Inconel 718 IN718 (UNS N07718)
Nickel-chromium-iron superalloy: 50.00 to 55.00 Ni (plus Co), 17.00 to 21.00 Cr, 4.75 to 5.50 Nb (plus Ta), 2.80 to 3.30 Mo, 0.65 to 1.15 Ti, 0.20 to 0.80 Al, balance Fe (wt%)
Also known as UNS N07718, UNS N07719, EN 2.4668, EN name NiCr19Fe19NbMo3, DIN 17742, DIN 17744 · 27 more
Inconel 718 is an age-hardenable nickel-chromium superalloy with iron, niobium and molybdenum.
Evidence level
2 of 5
Lab-measured
- 0Predicted only. No one has made it, or no measurement exists.
- 1Calculated. Only calculated or predicted values from sources.
- 2Lab-measured. Measured properties with their conditions stated.
- 3Space-relevant tests. Measured in conditions relevant to space, such as vacuum or atomic oxygen.
- 4Ground-qualified. Qualified for an application on the ground.
- 5Flown or field-proven. Flight or field results exist.
Strength when hot
171 ksi
Cold toughness
201 ksi
Stiffness
29 ksi x 10^3
Density
0.297 lb/in3
Recipe, share of the weight
- Ni 50 to 55%Nickel
- Cr 17 to 21%Chromium
- Fe balance (the rest)Iron
- Nb 4.75 to 5.5%Niobium plus tantalum
- Mo 2.8 to 3.3%Molybdenum
- Ti 0.65 to 1.15%Titanium
- Al 0.2 to 0.8%Aluminium
Best for
Hot and cryogenic structural parts that must keep strength and fatigue resistance, such as rocket engine shells, rings, casings and fasteners
Weakest at
The datasheet service limit is 1300 F, and long exposure between about 700 and 1000 C lets delta phase form and weaken the alloy
Risk at a glance
- People None found. Not classified as a hazard on its own; the nickel record
- If it fails High. Laves phase formation
- Corrosion Low. Below 1173 K (900 C) the oxide film slows the oxidation rate with time, and above that the rate follows a diffusion-controlled parabolic law.
Quick facts: IN718 (UNS N07718)
| Property | Value | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Density | 8.22 g/cm³ | 1 sourced value |
| Yield strength | 1,179 MPa | 1 sourced value |
| Tensile strength | 1,386 MPa | 1 sourced value |
| Young's modulus | 200 GPa | 1 sourced value |
| Thermal conductivity | 11.4 W/(m·K) | 1 sourced value |
| Thermal expansion (CTE) | 16 ppm/K | 1 sourced value |
| Melting point | 1,260 to 1,336 °C | 1 sourced value |
| Specific heat | 435 J/(kg·K) | 1 sourced value |
| Electrical resistivity | 0.0000012 Ω·m | 1 sourced value |
| Maximum service temperature | 704 °C | 1 sourced value |
What is the density of Inconel 718?
Inconel 718 has a density of 8.22 g/cm³. The source and test conditions are listed in the properties table on this page.
What is the thermal conductivity of Inconel 718?
Inconel 718 has a thermal conductivity of 11.4 W/(m·K). The source and test conditions are listed in the properties table on this page.
What is the coefficient of thermal expansion of Inconel 718?
Inconel 718 has a coefficient of thermal expansion of 16 ppm/K. The source and test conditions are listed in the properties table on this page.
What is the melting point of Inconel 718?
Inconel 718 has a melting point of 1,260 to 1,336 °C. The source and test conditions are listed in the properties table on this page.
What is the yield strength of Inconel 718?
Inconel 718 has a yield strength of 1,179 MPa. The source and test conditions are listed in the properties table on this page.
What are the other names and codes for Inconel 718?
Inconel 718 is also written as UNS N07718, UNS N07719, EN 2.4668, EN name NiCr19Fe19NbMo3, DIN 17742, DIN 17744. Each code is printed in the source listed beside it in the designations table.
What is Inconel 718 used for?
Uses recorded in the sources include Main combustion chamber shell of the RS-25 (Space Shuttle main engine and SLS core-stage engine); Cryogenic tankage; Rings, casings and formed sheet metal parts for aircraft and land-based gas turbine engines.
Why it exists
Inconel 718 is a nickel-chromium superalloy designed to hold strength over a wide temperature range. Its strength comes from fine gamma prime and gamma double prime precipitates, formed by a solution anneal followed by an aging treatment. Niobium is the main age-hardening element. The datasheet describes good tensile, fatigue, creep and rupture strength combined with easy fabrication, which explains its use in rocket engine parts, cryogenic tanks and gas turbine casings.
Where it's used
Rocket engines
The main combustion chamber of the RS-25 engine has a structural shell made of Inconel 718, lined with a copper-silver-zirconium alloy called NARloy-Z. Special Metals lists components for liquid-fuelled rockets among the alloy's uses.
Cryogenic tanks
Special Metals lists cryogenic tankage among the uses, and the datasheet gives a tensile strength of 237 ksi at -320 F for one hot-rolled bar.
Gas turbines and aircraft
Rings, casings and formed sheet parts for aircraft and land-based gas turbine engines are named in the datasheet.
Fasteners and springs
The datasheet says the alloy is specified for many fastener applications, and that its relaxation resistance supports its use for springs up to 1100 F.
Recipe
Nickel-chromium-iron superalloy: 50.00 to 55.00 Ni (plus Co), 17.00 to 21.00 Cr, 4.75 to 5.50 Nb (plus Ta), 2.80 to 3.30 Mo, 0.65 to 1.15 Ti, 0.20 to 0.80 Al, balance Fe (wt%)
Inconel 718 is an iron-based nickel-chromium superalloy. Its composition is set by the Special Metals limiting chemical composition table (UNS N07718): about 50 to 55 percent nickel plus cobalt, 17 to 21 percent chromium, 4.75 to 5.5 percent niobium plus tantalum, 2.8 to 3.3 percent molybdenum, and balance iron. It is solution annealed and then age hardened, which forms gamma prime and gamma double prime precipitates.
| Ingredient | Share of the weight | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| Nickel Ni | 50 to 55% | The matrix of the alloy. Cobalt, up to 1.00 percent, is counted with nickel in the datasheet table. |
| Chromium Cr | 17 to 21% | Chromium is the element that gives the alloy its oxidation and corrosion resistance, which the datasheet rates as superior. |
| Iron Fe | balance (the rest) | The balance of the alloy, forming the austenitic matrix with nickel and chromium. |
| Niobium plus tantalum Nb | 4.75 to 5.5% | Main age-hardening element. Niobium forms the gamma double prime precipitate, which gives most of the strength. |
| Molybdenum Mo | 2.8 to 3.3% | Molybdenum is part of the composition that the datasheet specifies for this alloy. |
| Titanium Ti | 0.65 to 1.15% | Forms part of the gamma prime precipitate with aluminium. |
| Aluminium Al | 0.2 to 0.8% | Forms part of the gamma prime precipitate with titanium. |
Weight shares are as printed in the sources.
What it can do
Strength when hot
171 ksi
measured
The yield strength of one hot-rolled bar is 171 ksi at room temperature, 145 ksi at 1200 F and 133 ksi at 1300 F (Table 22).
Cold toughness
201 ksi
measured
The same family of heat treatments gives a tensile strength of 237 ksi at -320 F in Table 20, so the strength rises when cold.
Stiffness
29 ksi x 10^3
measured
Young's modulus is 29.0 x 10^3 ksi at 70 F and 23.0 x 10^3 ksi at 1300 F (Table 4).
Density
0.297 lb/in3
measured
Density is 0.297 lb/in3 for the annealed and aged material (Table 2).
How it compares
Inconel 718 is the nickel-based alloy in this collection. Its datasheet gives tensile data from -320 F to 1300 F and rates its oxidation resistance as superior. Cost and machining difficulty are not covered by the sources read here.
The same measurements for each material, so you can compare them. Each row names the key condition under the value; the full conditions and methods are in the numbered notes under Technical details. Other materials are shown beside it; each was measured under its own conditions, so open its page before comparing closely. Compare every grade in the family.
| Measurement | IN718 (UNS N07718) | IN625 (UNS N06625) | FeNi36 | Ni-Mo | C-22 | C-276 (UNS N10276) | X (UNS N06002) | UNS N07214 | H230 (UNS N06230) | UNS N08800 | Alloy 825 (UNS N08825) | Alloy 600 (UNS N06600, W.Nr. 2.4816) | Alloy 601 | Alloy 617 | X-750 (UNS N07750) | Fe-Ni-Co | Alloy 400 (UNS N04400) | K-500 | Ni | Ni3Al, NiAl | NiBe2 | Ni-alloys | UNS N07090 (W. Nr. 2.4632) | UNS N07001 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thermal behavior and safety | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| melting pointTable 2, printed in C as 1260-1336 | 1260 °C | 1290 to 1350 °C | 1427 °C | 1370 to 1418 °C | 1357 to 1399 °C | 1323 to 1371 °C | 1260 to 1355 °C | 1355 to 1400 °C | 1301 to 1371 °C | 1357 to 1385 °C | 1370 to 1400 °C | 1354 to 1413 °C | 1360 to 1411 °C | 1330 to 1380 °C | 1393 to 1427 °C | 1450 °C | 1300 to 1350 °C | 1315 to 1350 °C | 1455 °C | no data | 1195 to 1325 °C | 1425 °C | 1370 °C | 1330 to 1360 °C |
| specific heatTable 2, metric value in parentheses as printed | 435 J/kg °C | 410 J/(kg·K) | 515 J/(kg·K) | 373 J/kg.°C | 410 J/(kg·K) | 427 J/kg.°C | 486 J/(kg·K) | 452 J/kg-°C | 397 J/kg·°C | 460 J/kg·°C | 440 J/(kg·K) | 444 J/kg °C | 448 J/(kg·K) | 419 J/(kg·K) | 0.103 Btu/lb/°F | 500 J/(kg. K) | 427 J/kg°C | 419 J/kg °C | 456 J/(kg·K) | no data | no data | 500 J/(kg·K) | 446 J/(kg·K) | no data |
| Thermal conductivityTable 5, column Ann. + Aged at 70 F, as printed | 79 BTU·in/ft²·h·°F | 9.8 W/m°C | 72.85 Btu·in/(hr·ft²·°F) | 11.2 W/m.°C | 10.1 W/(m·K) | 10.5 W/m.°C | 9.2 W/(m·K) | 12 W/m-°C | 8.9 W/(m·°C) | 11.5 W/m°C | 11.1 W/(m·K) | 14.9 W/(m·K) | 11.2 W/(m·K) | 13.4 W/(m·K) | 83 Btu/in./hr/sq ft/°F | 17.5 W/m °K | 22 W/m°C | 17.5 W/m °C | 70.3 W/(m·K) | no data | 48 W/(m·K) | 13 W/(m·K) | 11.47 W/(m·K) | 19.1 W/(m·°C) |
| Thermal conductivity | 148 BTU·in/ft²·h·°F2 | 9.8 W/m°C | 72.85 Btu·in/(hr·ft²·°F) | 11.2 W/m.°C | 10.1 W/(m·K) | 10.5 W/m.°C | 9.2 W/(m·K) | 12 W/m-°C | 8.9 W/(m·°C) | 11.5 W/m°C | 11.1 W/(m·K) | 14.9 W/(m·K) | 11.2 W/(m·K) | 13.4 W/(m·K) | 83 Btu/in./hr/sq ft/°F | 17.5 W/m °K | 22 W/m°C | 17.5 W/m °C | 70.3 W/(m·K) | no data | 48 W/(m·K) | 13 W/(m·K) | 11.47 W/(m·K) | 19.1 W/(m·°C) |
| Physical and electrical | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Density | 0.297 lb/in31 | 8.44 g/cm³ | 8.05 g/cm³ | 9.22 g/cm³ | 8.69 g/cm³ | 8.89 g/cm³ | 8.22 g/cm³ | 8.05 g/cm³ | 8.97 g/cm³ | 7.94 g/cm³ | 8.14 g/cm³ | 0.306 lb/in3 | 8.11 Mg/m3 | 8.36 g/cm³ | 8.28 g/cm³ | 8.36 g/cm³ | 8.8 g/cm³ | 8.45 g/cm³ | 8.89 g/cm³ | 7.5 g/cm³ | 8.27 g/cm³ | 8.2 g/cm³ | 8.18 g/cm³ | 8.19 g/cm³ |
| electrical resistivityTable 5, column Ann. + Aged, as printed | 725 ohm circ mil/ft | 129 µΩ-cm | 84 µΩ·cm | 1.37 μohm.m | 1.14 µΩ·m | 1.23 μohm.m | 114.8 µohm-cm | 135.9 µohm-cm | 125 µohm-m | 0.989 µΩ·m | 112 µΩ·cm | 1.03 µΩ·m | 1.18 µΩ·m | 1.22×10^-4 Ω·cm | 731 ohm circ mil/ft | 49 μΩcm | 0.511 µΩ·m | 0.615 µΩ·m | 0.096 µΩ·m | no data | < 28.7 µΩ·cm | 45 µΩ·cm | 1.18 µΩ·m | 1.24 µΩ·m |
| Temperature behavior | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| curie temperatureTable 2, metric value in parentheses as printed | -112 °C | < -196 °C | 279 °C | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | -115 °C | < -196 °C | -124 °C | no data | no data | no data | 435 °C | 21 to 49 °C | -65 °C | 360 °C | no data | no data | 450 °C | no data | no data |
| Other measurements | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Thermal expansion (CTE) | 8.91 ppm/°F3 | 12.8 ppm/°C | 1.3 ppm/K | 10.6 μm/m.°C | 12.4 ppm/K | 11.2 μm/m.°C | 13.9 µm/(m·K) | 14.6 µm/m-°C | 11.8 ppm/K | 14.4 µm/m/°C | 13.9 ppm/K | 10.4 ppm/K | 13.75 µm/m/°C | 11.6 µm/(m·K) | 7 10-6 in./in./°F | 5.86 10-6/°C | 14.2 µm/m°C | 13.7 10-6/°C | 13.3 ppm/K | no data | 14.5 ppm/K | 8 ppm/K | 12.7 µm/(m·K) | 14.3 µm/m·°C |
| elastic modulus | 29 ksi x 10^34 | 207.5 GPa | 140 GPa | 216 GPa | 206 GPa | 205 GPa | 205 GPa | 218 GPa | 209 GPa | 196.5 GPa | 196 GPa | 214 GPa | 206.5 GPa | 211 GPa | 31 10^3 ksi | 138 kN/mm2 | 26 10^3 ksi | 179 GPa | 205 GPa | 200 GPa | 195 to 210 GPa | no data | 204 GPa | 211 GPa |
| elastic modulus | 23 ksi x 10^35 | 207.5 GPa | 140 GPa | 216 GPa | 206 GPa | 205 GPa | 205 GPa | 218 GPa | 209 GPa | 196.5 GPa | 196 GPa | 214 GPa | 206.5 GPa | 211 GPa | 31 10^3 ksi | 138 kN/mm2 | 26 10^3 ksi | 179 GPa | 205 GPa | 200 GPa | 195 to 210 GPa | no data | 204 GPa | 211 GPa |
| poissons ratio | 0.294 -6 | 0.278 - | no data | no data | no data | 0.31 - | 0.32 - | no data | 0.31 - | 0.339 - | no data | 0.324 - | 0.272 - | no data | 0.29 - | no data | 0.32 - | no data | no data | no data | 0.3 - | no data | no data | no data |
| ultimate tensile strengthTable 22, Hot-Rolled 0.625-in-Diam., Room row | 201 ksi | 120 to 150 ksi | 65 ksi | 862 MPa | 690 to 950 MPa | 792 MPa | 760 MPa | 975 MPa | 837 MPa | 590 MPa | 662 MPa | 550 to 690 MPa | 675 MPa | 710 MPa | > 165 ksi | 450 to 585 N/mm2 | 75 to 90 ksi | 621 to 758 MPa | 380 to 520 MPa | 2300 MPa | 660 to 900 MPa | 500 MPa | 1175 MPa | 1027 MPa |
| yield strengthTable 22, same row as above | 171 ksi | 60 to 95 ksi | 40 ksi | 421 MPa | > 310 MPa | 356 MPa | 340 MPa | 577 MPa | 417 MPa | 250 MPa | 338 MPa | 170 to 345 MPa | 292 MPa | 340 MPa | > 105 ksi | > 200 N/mm2 | 25 to 50 ksi | 276 to 414 MPa | 105 to 210 MPa | no data | 280 to 480 MPa | 280 MPa | 752 MPa | 586 MPa |
| ultimate tensile strengthTable 22, same bar, 1200 F row | 164.5 ksi | 120 to 150 ksi | 65 ksi | 862 MPa | 690 to 950 MPa | 792 MPa | 760 MPa | 975 MPa | 837 MPa | 590 MPa | 662 MPa | 550 to 690 MPa | 675 MPa | 710 MPa | > 165 ksi | 450 to 585 N/mm2 | 75 to 90 ksi | 621 to 758 MPa | 380 to 520 MPa | 2300 MPa | 660 to 900 MPa | 500 MPa | 1175 MPa | 1027 MPa |
| yield strengthTable 22, same bar, 1200 F row | 145 ksi | 60 to 95 ksi | 40 ksi | 421 MPa | > 310 MPa | 356 MPa | 340 MPa | 577 MPa | 417 MPa | 250 MPa | 338 MPa | 170 to 345 MPa | 292 MPa | 340 MPa | > 105 ksi | > 200 N/mm2 | 25 to 50 ksi | 276 to 414 MPa | 105 to 210 MPa | no data | 280 to 480 MPa | 280 MPa | 752 MPa | 586 MPa |
| ultimate tensile strengthTable 22, same bar, 1300 F row | 145.5 ksi | 120 to 150 ksi | 65 ksi | 862 MPa | 690 to 950 MPa | 792 MPa | 760 MPa | 975 MPa | 837 MPa | 590 MPa | 662 MPa | 550 to 690 MPa | 675 MPa | 710 MPa | > 165 ksi | 450 to 585 N/mm2 | 75 to 90 ksi | 621 to 758 MPa | 380 to 520 MPa | 2300 MPa | 660 to 900 MPa | 500 MPa | 1175 MPa | 1027 MPa |
| yield strengthTable 22, same bar, 1300 F row | 133 ksi | 60 to 95 ksi | 40 ksi | 421 MPa | > 310 MPa | 356 MPa | 340 MPa | 577 MPa | 417 MPa | 250 MPa | 338 MPa | 170 to 345 MPa | 292 MPa | 340 MPa | > 105 ksi | > 200 N/mm2 | 25 to 50 ksi | 276 to 414 MPa | 105 to 210 MPa | no data | 280 to 480 MPa | 280 MPa | 752 MPa | 586 MPa |
| elongationTable 22, same bar, Room row | 26 % | 30 to 60 % | 35 % | 53 % | > 45 % | 61 % | 48.9 % | 37.3 % | 47.3 % | 17 % | 45 % | 35 to 55 % | 46 % | 62 % | > 20 % | > 25 % | 35 to 60 % | 20 to 35 % | 40 to 55 % | no data | > 30 % | 35 % | 30 % | 43 % |
| elongationTable 22, same bar, 1300 F row | 22 % | 30 to 60 % | 35 % | 53 % | > 45 % | 61 % | 48.9 % | 37.3 % | 47.3 % | 17 % | 45 % | 35 to 55 % | 46 % | 62 % | > 20 % | > 25 % | 35 to 60 % | 20 to 35 % | 40 to 55 % | no data | > 30 % | 35 % | 30 % | 43 % |
| ultimate tensile strength | 237 ksi7 | 120 to 150 ksi | 65 ksi | 862 MPa | 690 to 950 MPa | 792 MPa | 760 MPa | 975 MPa | 837 MPa | 590 MPa | 662 MPa | 550 to 690 MPa | 675 MPa | 710 MPa | > 165 ksi | 450 to 585 N/mm2 | 75 to 90 ksi | 621 to 758 MPa | 380 to 520 MPa | 2300 MPa | 660 to 900 MPa | 500 MPa | 1175 MPa | 1027 MPa |
| yield strengthTable 20, same row as above | 173.5 ksi | 60 to 95 ksi | 40 ksi | 421 MPa | > 310 MPa | 356 MPa | 340 MPa | 577 MPa | 417 MPa | 250 MPa | 338 MPa | 170 to 345 MPa | 292 MPa | 340 MPa | > 105 ksi | > 200 N/mm2 | 25 to 50 ksi | 276 to 414 MPa | 105 to 210 MPa | no data | 280 to 480 MPa | 280 MPa | 752 MPa | 586 MPa |
| Minimum service temperature | -423 °F8 | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | -200 °C | no data | no data | no data | no data | -184 °C | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data |
| Maximum service temperature | 1300 °F9 | 982 °C | no data | no data | no data | 677 °C | no data | 1260 °C | no data | no data | no data | no data | 1000 °C | no data | 1200 °F | no data | no data | 650 °C | no data | 1373 K | no data | no data | no data | 650 °C |
Why choose it, and why not
Good for
- Strength at high temperature. Yield strength is 133 ksi at 1300 F for one hot-rolled bar, against 171 ksi at room temperature.
- Cryogenic structures. Tensile strength is 237 ksi at -320 F in the Table 20 test.
- Welded and aged hardware. The datasheet describes outstanding resistance to postweld cracking.
Watch out for
- The datasheet service limit is 1300 F, and its main tensile tables stop at 1300 F (Special Metals).
- Long exposure between about 700 and 1000 C forms delta phase, which removes the strengthening phase (Wikipedia).
- Above about 1000 C, Laves phase forms and weakens the alloy significantly (Wikipedia).
- The sources read here give no corrosion rates; the corrosion entries are qualitative.
Inconel 718 is the default nickel superalloy for hot and cryogenic structural hardware. Its strength and stability are well documented up to about 1300 F, and the main risks are phase changes above that range.
Technical details
For scientists and researchers. Everything above comes from the record below: every number with its method, its conditions and its source.
Other names and standards
The same grade under other systems, as datasheets and standards print them. Each code was checked against the page it comes from.
| System | Codes |
|---|---|
| UNS | N07718, N07719 |
| EN | 2.4668 |
| EN name | NiCr19Fe19NbMo3 |
| DIN | 17742, 17744, 17750 (plate, sheet and strip), 17751 (pipe and tube), 17752-17754 (rod, bar, wire and forging stock) |
| ASTM | B637 (rod, bar, wire and forging stock), B670 (plate, sheet and strip), B906 (plate, sheet and strip), B983 (seamless pipe and tube) |
| ASME | SB 637 (rod, bar, wire and forging stock), SB 670 (plate, sheet and strip), SB 906 (plate, sheet and strip) |
| AMS | 5589 (seamless tubing), 5590 (seamless tubing), 5596 (sheet, strip and plate), 5597 (sheet, strip and plate), 5662 (bars, forgings and rings), 5663 (bars, forgings and rings), 5664 (bars, forgings and rings), 5832 (wire), 5914 (rod, bar, wire and forging stock), 5962 (rod, bar, wire and forging stock) |
| ISO | 6208 (plate, sheet and strip), 9723 (rod, bar, wire and forging stock), 9724 (rod, bar, wire and forging stock), 9725 (rod, bar, wire and forging stock) |
| Trade name | INCONEL alloy 718, ATI 718, HAYNES® 718 |
Notes
The method, full conditions and any caveat for the numbered rows above.
| # | Measurement | Method | Conditions | Caveat |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Density | Table 2, Physical Constants, printed in lb/in3 and kept as printed; the importer converts to g/cm3 | basis annealed and aged material (annealed alone is 0.296 lb/in3) | — |
| 2 | Thermal conductivity | Table 5, column Ann. + Aged at 1200 F, as printed | basis annealed and aged, at 1200 F | — |
| 3 | Thermal expansion (CTE) | Table 5 prints 8.91 in/in/F x 10^-6; 10^-6 in/in/F is the same as ppm/F, so the number is unchanged | basis mean linear expansion from 70 F to 1400 F, annealed and aged | — |
| 4 | elastic modulus | Table 4 prints 29.0 in ksi x 10^3; recorded as printed, in ksi x 10^3 | basis Young's modulus at 70 F, hot-rolled flat heat treated 1800 F/1 hr, A.C. plus 1325 F/8 hr, F.C.unit in source ksi x 10^3 (printed 29.0, the column header) | — |
| 5 | elastic modulus | Table 4 prints 23.0 in ksi x 10^3; recorded as printed, in ksi x 10^3 | basis Young's modulus at 1300 F, same heat treatment as Table 4unit in source ksi x 10^3 (printed 23.0, the column header) | — |
| 6 | poissons ratio | Table 4, Poisson's Ratio column, computed by the datasheet from E and G as printed | basis at 70 F | — |
| 7 | ultimate tensile strength | Table 20, Effect of Temperature on Tensile Properties, -320 F row | basis -320 F, hot-rolled 5/8-in diameter round, annealed 1800 F/1 hr and aged (a different test set from Table 22) | — |
| 8 | Minimum service temperature | Introduction, printed as used at -423 to 1300 F; a typical service range, not a specification limit | basis temperature range stated for use in the datasheet introduction | — |
| 9 | Maximum service temperature | Introduction, printed as used at -423 to 1300 F; a typical service range, not a specification limit | basis temperature range stated for use in the datasheet introduction | — |
Corrosion and compatibility
What happens when it meets other materials and environments.
| Environment | Concern | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| Air oxidation between about 973 K and 1573 K (700 to 1300 C) | low | Below 1173 K (900 C) the oxide film slows the oxidation rate with time, and above that the rate follows a diffusion-controlled parabolic law.1 |
| General oxidation and corrosion service | not rated | The datasheet rates the oxidation and corrosion resistance as superior, but it gives no corrosion rates.2 |
| Oil-field tubular service under NACE MR0175 | not rated | Oil-field material is made to a maximum hardness of 40 HRC so that it meets the NACE MR0175 limit.3 |
| # | Environment | Details | Test conditions |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Air oxidation between about 973 K and 1573 K (700 to 1300 C) | Brookhaven National Laboratory weighed Inconel 718 samples in air and found that below 1173 K the oxidation rate fell with time, which the authors attribute to the oxide film passivating the surface and slowing oxygen transport. From 1173 K to 1573 K the mass gain was parabolic, which means the oxide growth was limited by diffusion through the scale. The report gives the rate coefficients in its tables, but the printed exponents in the text extract were not clear enough to copy, so only the qualitative result is recorded here. | temperature 973 K to 1573 K in air (BNL report title range)test mass gain of samples heated in air, weighed after cooling |
| 2 | General oxidation and corrosion service | Special Metals says Inconel 718 combines good mechanical properties over a wide temperature range with superior oxidation and corrosion resistance, which is why it is specified for many fastener applications. Wikipedia attributes the oxidation and corrosion resistance to the gamma double prime and gamma prime precipitates that form during age hardening, mainly from niobium. | basis qualitative statements, no test medium or exposure time given |
| 3 | Oil-field tubular service under NACE MR0175 | Special Metals produces Inconel 718 for oil-field use under NACE MR0175, which requires solution annealing and aging to a maximum hardness of 40 Rockwell C. The usual route is a solution treatment at 1850 to 1900 F and aging at 1450 F for six to eight hours. The bulletin gives mechanical properties for this material but no corrosion test result. | standard NACE MR0175, maximum 40 HRCheat treatment solution treated 1850 to 1900 F, aged 1450 F for 6 to 8 hours (typical) |
Risks and side effects
Hazards to people, what happens when a cell overheats, and how the material is handled and stored.
For people
The alloy is a solid metal. The sourced hazard record is PubChem's entry for nickel, and no safety data sheet for the finished alloy was read in this run. Not classified as a hazard on its own; the nickel record carries the hazard flags
- The metal
- PubChem's aggregated record for nickel lists skin sensitisation (H317, 99.9 percent of reports that give a code), suspected cancer (H351, 72.9 percent) and organ damage from repeated exposure (H372, 99.7 percent).
- Dust and fume
- Nickel is about half of this alloy, so grinding, cutting and welding fume should be controlled. The datasheet does not give fume limits.
If a part is held in the wrong temperature range
These results come from the datasheet and from the Wikipedia summary of phase stability, not from field incidents.
- Delta phase
- Between about 700 and 1000 C, delta phase (Ni3Nb) forms and takes niobium away from the strengthening gamma double prime, which weakens the alloy.
- Laves phase
- Above about 1000 C, Laves phase forms in large aggregates and depletes the strengthening phases significantly.
Handling and heat treatment
- Fabrication
- Special Metals says the material is usually bought in the mill-annealed or stress-relieved condition, fabricated in that condition, and then heat treated to specification.
- Weld cracking
- The datasheet describes the alloy's resistance to postweld cracking as outstanding, so welding before the final age is a standard route.
Test details
The original wording and numbers from the sources, for readers who want them.
Failure risks
| Failure | Trigger and consequence |
|---|---|
| Delta phase precipitationmoderate severity | Exposure between about 700 and 1000 C, with peak precipitation near 900 CDelta phase (Ni3Nb, orthorhombic) forms. Because it is more stable than gamma double prime, the gamma double prime is lost and the alloy weakens. |
| Laves phase formationhigh severity | Temperatures above about 1000 CLaves phase, (Ni, Fe, Cr)2(Nb, Mo, Ti), forms in large globular aggregates richer in niobium than the strengthening phases. This depletes gamma prime and gamma double prime, which weakens the material significantly. |
Handling and storage
- Special Metals says the material is usually bought in the mill-annealed or stress-relieved condition, fabricated in that condition, and then heat treated to the specification. Solution anneal at 1700 to 1850 F, then age at 1325 F for 8 hours, furnace cool to 1150 F and hold for 18 hours in total.
- Special Metals says the alloy's resistance to postweld cracking is outstanding.
Mitigations
- Use the 1700 to 1850 F anneal when rupture life, notch rupture life and fatigue strength are the main concern; use the 1900 to 1950 F anneal when tensile-limited ductility and low-temperature notch strength matter more, though it can cause notch brittleness in stress rupture.
Supply and geography
How common the raw materials are and where they come from.
Nickel
- Top producers (2025)
- Indonesia 66.7%, Philippines 6.9%, Russia 5.1%, Canada 3.6%
- Recycling
- USGS: nickel recovered from scrap accounted for about 60 percent of apparent consumption in 2025. Most secondary nickel is in the form of stainless-steel scrap.
- Substitutes
- USGS: low-nickel, duplex or ultrahigh-chromium stainless steels replace austenitic grades in some uses; titanium alloys can substitute for nickel or nickel-base alloys in corrosive environments.
Chromium
- Top producers (2025)
- South Africa 45.1%, Turkey 17.6%, Kazakhstan 13.7%, India 5.9%
- Substitutes
- USGS: chromium has no substitute in stainless steel, the leading end use, or in superalloys, the major strategic end use.
Niobium
- Top producers (2025)
- Brazil 92.9%, Canada 5.4%
- Recycling
- USGS: niobium was recycled with niobium-bearing steels and superalloys, but scrap recovery was negligible; the recycled amount may have been as much as 20 percent of apparent consumption.
- Substitutes
- USGS: ceramic matrix composites, molybdenum, tantalum and tungsten can replace niobium in high-temperature superalloy applications, with a performance loss or higher cost.
Documents
Datasheets, safety data sheets, papers and standards you can open.
| Document | Type | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Special Metals INCONEL alloy 718 datasheet, publication SMC-045 | datasheet | 2007 |
| USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026: Nickel | report | 2026 |
| USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026: Chromium | report | 2026 |
| USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026: Niobium (Columbium) | report | 2026 |
| PubChem: Nickel (CID 935), GHS classification | database | 2026 |
| Greene and Finfrock, Oxidation of Inconel 718 in Air at Temperatures from 973 K to 1620 K, BNL-52620 | report | 2000 |
| ATI 718 Alloy technical data sheet, NI-105 version 2 | datasheet | 2011 |
| HAYNES 718 alloy datasheet | datasheet | 2026 |
Full record
The complete spore, as stored. Free to reuse under CC-BY-4.0. Images keep the licence shown with each one.
Show the full YAML
spore: profile
id: inconel-718
spore_version: 0.2
family: nickel-alloys
name: Inconel 718
abbreviation: IN718 (UNS N07718)
role: structural superalloy
category: metals
type: nickel-superalloys
summary: |
Inconel 718 is an age-hardenable nickel-chromium superalloy with iron, niobium and molybdenum. Its strength comes from gamma double prime and gamma prime precipitates formed during heat treatment. The Special Metals datasheet gives a room temperature yield strength of 171 ksi and 133 ksi at 1300 F, and a tensile strength of 237 ksi at -320 F. It is used for liquid-fuel rocket parts, such as the main combustion chamber shell of the RS-25 engine, and for cryogenic tankage, turbine casings and fasteners.
best_for: Hot and cryogenic structural parts that must keep strength and fatigue resistance, such as rocket engine shells, rings, casings and fasteners
weakest_at: The datasheet service limit is 1300 F, and long exposure between about 700 and 1000 C lets delta phase form and weaken the alloy
identity:
formula: 'Nickel-chromium-iron superalloy: 50.00 to 55.00 Ni (plus Co), 17.00 to 21.00 Cr, 4.75 to 5.50 Nb (plus Ta), 2.80 to 3.30 Mo, 0.65 to 1.15 Ti, 0.20 to 0.80 Al, balance Fe (wt%)'
source: sm718
where: Table 1, Limiting Chemical Composition (Special Metals datasheet); UNS N07718 and W.Nr. 2.4668 from the introduction
designations:
- system: UNS
code: N07718
source: sm718
where: Introduction, first paragraph (UNS N07718/W.Nr. 2.4668)
- system: UNS
code: N07719
source: sm718
where: Available Products and Specifications, first paragraph (designated at UNS N07718, UNS N07719 and Werkstoff Nr. 2.4668)
- system: EN
code: '2.4668'
source: sm718
where: Introduction, first paragraph (W.Nr. 2.4668)
- system: EN name
code: NiCr19Fe19NbMo3
source: haynes718
where: Specifications and Codes table, DIN row (printed NiCr19Fe19NbMo3)
- system: DIN
code: '17742'
source: haynes718
where: Specifications and Codes table, DIN row (17742 No. 2.4668)
- system: DIN
code: '17744'
source: sm718
where: Available Products and Specifications, Others list
- system: DIN
code: '17750'
note: plate, sheet and strip
source: sm718
where: Available Products and Specifications, plate, sheet and strip list
- system: DIN
code: '17751'
note: pipe and tube
source: sm718
where: Available Products and Specifications, pipe and tube list
- system: DIN
code: 17752-17754
note: rod, bar, wire and forging stock
source: sm718
where: Available Products and Specifications, rod, bar, wire and forging stock list
- system: ASTM
code: B637
note: rod, bar, wire and forging stock
source: sm718
where: Available Products and Specifications, rod, bar, wire and forging stock list
- system: ASME
code: SB 637
note: rod, bar, wire and forging stock
source: sm718
where: Available Products and Specifications, rod, bar, wire and forging stock list
- system: ASTM
code: B670
note: plate, sheet and strip
source: sm718
where: Available Products and Specifications, plate, sheet and strip list
- system: ASME
code: SB 670
note: plate, sheet and strip
source: sm718
where: Available Products and Specifications, plate, sheet and strip list
- system: ASTM
code: B906
note: plate, sheet and strip
source: sm718
where: Available Products and Specifications, plate, sheet and strip list
- system: ASME
code: SB 906
note: plate, sheet and strip
source: sm718
where: Available Products and Specifications, plate, sheet and strip list
- system: ASTM
code: B983
note: seamless pipe and tube
source: haynes718
where: Specifications and Codes table, Seamless Pipe and Tube row
- system: AMS
code: '5589'
note: seamless tubing
source: sm718
where: Heat Treating and Mechanical Properties, 1700 to 1850 F anneal table ('AMS 5589, Seamless Tubing')
- system: AMS
code: '5590'
note: seamless tubing
source: sm718
where: Heat Treating and Mechanical Properties, 1900 to 1950 F anneal table ('AMS 5590, Seamless Tubing')
- system: AMS
code: '5596'
note: sheet, strip and plate
source: sm718
where: Heat Treating and Mechanical Properties, 1700 to 1850 F anneal table ('AMS 5596, Sheet, Strip, & Plate')
- system: AMS
code: '5597'
note: sheet, strip and plate
source: sm718
where: Heat Treating and Mechanical Properties, 1900 to 1950 F anneal table ('AMS 5597, Sheet, Strip, & Plate')
- system: AMS
code: '5662'
note: bars, forgings and rings
source: sm718
where: Heat Treating and Mechanical Properties, 1700 to 1850 F anneal table ('AMS 5662 and 5663, Bars, Forgings, & Rings')
- system: AMS
code: '5663'
note: bars, forgings and rings
source: sm718
where: Heat Treating and Mechanical Properties, 1700 to 1850 F anneal table ('AMS 5662 and 5663, Bars, Forgings, & Rings')
- system: AMS
code: '5664'
note: bars, forgings and rings
source: sm718
where: Heat Treating and Mechanical Properties, 1900 to 1950 F anneal table ('AMS 5664, Bars, Forgings, & Rings')
- system: AMS
code: '5832'
note: wire
source: ati718
where: Specifications list ('AMS 5832 - Wire')
- system: AMS
code: '5914'
note: rod, bar, wire and forging stock
source: sm718
where: Available Products and Specifications, rod, bar, wire and forging stock list
- system: AMS
code: '5962'
note: rod, bar, wire and forging stock
source: sm718
where: Available Products and Specifications, rod, bar, wire and forging stock list
- system: ISO
code: '6208'
note: plate, sheet and strip
source: sm718
where: Available Products and Specifications, plate, sheet and strip list
- system: ISO
code: '9723'
note: rod, bar, wire and forging stock
source: sm718
where: Available Products and Specifications, rod, bar, wire and forging stock list
- system: ISO
code: '9724'
note: rod, bar, wire and forging stock
source: sm718
where: Available Products and Specifications, rod, bar, wire and forging stock list
- system: ISO
code: '9725'
note: rod, bar, wire and forging stock
source: sm718
where: Available Products and Specifications, rod, bar, wire and forging stock list
- system: Trade name
code: INCONEL alloy 718
source: sm718
where: Page header ('INCONEL alloy 718')
- system: Trade name
code: ATI 718
source: ati718
where: Page header ('ATI 718 Alloy') and General paragraph ('ATI 718 alloy (UNS N07718)')
- system: Trade name
code: HAYNES® 718
source: haynes718
where: Page heading ('HAYNES ® 718 alloy')
tags:
environments:
- launch
stresses: []
applications:
- propulsion-and-tanks
- cryogenic-fuel
- structures
- mechanisms
properties:
- benchmark: density
value: 0.297
unit: lb/in3
scope: material
conditions:
basis: annealed and aged material (annealed alone is 0.296 lb/in3)
method: Table 2, Physical Constants, printed in lb/in3 and kept as printed; the importer converts to g/cm3
status: ground
source: sm718
where: Table 2, Density, Annealed and Aged
- benchmark: melting_point
value: 1260
value_high: 1336
unit: °C
scope: material
conditions:
basis: melting range as printed in Table 2 (2300 to 2437 F)
method: Table 2, printed in C as 1260-1336
status: ground
source: sm718
where: Table 2, Melting Range
- benchmark: specific_heat
value: 435
unit: J/kg °C
scope: material
conditions:
basis: at 70 F (21 C); printed as 0.104 Btu/lb F
method: Table 2, metric value in parentheses as printed
status: ground
source: sm718
where: Table 2, Specific Heat at 70 F
- benchmark: curie_temperature
value: -112
unit: °C
scope: material
conditions:
basis: annealed and aged material (printed as -170 F)
method: Table 2, metric value in parentheses as printed
status: ground
source: sm718
where: Table 2, Curie Temperature, Annealed and Aged Material
- benchmark: thermal_conductivity
value: 79
unit: BTU·in/ft²·h·°F
scope: material
conditions:
basis: annealed and aged, at 70 F
method: Table 5, column Ann. + Aged at 70 F, as printed
status: ground
source: sm718
where: Table 5, Thermal Conductivity, row 70
- benchmark: thermal_conductivity
value: 148
unit: BTU·in/ft²·h·°F
scope: material
conditions:
basis: annealed and aged, at 1200 F
method: Table 5, column Ann. + Aged at 1200 F, as printed
status: ground
source: sm718
where: Table 5, Thermal Conductivity, row 1200
- benchmark: cte
value: 8.91
unit: ppm/°F
scope: material
conditions:
basis: mean linear expansion from 70 F to 1400 F, annealed and aged
method: Table 5 prints 8.91 in/in/F x 10^-6; 10^-6 in/in/F is the same as ppm/F, so the number is unchanged
status: ground
source: sm718
where: 'Table 5, Mean Linear Expansion, row 1400 (footnote b: from 70 F to temperature shown)'
- benchmark: electrical_resistivity
value: 725
unit: ohm circ mil/ft
scope: material
conditions:
basis: annealed and aged, at 70 F
method: Table 5, column Ann. + Aged, as printed
status: ground
source: sm718
where: Table 5, Electrical Resistivity, row 70
- benchmark: elastic_modulus
value: 29
unit: ksi x 10^3
scope: material
conditions:
basis: Young's modulus at 70 F, hot-rolled flat heat treated 1800 F/1 hr, A.C. plus 1325 F/8 hr, F.C.
unit_in_source: ksi x 10^3 (printed 29.0, the column header)
method: Table 4 prints 29.0 in ksi x 10^3; recorded as printed, in ksi x 10^3
status: ground
source: sm718
where: Table 4, Modulus of Elasticity, Young's Modulus, row 70
- benchmark: elastic_modulus
value: 23
unit: ksi x 10^3
scope: material
conditions:
basis: Young's modulus at 1300 F, same heat treatment as Table 4
unit_in_source: ksi x 10^3 (printed 23.0, the column header)
method: Table 4 prints 23.0 in ksi x 10^3; recorded as printed, in ksi x 10^3
status: ground
source: sm718
where: Table 4, Modulus of Elasticity, Young's Modulus, row 1300
- benchmark: poissons_ratio
value: 0.294
unit: '-'
scope: material
conditions:
basis: at 70 F
method: Table 4, Poisson's Ratio column, computed by the datasheet from E and G as printed
status: ground
source: sm718
where: Table 4, Poisson's Ratio, row 70
- benchmark: ultimate_tensile_strength
value: 201
unit: ksi
scope: material
conditions:
basis: room temperature, hot-rolled 0.625-in diameter bar, annealed 1800 F/1 hr and aged 1325 F/8 hr (typical, not a specification minimum)
method: Table 22, Hot-Rolled 0.625-in-Diam., Room row
status: ground
source: sm718
where: Table 22, High-Temperature Tensile Properties, Hot-Rolled 0.625-in-Diam., Room
- benchmark: yield_strength
value: 171
unit: ksi
scope: material
conditions:
basis: 0.2 percent offset, room temperature, same bar as the row above
method: Table 22, same row as above
status: ground
source: sm718
where: Table 22, Hot-Rolled 0.625-in-Diam., Room row, Yield Strength
- benchmark: ultimate_tensile_strength
value: 164.5
unit: ksi
scope: material
conditions:
basis: 1200 F, same bar and heat treatment
method: Table 22, same bar, 1200 F row
status: ground
source: sm718
where: Table 22, Hot-Rolled 0.625-in-Diam., 1200 F row
- benchmark: yield_strength
value: 145
unit: ksi
scope: material
conditions:
basis: 0.2 percent offset, 1200 F, same bar
method: Table 22, same bar, 1200 F row
status: ground
source: sm718
where: Table 22, Hot-Rolled 0.625-in-Diam., 1200 F row, Yield Strength
- benchmark: ultimate_tensile_strength
value: 145.5
unit: ksi
scope: material
conditions:
basis: 1300 F, same bar and heat treatment
method: Table 22, same bar, 1300 F row
status: ground
source: sm718
where: Table 22, Hot-Rolled 0.625-in-Diam., 1300 F row
- benchmark: yield_strength
value: 133
unit: ksi
scope: material
conditions:
basis: 0.2 percent offset, 1300 F, same bar
method: Table 22, same bar, 1300 F row
status: ground
source: sm718
where: Table 22, Hot-Rolled 0.625-in-Diam., 1300 F row, Yield Strength
- benchmark: elongation
value: 26
unit: '%'
scope: material
conditions:
basis: room temperature, elongation in 2 in., same bar
method: Table 22, same bar, Room row
status: ground
source: sm718
where: Table 22, Hot-Rolled 0.625-in-Diam., Room row, Elongation
- benchmark: elongation
value: 22
unit: '%'
scope: material
conditions:
basis: 1300 F, same bar
method: Table 22, same bar, 1300 F row
status: ground
source: sm718
where: Table 22, Hot-Rolled 0.625-in-Diam., 1300 F row, Elongation
- benchmark: ultimate_tensile_strength
value: 237
unit: ksi
scope: material
conditions:
basis: '-320 F, hot-rolled 5/8-in diameter round, annealed 1800 F/1 hr and aged (a different test set from Table 22)'
method: Table 20, Effect of Temperature on Tensile Properties, -320 F row
status: ground
source: sm718
where: Table 20, Effect of Temperature, -320 F row, Tensile Strength
- benchmark: yield_strength
value: 173.5
unit: ksi
scope: material
conditions:
basis: '-320 F, 0.2 percent offset, same test set as Table 20'
method: Table 20, same row as above
status: ground
source: sm718
where: Table 20, Effect of Temperature, -320 F row, Yield Strength
- benchmark: min_service_temp
value: -423
unit: °F
scope: material
conditions:
basis: temperature range stated for use in the datasheet introduction
method: Introduction, printed as used at -423 to 1300 F; a typical service range, not a specification limit
status: ground
source: sm718
where: Introduction, first paragraph
- benchmark: max_service_temp
value: 1300
unit: °F
scope: material
conditions:
basis: temperature range stated for use in the datasheet introduction
method: Introduction, printed as used at -423 to 1300 F; a typical service range, not a specification limit
status: ground
source: sm718
where: Introduction, first paragraph
corrosion:
- environment: Air oxidation between about 973 K and 1573 K (700 to 1300 C)
headline: Below 1173 K (900 C) the oxide film slows the oxidation rate with time, and above that the rate follows a diffusion-controlled parabolic law.
effect: Brookhaven National Laboratory weighed Inconel 718 samples in air and found that below 1173 K the oxidation rate fell with time, which the authors attribute to the oxide film passivating the surface and slowing oxygen transport. From 1173 K to 1573 K the mass gain was parabolic, which means the oxide growth was limited by diffusion through the scale. The report gives the rate coefficients in its tables, but the printed exponents in the text extract were not clear enough to copy, so only the qualitative result is recorded here.
rating: low
conditions:
temperature: 973 K to 1573 K in air (BNL report title range)
test: mass gain of samples heated in air, weighed after cooling
source: bnl-52620
where: Summary of results; Parabolic Oxidation Rate (24-hour tests) series, 1173 K to 1573 K
- environment: General oxidation and corrosion service
headline: The datasheet rates the oxidation and corrosion resistance as superior, but it gives no corrosion rates.
effect: Special Metals says Inconel 718 combines good mechanical properties over a wide temperature range with superior oxidation and corrosion resistance, which is why it is specified for many fastener applications. Wikipedia attributes the oxidation and corrosion resistance to the gamma double prime and gamma prime precipitates that form during age hardening, mainly from niobium.
rating: unknown
conditions:
basis: qualitative statements, no test medium or exposure time given
source: sm718
where: Bolting section; Wikipedia Inconel 718 introduction (see wiki718)
- environment: Oil-field tubular service under NACE MR0175
headline: Oil-field material is made to a maximum hardness of 40 HRC so that it meets the NACE MR0175 limit.
effect: Special Metals produces Inconel 718 for oil-field use under NACE MR0175, which requires solution annealing and aging to a maximum hardness of 40 Rockwell C. The usual route is a solution treatment at 1850 to 1900 F and aging at 1450 F for six to eight hours. The bulletin gives mechanical properties for this material but no corrosion test result.
rating: unknown
conditions:
standard: NACE MR0175, maximum 40 HRC
heat_treatment: solution treated 1850 to 1900 F, aged 1450 F for 6 to 8 hours (typical)
source: sm718
where: Other Heat Treatments; Table 6
risks:
hazards:
- text: PubChem's aggregated GHS record for nickel (from 4,778 company reports) lists H317 in 99.9 percent of the reports that give a hazard code, H351 in 72.9 percent, H372 in 99.7 percent and H350 in 22.5 percent. It also lists H341, H360F, H334 and H412 at lower ratios. The record is for nickel metal, not for the alloy, and nickel is about 50 to 55 percent of Inconel 718.
ghs:
- H317
- H351
- H372
- H350
- H341
- H360F
- H334
- H412
source: pubchem-nickel
where: GHS Classification, aggregated ECHA C&L notifications (CID 935)
- text: No safety data sheet for the finished alloy was read in this run. The hazards above are the nearest sourced record.
ghs: []
source: pubchem-nickel
where: Not applicable (gap)
failure_risks:
- mode: Delta phase precipitation
trigger: Exposure between about 700 and 1000 C, with peak precipitation near 900 C
consequence: Delta phase (Ni3Nb, orthorhombic) forms. Because it is more stable than gamma double prime, the gamma double prime is lost and the alloy weakens.
severity: moderate
source: wiki718
where: Deleterious Phases
- mode: Laves phase formation
trigger: Temperatures above about 1000 C
consequence: Laves phase, (Ni, Fe, Cr)2(Nb, Mo, Ti), forms in large globular aggregates richer in niobium than the strengthening phases. This depletes gamma prime and gamma double prime, which weakens the material significantly.
severity: high
source: wiki718
where: Deleterious Phases
side_effects: []
handling:
- text: Special Metals says the material is usually bought in the mill-annealed or stress-relieved condition, fabricated in that condition, and then heat treated to the specification. Solution anneal at 1700 to 1850 F, then age at 1325 F for 8 hours, furnace cool to 1150 F and hold for 18 hours in total.
source: sm718
where: Heat Treating and Mechanical Properties, first two paragraphs
- text: Special Metals says the alloy's resistance to postweld cracking is outstanding.
source: sm718
where: Introduction, first paragraph
mitigations:
- text: Use the 1700 to 1850 F anneal when rupture life, notch rupture life and fatigue strength are the main concern; use the 1900 to 1950 F anneal when tensile-limited ductility and low-temperature notch strength matter more, though it can cause notch brittleness in stress rupture.
source: sm718
where: 1700 to 1850 F Anneal and Age; 1900 to 1950 F Anneal and Age
uses:
- application: propulsion-and-tanks
device: Main combustion chamber shell of the RS-25 (Space Shuttle main engine and SLS core-stage engine)
example: The main combustion chamber comprises a structural shell made of Inconel 718, lined with NARloy-Z copper alloy. The chamber reaches about 3300 C in flight, per Wikipedia.
source: wiki-rs25
where: Engine description, main combustion chamber paragraph
- application: cryogenic-fuel
device: Cryogenic tankage
example: Special Metals lists cryogenic tankage among the uses for Inconel 718, and the material keeps a tensile strength of 237 ksi at -320 F in the Table 20 test.
source: sm718
where: Introduction, first paragraph; Table 20
- application: structures
device: Rings, casings and formed sheet metal parts for aircraft and land-based gas turbine engines
example: Special Metals lists rings, casings and formed sheet parts for aircraft and land-based gas turbine engines, as well as components for liquid-fuelled rockets.
source: sm718
where: Introduction, first paragraph
- application: mechanisms
device: Fasteners, bolting and springs
example: Special Metals says the excellent relaxation resistance of Inconel 718 supports its use for springs up to 1100 F, and that the alloy is specified for many fastener applications.
source: sm718
where: Bolting section; Spring Properties section
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 about 60 percent of apparent consumption in 2025. Most secondary nickel is in the form of stainless-steel scrap.'
substitutes:
- 'USGS: low-nickel, duplex or ultrahigh-chromium stainless steels replace austenitic grades in some uses; 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); shares calculated by Space Mushroom against the printed world total of 3,900,000 t (not printed as a share); Recycling; Substitutes; Domestic Production and Use (stainless, alloy steel and nickel-containing alloys are more than 85 percent of U.S. consumption)
- 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
substitutes:
- 'USGS: chromium has no substitute in stainless steel, the leading end use, or in superalloys, the major strategic end use.'
source: usgs-mcs2026-chromium
where: World Mine Production and Reserves table (2025e, thousand t); shares calculated by Space Mushroom against the printed world total of 51,000 thousand t; Substitutes
- subject: Niobium
producers:
- country: Brazil
share_percent: 92.9
year: 2025
- country: Canada
share_percent: 5.4
year: 2025
recycling: 'USGS: niobium was recycled with niobium-bearing steels and superalloys, but scrap recovery was negligible; the recycled amount may have been as much as 20 percent of apparent consumption.'
substitutes:
- 'USGS: ceramic matrix composites, molybdenum, tantalum and tungsten can replace niobium in high-temperature superalloy applications, with a performance loss or higher cost.'
source: usgs-mcs2026-niobium
where: World Mine Production and Reserves table (2025e, niobium content); shares calculated by Space Mushroom against the printed world total of 112,000 t (rounded); Recycling; Substitutes; Domestic Production and Use (superalloys about 23 percent of U.S. consumption)
media: []
documents:
- title: Special Metals INCONEL alloy 718 datasheet, publication SMC-045
type: datasheet
url: https://www.specialmetals.com/documents/technical-bulletins/inconel/inconel-alloy-718.pdf
year: 2007
- 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: 'USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026: Niobium (Columbium)'
type: report
url: https://pubs.usgs.gov/periodicals/mcs2026/mcs2026-niobium.pdf
year: 2026
- title: 'PubChem: Nickel (CID 935), GHS classification'
type: database
url: https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/935
year: 2026
- title: Greene and Finfrock, Oxidation of Inconel 718 in Air at Temperatures from 973 K to 1620 K, BNL-52620
type: report
url: https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/777719
year: 2000
- title: ATI 718 Alloy technical data sheet, NI-105 version 2
type: datasheet
url: https://www.atimaterials.com/Products/Documents/datasheets/nickel-cobalt/nickel-based/ati_718_allvac_version_tds_en_v1.pdf
year: 2011
- title: HAYNES 718 alloy datasheet
type: datasheet
url: https://haynesintl.com/en/datasheet/haynes-718-alloy/
year: 2026
gaps:
- No flight or flight-qualified test of Inconel 718 was read in this run beyond the RS-25 engine description; the datasheet gives typical, not qualified, values.
- Falcon engine use was not sourced in this run, so it is left out of uses.
- Oxidation rate coefficients from the BNL report were not copied because the text extract shows the exponents unclearly; only the qualitative passivation result is recorded.
- No quantitative corrosion test (salt spray, sour-service, stress corrosion or pitting) for Inconel 718 was read; corrosion entries are qualitative.
- Turbine disc use is not stated in any source read in this run; the datasheet and Wikipedia name gas turbine engine components and parts in general.
- Critical-mineral list status for nickel, chromium and niobium was not read in the USGS excerpts used here, so no critical_lists entries are given.
- The Special Metals datasheet is a 2007 publication; the USGS production figures are 2025 estimates and are shares calculated from printed tonnages, not printed shares.
- No safety data sheet for the finished alloy was read; hazards come from PubChem's nickel record.
- Table 20 and Table 22 are from different test sets, so their room-temperature values differ (190.5 ksi and 201.0 ksi UTS); both are kept with their sources.
- No images were added; no photograph or diagram with a verified licence was read in this run.
- Long-term creep and rupture data (Figures 6 and 7 of the datasheet) are graphical and were not read.
- Hardness, fatigue and low-temperature impact values are present in the datasheet tables but were not added in this pass.
- 'ASTM B966: looked for, not printed by the Special Metals, ATI, Haynes or Carpenter pages. ASTM B906 (plate, sheet and strip) is printed by Special Metals and is listed instead.'
- 'NiCr19Fe19Nb5Mo3: looked for, not printed by the pages read. Haynes prints NiCr19Fe19NbMo3 for W.Nr. 2.4668, and that spelling is listed.'
- 'Allvac 718: looked for, not printed by the ATI 718 datasheet, which names the grade ATI 718. Allvac appears there only in the company footer and trademark line.'
- Stockist grade pages for alloy 718 were not reached. Carpenter's 718 page and safety data sheet print UNS N07718, AMS 5662, AMS 5663 and DIN 2.4668, which are already listed; they also print API 6A718 and NACE MR0175, which are left out.
- AMS 5950 is printed in the Special Metals plate, sheet and strip list, but the datasheet says it defines the requirements for alloy 718SPF, a related grade, so it is left out.
- NACE MR0175, ISO 15156, API 6A718, AWS A5.14 and ASME Code Cases are service or code standards printed for this alloy rather than grade designations, so they are left out. AECMA PrEN drafts are left out because AECMA is not a designation system.
sources:
sm718:
title: INCONEL alloy 718 datasheet, publication SMC-045
id: Special Metals Corporation, copyright 2007
url: https://www.specialmetals.com/documents/technical-bulletins/inconel/inconel-alloy-718.pdf
year: 2007
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)
usgs-mcs2026-niobium:
title: 'Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026: Niobium (Columbium)'
id: USGS, February 2026
url: https://pubs.usgs.gov/periodicals/mcs2026/mcs2026-niobium.pdf
year: 2026
kind: report
license: US Government work (public domain)
pubchem-nickel:
title: Nickel, PubChem CID 935, GHS classification (aggregated ECHA C&L notifications)
id: PubChem CID 935
url: https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/935
year: 2026
kind: database
license: PubChem (NIH, public domain)
bnl-52620:
title: Oxidation of Inconel 718 in Air at Temperatures from 973 K to 1620 K
id: Greene and Finfrock, Brookhaven National Laboratory, BNL-52620 (October 2000)
url: https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/777719
year: 2000
kind: report
license: US Department of Energy report (public)
wiki718:
title: Inconel 718
id: Wikipedia, English article (checked 2026-10-19)
url: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inconel_718
year: 2026
kind: web
license: CC BY-SA 4.0
wiki-rs25:
title: RS-25
id: Wikipedia, English article (checked 2026-10-19)
url: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RS-25
year: 2026
kind: web
license: CC BY-SA 4.0
ati718:
title: ATI 718 Alloy technical data sheet, NI-105 version 2
id: ATI Allvac, Monroe NC, NI-105 version 2 (2/25/2011)
url: https://www.atimaterials.com/Products/Documents/datasheets/nickel-cobalt/nickel-based/ati_718_allvac_version_tds_en_v1.pdf
year: 2011
kind: datasheet
license: ATI terms (cited, not reproduced)
haynes718:
title: HAYNES 718 alloy datasheet
id: Haynes International, datasheet page for HAYNES 718 alloy (checked 2026-10-24)
url: https://haynesintl.com/en/datasheet/haynes-718-alloy/
year: 2026
kind: datasheet
license: Haynes International terms (cited, not reproduced)
license: CC-BY-4.0
updated: '2026-10-19'
review:
status: draft
method: assistant
checked_values: 23
unreachable: 1
caveats: 2
note: Written by an AI assistant on 2026-10-19 from the Special Metals datasheet (Tables 2, 4, 5, 20, 22 and text), the USGS 2026 nickel, chromium and niobium summaries (production shares calculated from printed tonnages), PubChem nickel GHS and the BNL oxidation report. The Springer intergranular oxidation paper could not be opened; the Wikipedia RS-25 and Inconel 718 pages were read as raw text. Values are copied from those pages; none from search snippets.
story:
recipe:
line: 'Inconel 718 is an iron-based nickel-chromium superalloy. Its composition is set by the Special Metals limiting chemical composition table (UNS N07718): about 50 to 55 percent nickel plus cobalt, 17 to 21 percent chromium, 4.75 to 5.5 percent niobium plus tantalum, 2.8 to 3.3 percent molybdenum, and balance iron. It is solution annealed and then age hardened, which forms gamma prime and gamma double prime precipitates.'
parts:
- name: Nickel
symbol: Ni
share_percent: 50
share_high: 55
role: The matrix of the alloy. Cobalt, up to 1.00 percent, is counted with nickel in the datasheet table.
- name: Chromium
symbol: Cr
share_percent: 17
share_high: 21
role: Chromium is the element that gives the alloy its oxidation and corrosion resistance, which the datasheet rates as superior.
- name: Iron
symbol: Fe
share_note: balance (the rest)
role: The balance of the alloy, forming the austenitic matrix with nickel and chromium.
- name: Niobium plus tantalum
symbol: Nb
share_percent: 4.75
share_high: 5.5
role: Main age-hardening element. Niobium forms the gamma double prime precipitate, which gives most of the strength.
- name: Molybdenum
symbol: Mo
share_percent: 2.8
share_high: 3.3
role: Molybdenum is part of the composition that the datasheet specifies for this alloy.
- name: Titanium
symbol: Ti
share_percent: 0.65
share_high: 1.15
role: Forms part of the gamma prime precipitate with aluminium.
- name: Aluminium
symbol: Al
share_percent: 0.2
share_high: 0.8
role: Forms part of the gamma prime precipitate with titanium.
risk_groups:
- title: For people
level: 0
verdict: Not classified as a hazard on its own; the nickel record
lead: The alloy is a solid metal. The sourced hazard record is PubChem's entry for nickel, and no safety data sheet for the finished alloy was read in this run. Not classified as a hazard on its own; the nickel record carries the hazard flags
points:
- label: The metal
line: PubChem's aggregated record for nickel lists skin sensitisation (H317, 99.9 percent of reports that give a code), suspected cancer (H351, 72.9 percent) and organ damage from repeated exposure (H372, 99.7 percent).
- label: Dust and fume
line: Nickel is about half of this alloy, so grinding, cutting and welding fume should be controlled. The datasheet does not give fume limits.
- title: If a part is held in the wrong temperature range
lead: These results come from the datasheet and from the Wikipedia summary of phase stability, not from field incidents.
points:
- label: Delta phase
line: Between about 700 and 1000 C, delta phase (Ni3Nb) forms and takes niobium away from the strengthening gamma double prime, which weakens the alloy.
- label: Laves phase
line: Above about 1000 C, Laves phase forms in large aggregates and depletes the strengthening phases significantly.
- title: Handling and heat treatment
points:
- label: Fabrication
line: Special Metals says the material is usually bought in the mill-annealed or stress-relieved condition, fabricated in that condition, and then heat treated to specification.
- label: Weld cracking
line: The datasheet describes the alloy's resistance to postweld cracking as outstanding, so welding before the final age is a standard route.
why: Inconel 718 is a nickel-chromium superalloy designed to hold strength over a wide temperature range. Its strength comes from fine gamma prime and gamma double prime precipitates, formed by a solution anneal followed by an aging treatment. Niobium is the main age-hardening element. The datasheet describes good tensile, fatigue, creep and rupture strength combined with easy fabrication, which explains its use in rocket engine parts, cryogenic tanks and gas turbine casings.
uses:
- where: Rocket engines
line: The main combustion chamber of the RS-25 engine has a structural shell made of Inconel 718, lined with a copper-silver-zirconium alloy called NARloy-Z. Special Metals lists components for liquid-fuelled rockets among the alloy's uses.
- where: Cryogenic tanks
line: Special Metals lists cryogenic tankage among the uses, and the datasheet gives a tensile strength of 237 ksi at -320 F for one hot-rolled bar.
- where: Gas turbines and aircraft
line: Rings, casings and formed sheet parts for aircraft and land-based gas turbine engines are named in the datasheet.
- where: Fasteners and springs
line: The datasheet says the alloy is specified for many fastener applications, and that its relaxation resistance supports its use for springs up to 1100 F.
can_do:
- label: Strength when hot
benchmark: yield_strength
line: The yield strength of one hot-rolled bar is 171 ksi at room temperature, 145 ksi at 1200 F and 133 ksi at 1300 F (Table 22).
- label: Cold toughness
benchmark: ultimate_tensile_strength
line: The same family of heat treatments gives a tensile strength of 237 ksi at -320 F in Table 20, so the strength rises when cold.
- label: Stiffness
benchmark: elastic_modulus
line: Young's modulus is 29.0 x 10^3 ksi at 70 F and 23.0 x 10^3 ksi at 1300 F (Table 4).
- label: Density
benchmark: density
line: Density is 0.297 lb/in3 for the annealed and aged material (Table 2).
compare: Inconel 718 is the nickel-based alloy in this collection. Its datasheet gives tensile data from -320 F to 1300 F and rates its oxidation resistance as superior. Cost and machining difficulty are not covered by the sources read here.
compare_rows:
- scope: material
label: Density
benchmark: density
- scope: material
label: Stiffness
benchmark: elastic_modulus
- scope: material
label: Melting range
benchmark: melting_point
handling:
- Buy it in the mill-annealed or stress-relieved condition for machining, forming or welding, then heat treat it to specification (Special Metals).
- Keep the heat treatment on the printed schedule; the 1700 to 1850 F anneal gives the best rupture and fatigue life (Special Metals).
- Avoid holding the alloy in the 700 to 1000 C range for long periods, where delta phase forms (Wikipedia).
- Control dust and fume from grinding and welding, because nickel is about half of the alloy (PubChem).
good_for:
- Strength at high temperature. Yield strength is 133 ksi at 1300 F for one hot-rolled bar, against 171 ksi at room temperature.
- Cryogenic structures. Tensile strength is 237 ksi at -320 F in the Table 20 test.
- Welded and aged hardware. The datasheet describes outstanding resistance to postweld cracking.
watch_out:
- The datasheet service limit is 1300 F, and its main tensile tables stop at 1300 F (Special Metals).
- Long exposure between about 700 and 1000 C forms delta phase, which removes the strengthening phase (Wikipedia).
- Above about 1000 C, Laves phase forms and weakens the alloy significantly (Wikipedia).
- The sources read here give no corrosion rates; the corrosion entries are qualitative.
verdict: Inconel 718 is the default nickel superalloy for hot and cryogenic structural hardware. Its strength and stability are well documented up to about 1300 F, and the main risks are phase changes above that range.
References
Every number above carries a reference number. Click one to see the source and where in it the value comes from.
| # | Source | Type | Year | Used for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| INCONEL alloy 718 datasheet, publication SMC-045 | datasheet | 2007 | 32 values | |
| Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026: Nickel | report | 2026 | 1 value | |
| Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026: Chromium | report | 2026 | 1 value | |
| Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026: Niobium (Columbium) | report | 2026 | 1 value | |
| Nickel, PubChem CID 935, GHS classification (aggregated ECHA C&L notifications) | database | 2026 | 2 values | |
| Oxidation of Inconel 718 in Air at Temperatures from 973 K to 1620 K | report | 2000 | 1 value | |
| Inconel 718 | web | 2026 | 2 values | |
| RS-25 | web | 2026 | 1 value | |
| ATI 718 Alloy technical data sheet, NI-105 version 2 | datasheet | 2011 | 0 values | |
| HAYNES 718 alloy datasheet | datasheet | 2026 | 0 values |