20 °C
      basis: minimum (shown with a greater-than sign on the datasheet)
      unit_in_source: N/mm2
    method: Minimum value printed in a German datasheet for material 2.4816
    status: ground
    source: metalcor
    where: Mechanical Properties 20 °C section, Yield strength (Rp 0.2 %) row
  - benchmark: ultimate_tensile_strength
    label: Tensile strength Rm, datasheet for material 2.4816
    value: 490
    value_high: 640
    bound: range
    unit: MPa
    scope: material
    conditions:
      temperature: 20 °C
      unit_in_source: N/mm2
    method: Range printed in a German datasheet for material 2.4816
    status: ground
    source: metalcor
    where: Mechanical Properties 20 °C section, Tensile strength (Rm) row
  - benchmark: elongation
    label: Elongation A5 minimum, datasheet for material 2.4816
    value: 35
    bound: lower
    unit: '%'
    scope: material
    conditions:
      temperature: 20 °C
      basis: minimum (shown with a greater-than sign on the datasheet)
    method: Minimum value printed in a German datasheet for material 2.4816
    status: ground
    source: metalcor
    where: Mechanical Properties 20 °C section, Elongation (A5) row
corrosion:
  - environment: Chloride-containing water and solutions
    headline: Virtually immune to chloride-ion stress-corrosion cracking, because nickel content is at least 72 % in this grade.
    effect: The bulletin says austenitic stainless steels can crack transgranularly in chloride solutions, and that this tendency falls as nickel rises. With a minimum of 72 % nickel, Inconel 600 is virtually immune to chloride-ion stress-corrosion cracking. It also has excellent resistance to high-purity water in nuclear reactor systems, with no chloride cracking detected.
    rating: low
    conditions:
      basis: qualitative statement, no exposure time or test medium given
    source: sm600
    where: Stress-Corrosion Cracking section and Introduction (nuclear paragraph)
  - environment: High-temperature, high-strength caustic alkalies, and mercury at high temperature
    headline: Subject to stress-corrosion cracking in hot, strongly caustic solutions unless it is stress-relieved before use.
    effect: The bulletin says Inconel 600 is subject to stress-corrosion cracking in high-temperature, high-strength caustic alkalies, and that material for this service should be fully stress-relieved at 1650 °F for 1 hr or 1450 °F for 4 hr (900 °C for 1 hr or 790 °C for 4 hr) with operating stresses kept to a minimum. Cracking can also occur with mercury at elevated temperatures.
    rating: moderate
    conditions:
      basis: qualitative statement from the bulletin, no corrosion rate given
      stress_relief: 1650 °F/1 hr or 1450 °F/4 hr
    source: sm600
    where: Stress-Corrosion Cracking section, second paragraph
  - environment: Sulfur-containing gases at high temperature
    headline: Resists sulfur compounds at moderate temperatures, but is subject to sulfidation at high temperatures.
    effect: The bulletin says the alloy resists attack by sulfur compounds at moderate temperatures, but is subject to sulfidation in high-temperature sulfur-containing environments. Molybdenum disulfide lubricant should not be used on parts that will later see temperatures above 800 °F (427 °C).
    rating: moderate
    conditions:
      basis: qualitative statement, no temperature or rate given for sulfidation
    source: sm600
    where: High-Temperature Applications section, last paragraphs
  - environment: Carburizing atmosphere, hydrogen with 2 % methane, 100 h
    headline: Low weight gain in carburizing tests, against more for 800HT and type 330 stainless steel.
    effect: Gas carburization tests in hydrogen with 2 % methane for 100 h gave a weight gain of 2.66 mg/cm2 at 1700 °F (925 °C) and 12.30 mg/cm2 at 2000 °F (1095 °C) for Inconel 600. The 2000 °F test atmosphere also contained 5 % argon. The same table gives 4.94 and 21.58 mg/cm2 for INCOLOY alloy 800HT, and 6.42 and 24.00 mg/cm2 for type 330 stainless steel at the same two temperatures.
    rating: low
    conditions:
      atmosphere: hydrogen with 2 % methane
      time: 100 h
      temperature: 1700 °F (925 °C) and 2000 °F (1095 °C)
    source: sm600
    where: Table 24, Gas Carburization Tests (100 h) in Hydrogen/2% Methane
  - environment: Air at high temperature, furnace and heat-treating use
    headline: Used for retorts, muffles and furnace parts because it resists oxidation and scaling at high temperature.
    effect: The bulletin says Inconel 600 is widely used in furnace and heat-treating work for retorts, boxes, muffles, wire belts and roller hearths, and is the standard material for nitriding containers. Its resistance to oxidation at 1800 °F (980 °C) is shown as a cyclic weight-change curve (Figure 11), which was not transcribed here.
    rating: unknown
    conditions:
      basis: cyclic oxidation, 15 min heating and 5 min cooling in air at 1800 °F (980 °C)
    source: sm600
    where: High-Temperature Applications section, Figure 11
  - environment: General atmosphere, indoor and ambient
    headline: No corrosion protection is normally required, and the surface stays bright indoors.
    effect: SpaceMatDB lists general corrosion status as no specific corrosion protection required, and says the alloy stays bright indefinitely indoors. The database prints no test source for these fields, so this is a database statement, not a test result.
    rating: low
    conditions:
      basis: database field statement, no test data printed
    source: spacematdb
    where: General corrosion status and Atmospheric corrosion fields
risks:
  hazards:
    - text: 'PubChem''s GHS record for nickel: H317 may cause an allergic skin reaction, H351 is suspected of causing cancer and H372 causes damage to organs through prolonged or repeated exposure. Signal word Danger, pictograms GHS07 and GHS08. The record is for nickel metal, and nickel is at least 72 % of this alloy.'
      ghs:
        - H317
        - H351
        - H372
      source: pubchem-nickel
      where: GHS Classification section, aggregated hazard statements for nickel (CID 935)
  failure_risks:
    - mode: Sensitization by chromium carbide precipitation
      trigger: Exposure in the range 1000 to 1400 °F (540 to 760 °C), or slow cooling through that range
      consequence: Chromium carbides precipitate at grain boundaries and can make the alloy prone to intergranular attack in aggressive media. The bulletin says the alloy should be rapidly cooled through the range when it is to be pickled or used in an environment that needs freedom from sensitization.
      severity: moderate
      source: sm600
      where: Microstructure section and Heat Treatment section
    - mode: Caustic stress-corrosion cracking
      trigger: High-temperature, high-strength caustic alkali, or mercury at high temperature, when parts are not fully stress-relieved
      consequence: Stress-corrosion cracking. The bulletin advises full stress relief at 1650 °F for 1 hr or 1450 °F for 4 hr, and keeping operating stresses to a minimum.
      severity: high
      source: sm600
      where: Stress-Corrosion Cracking section
    - mode: Sulfidation in sulfur-containing gases
      trigger: High-temperature sulfur-containing environments
      consequence: Sulfidation attack. The bulletin gives no rate or temperature limit for this attack.
      severity: moderate
      source: sm600
      where: High-Temperature Applications section
    - mode: Reduced ductility of welds made with Inconel Welding Electrode 182
      trigger: Extended exposure of the weld metal to 1000 to 1400 °F (540 to 760 °C)
      consequence: Weld metal can lose ductility after extended exposure in that range. The bulletin states this for Electrode 182 welds, not for the wrought alloy.
      severity: low
      source: sm600
      where: Welding section
    - mode: Low ductility during hot working
      trigger: Working between 1200 and 1600 °F (650 to 870 °C)
      consequence: The alloy has low ductility in that range and should not be worked there. Heavy hot work belongs in 1900 to 2250 °F (1040 to 1230 °C).
      severity: low
      source: sm600
      where: Hot and Cold Forming section
  side_effects: []
  handling:
    - text: Clean the material before heating and heat it in a sulfur-free atmosphere. Forging or open annealing should use a slightly reducing furnace atmosphere to prevent excessive oxidation.
      source: sm600
      where: Heating and Pickling section
    - text: Use the normal hot-working range of 1600 to 2250 °F (870 to 1230 °C). Do not work between 1200 and 1600 °F (650 to 870 °C).
      source: sm600
      where: Hot and Cold Forming section
    - text: Avoid molybdenum disulfide lubricant on parts that will later see temperatures above 800 °F (427 °C).
      source: sm600
      where: High-Temperature Applications section
  mitigations:
    - text: Fine-grain material is preferred for corrosion resistance and for tensile, fatigue and impact strength. Annealing at about 1850 °F (1010 °C) for 15 min gives soft material without coarse grains.
      source: sm600
      where: Heat Treatment section, grain size and annealing paragraphs
uses:
  - application: structures
    device: Aeronautical engine and airframe components (lockwire, exhaust liners and turbine seals)
    example: The bulletin names lockwire, exhaust liners and turbine seals as engine and airframe components that must withstand high temperatures.
    source: sm600
    where: Introduction, aeronautical field paragraph
  - application: electronics-and-chips
    device: 'Electronic parts: cathode-ray tube spiders, thyratron grids, tube support members and springs'
    example: The bulletin lists these electronic parts as uses of Inconel 600.
    source: sm600
    where: Introduction, electronic field paragraph
  - application: mechanisms
    device: Spring-temper wire
    example: Spring-temper wire has a tensile strength of 170 to 220 ksi (1170 to 1520 MPa) and a yield strength of 150 to 210 ksi (1035 to 1450 MPa), per the bulletin's typical range table.
    source: sm600
    where: Table 6, Typical Mechanical-Property Ranges, Wire, Spring Temper row
supply:
  - subject: Nickel
    producers:
      - country: Indonesia
        share_percent: 66.7
        year: 2025
      - country: Philippines
        share_percent: 6.9
        year: 2025
      - country: Russia
        share_percent: 5.1
        year: 2025
      - country: Canada
        share_percent: 3.6
        year: 2025
    recycling: 'USGS: nickel recovered from scrap accounted for approximately 60 % of apparent consumption in 2025, and most secondary nickel is in stainless-steel scrap.'
    substitutes:
      - 'USGS: titanium alloys can substitute for nickel or nickel-base alloys in corrosive environments.'
    source: usgs-mcs2026-nickel
    where: World Mine Production and Reserves table, 2025e column, shares calculated against the printed world total of 3,900,000 t (Indonesia 2,600,000; Philippines 270,000; Russia 200,000; Canada 140,000); Recycling; Substitutes
  - subject: Chromium
    producers:
      - country: South Africa
        share_percent: 45.1
        year: 2025
      - country: Turkey
        share_percent: 17.6
        year: 2025
      - country: Kazakhstan
        share_percent: 13.7
        year: 2025
      - country: India
        share_percent: 5.9
        year: 2025
    recycling: 'USGS: recycled chromium in stainless-steel scrap receipts accounted for 21 % of apparent consumption in 2025.'
    substitutes:
      - 'USGS: chromium has no substitute in stainless steel or in superalloys, the major strategic end use.'
    source: usgs-mcs2026-chromium
    where: World Mine Production and Reserves table, 2025e column (thousand t), shares calculated against the printed world total of 51,000 (South Africa 23,000; Turkey 9,000; Kazakhstan 7,000; India 3,000); Recycling; Substitutes
media: []
documents:
  - title: Special Metals INCONEL alloy 600 technical bulletin, publication SMC-027 (2008)
    type: datasheet
    url: https://www.specialmetals.com/documents/technical-bulletins/inconel/inconel-alloy-600.pdf
    year: 2008
  - title: 'USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026: Nickel'
    type: report
    url: https://pubs.usgs.gov/periodicals/mcs2026/mcs2026-nickel.pdf
    year: 2026
  - title: 'USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026: Chromium'
    type: report
    url: https://pubs.usgs.gov/periodicals/mcs2026/mcs2026-chromium.pdf
    year: 2026
  - title: PubChem compound record for nickel (CID 935), GHS classification
    type: database
    url: https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/935
  - title: HP Alloys, Alloy 600 (UNS N06600) product page with common specifications
    type: datasheet
    url: https://hpalloys.com/Alloys/600
  - title: Metalcor datasheet for Alloy 600 (2.4816, N06600)
    type: datasheet
    url: http://www.metalcor.de/en/datenblatt/108/
  - title: 'SpaceMatDB material record: Inconel 600'
    type: database
    url: https://www.spacematdb.com/spacemat/datasearch.php?name=Inconel+600
gaps:
  - No safety data sheet for the finished alloy was read. Hazards come from PubChem's nickel record, which is for nickel metal and not the alloy.
  - The open-access 2014 molten-salt corrosion paper on Inconel 600 (doi 10.1155/2014/696081) and the 2021 Rare Metals oxidation paper (Springer 10.1007/s12598-018-1148-1) were blocked or redirected, so no molten-salt or oxidation-rate numbers are recorded.
  - 'Figure-only data were not transcribed: cyclic oxidation curve at 1800 °F (Figure 11), high-temperature tensile curves (Figures 1, 4 and 5), low-cycle fatigue (Tables 17 and 18 not transcribed), creep and rupture (Tables 20 to 22), weld tensile and rupture (Tables 28 and 29).'
  - Hardness is in Table 6 (65 to 85 HRB annealed) but was not added in this pass.
  - Critical-mineral list status for nickel and chromium was not in the USGS excerpts read, so critical_lists is empty.
  - Space-environment data (outgassing, atomic oxygen, radiation, cold welding) were not found in the sources read. SpaceMatDB lists space experience as good, with no printed source, so it is not used as a value.
  - SpaceMatDB gives a specific gravity of 8.42 with no conditions and no source; it is not used. Metalcor gives electrical resistivity of 0.98 ohm mm2/m without a temperature; the bulletin value at 20 °C is used instead.
  - 'ASME SB numbers (printed on the HP Alloys page), DIN 17750 to 17754 (printed as a range) and the nuclear grade INCONEL alloy 600T were left out: the first two do not give a single printed code, and 600T is a variant grade with its own specification.'
  - NiCr15Fe8 (listed by Wikipedia as a DE name) and NA14 were checked only against the Wikipedia list; NiCr15Fe is confirmed by a datasheet, while NA14 rests on Wikipedia alone.
  - Upmet, Rolled Alloys and Alloys International pages were blocked or not read; ASTM and AMS requirements are taken from the HP Alloys common-specifications table, not from the standards themselves.
  - charpy_impact_energy is a custom benchmark name because property-canon has no impact-energy entry; the Charpy value is kept, not converted.
  - The bulletin is a 2008 publication with typical values, not specification minimums, except where the datasheet gives a minimum (metalcor).
  - Cost, machinability ranking (slightly more machinable than type 304) and welding fume limits are not recorded as properties.
sources:
  sm600:
    title: INCONEL (nickel-chromium-iron) alloy 600 technical bulletin, Special Metals publication SMC-027
    id: Special Metals Corporation, copyright 2008 (Sept 08)
    url: https://www.specialmetals.com/documents/technical-bulletins/inconel/inconel-alloy-600.pdf
    year: 2008
    kind: datasheet
    license: Special Metals terms (cited, not reproduced)
  usgs-mcs2026-nickel:
    title: 'Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026: Nickel'
    id: USGS, February 2026
    url: https://pubs.usgs.gov/periodicals/mcs2026/mcs2026-nickel.pdf
    year: 2026
    kind: report
    license: US Government work (public domain)
  usgs-mcs2026-chromium:
    title: 'Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026: Chromium'
    id: USGS, February 2026
    url: https://pubs.usgs.gov/periodicals/mcs2026/mcs2026-chromium.pdf
    year: 2026
    kind: report
    license: US Government work (public domain)
  pubchem-nickel:
    title: Nickel, PubChem CID 935, GHS classification (aggregated ECHA notifications)
    id: PubChem CID 935
    url: https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/935
    year: 2026
    kind: database
    license: PubChem (NIH, public domain)
  wiki-inconel:
    title: Inconel, Wikipedia (other designations list)
    id: Wikipedia, English article (checked 2026-10-25)
    url: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inconel
    year: 2026
    kind: web
    license: CC BY-SA 4.0
  hpalloys:
    title: Alloy 600 (UNS N06600), HP Alloys product page, Common Specifications and Chemistry tables
    id: HP Alloys, Inconel 600 - UNS N06600 - W. Nr. 2.4816
    url: https://hpalloys.com/Alloys/600
    kind: datasheet
    license: Supplier web page (cited, not reproduced)
  metalcor:
    title: Alloy 600 (2.4816, N06600) technical datasheet, Metalcor
    id: Metalcor datasheet 108, Standards, Physical Properties 20 °C and Mechanical Properties 20 °C
    url: http://www.metalcor.de/en/datenblatt/108/
    kind: datasheet
    license: Supplier datasheet (cited, not reproduced)
  spacematdb:
    title: 'SpaceMatDB material record: Inconel 600'
    id: SpaceMatDB material datasearch, record Inconel 600
    url: https://www.spacematdb.com/spacemat/datasearch.php?name=Inconel+600
    kind: database
    license: SpaceMatDB terms (cited, not reproduced)
license: CC-BY-4.0
updated: '2026-10-25'
review:
  status: draft
  method: assistant
  checked_values: 22
  unreachable: 4
  caveats: 5
  note: 'Written by an AI assistant on 2026-10-25 from the Special Metals bulletin SMC-027 (Tables 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 9, 12, 16, 24 and text), the HP Alloys and Metalcor pages, Wikipedia''s Inconel page, SpaceMatDB, the PubChem nickel record and the USGS 2026 nickel and chromium summaries. Blocked: the 2014 Wiley/Hindawi molten-salt paper (403), the Rare Metals paper (redirect), Upmet (403) and Rolled Alloys (404). Caveats: bulletin values are typical, not specification minimums; metalcor minimums are from a datasheet; the hazard record is for nickel metal; supply shares are calculated from printed tonnages.'
story:
  recipe:
    line: 'Inconel 600 is a solid-solution nickel-chromium-iron alloy with a stable austenitic matrix. Its composition is the limiting chemical composition in the Special Metals bulletin (UNS N06600): at least 72.0 % nickel plus cobalt, 14.0 to 17.0 % chromium, 6.00 to 10.00 % iron, and maximum carbon, manganese, silicon, copper and sulfur. It is not precipitation hardenable, so the alloy is hardened only by cold work, and its annealing and heat treatment are set by the grain size and amount of cold work.'
    parts:
      - name: Nickel
        symbol: Ni
        share_percent: 72
        share_note: minimum, plus cobalt
        role: The matrix of the alloy and the main source of its resistance to chloride stress-corrosion cracking. The bulletin gives 72.0 % as a minimum.
      - name: Chromium
        symbol: Cr
        share_percent: 14
        share_high: 17
        role: Gives resistance to sulfur compounds and to oxidising conditions at high temperature, according to the bulletin.
      - name: Iron
        symbol: Fe
        share_percent: 6
        share_high: 10
        role: The balance of the matrix with nickel and chromium.
      - name: Carbon, manganese, silicon, copper and sulfur
        symbol: C, Mn, Si, Cu, S
        share_note: maximum 0.15 C, 1.00 Mn, 0.50 Si, 0.50 Cu, 0.015 S
        role: Impurity and minor-element limits in the limiting chemical composition. Carbon can precipitate as chromium carbides at 540 to 760 °C.
  risk_groups:
    - title: For people
      lead: The only hazard source read is PubChem's entry for nickel, and no safety data sheet for the finished alloy was read. Nickel is at least 72 % of this alloy.
      verdict: Nickel hazards apply
      points:
        - label: The metal
          line: PubChem's aggregated GHS record for nickel gives H317 (allergic skin reaction), H351 (suspected of causing cancer) and H372 (damage to organs through repeated exposure), signal word Danger.
        - label: Dust and fume
          line: Grinding, cutting and welding fume should be controlled, because nickel makes up most of this alloy. The sources read give no fume limits.
    - title: If it fails
      lead: These come from the bulletin's temperature and stress notes, not from field incidents.
      points:
        - label: Sensitization
          line: Between 1000 and 1400 °F (540 to 760 °C) chromium carbides precipitate at grain boundaries, which can make the alloy prone to intergranular attack. Cool rapidly through that range when that matters.
        - label: Caustic cracking
          line: Hot, strongly caustic solutions can crack the alloy unless it is stress-relieved first, at 1650 °F for 1 hr or 1450 °F for 4 hr.
    - title: Handling and heat treatment
      points:
        - label: Heating
          line: Clean the material and heat it in a sulfur-free atmosphere. A slightly reducing atmosphere is used for forging or open annealing.
        - label: Working
          line: Hot work runs from 1600 to 2250 °F (870 to 1230 °C). The alloy has low ductility from 1200 to 1600 °F and should not be worked there.
  why: Inconel 600 is used where a nickel alloy must resist chloride stress-corrosion cracking and high-temperature oxidation while keeping useful strength. Its high nickel content makes it virtually immune to chloride cracking, and its chromium resists oxidising and sulfur-bearing conditions. Because it is not age hardened, its strength comes from cold work and annealing. The Special Metals bulletin gives a usable toughness at -196 °C, a Charpy energy of 82.4 J in 1/2 in plate, and states that it keeps its place in furnace, chemical and electronic parts.
  uses:
    - where: Aeronautical engine and airframe parts
      line: The bulletin lists lockwire, exhaust liners and turbine seals for aeronautical engines and airframes.
    - where: Electronic parts
      line: The bulletin lists cathode-ray tube spiders, thyratron grids, tube support members and springs as electronic uses.
    - where: Springs
      line: Spring-temper wire has a tensile strength of 170 to 220 ksi (1170 to 1520 MPa) in the bulletin's typical range table.
  can_do:
    - label: Strength at room temperature
      value: 170 to 345 MPa yield
      benchmark: yield_strength
      line: Cold-drawn rod and bar, annealed, have a typical yield strength of 170 to 345 MPa. An annealed hot-rolled plate reaches 331 MPa yield and 675.7 MPa tensile at room temperature.
    - label: Toughness when cold
      value: 82.4 J at -196 °C
      benchmark: charpy_impact_energy
      line: Charpy keyhole energy for 1/2 in plate, transverse, is 82.4 J at -196 °C (60.8 ft-lb), close to its 86.1 J at 21 °C.
    - label: Stiffness
      value: 214 GPa
      benchmark: elastic_modulus
      line: Modulus of elasticity is 214 GPa at 22 °C, with a Poisson's ratio of 0.324.
    - label: Weight
      value: 8.5 g/cm3
      benchmark: density
      line: The datasheet gives 8.5 g/cm3 at 20 °C, and the bulletin gives 0.306 lb/in3 (8.47 Mg/m3) as a typical density.
    - label: Heat conduction
      value: 14.9 W/(m·K)
      benchmark: thermal_conductivity
      line: Thermal conductivity is 14.9 W/(m·K) at 20 °C and 27.5 W/(m·K) at 800 °C in the bulletin's thermal table.
    - label: Melting
      value: 1354 to 1413 °C
      benchmark: melting_point
      line: The melting range is 1354 to 1413 °C, from the bulletin's physical constants table.
  compare: Inconel 600 is the solid-solution member of the nickel-alloy family in this collection. Unlike the age-hardened nickel superalloys in this collection, it is not precipitation hardened, so its strength comes from cold work and annealing rather than precipitates, and it is weaker in the annealed state. The datasheets rate its resistance to chloride stress-corrosion cracking, oxidation and carburization as strong, but they give no corrosion rates for the furnace and oxidising tests.
  compare_rows:
    - label: Density
      benchmark: density
    - label: Melting range
      benchmark: melting_point
    - label: Stiffness
      benchmark: elastic_modulus
  handling:
    - Clean the material before heating and heat it in a sulfur-free atmosphere (Special Metals).
    - Cool rapidly through 1000 to 1400 °F (540 to 760 °C) when the surface must be pickled or sensitization must be avoided (Special Metals).
    - Stress-relieve parts for hot caustic service at 1650 °F for 1 hr or 1450 °F for 4 hr (Special Metals).
    - Keep molybdenum disulfide lubricant away from parts that will later see temperatures above 800 °F (427 °C) (Special Metals).
  good_for:
    - Chloride-bearing and oxidising chemical service, where the bulletin says the alloy is virtually immune to chloride stress-corrosion cracking.
    - Furnace and heat-treating hardware, such as retorts, muffles and roller hearths.
    - Cold to warm structural and electronic parts that need a Charpy energy of 82.4 J at -196 °C.
  watch_out:
    - Sensitization between 1000 and 1400 °F (540 to 760 °C) makes the alloy prone to intergranular attack unless it is cooled quickly through that range.
    - Hot caustic alkali can cause stress-corrosion cracking; stress-relieve parts first.
    - Annealed strength is modest (170 to 345 MPa yield), so cold work is needed where higher strength is required.
    - The sources read give no corrosion rates, no space-environment test results and no molten-salt data for this grade.
  verdict: Inconel 600 is a chloride-resistant, oxidation-resistant nickel alloy with a documented toughness at -196 °C, and it is not age hardened. Its main risks are sensitization between 540 and 760 °C and caustic stress-corrosion cracking, and the profile lacks corrosion rates, space-environment data and a safety data sheet for the alloy itself.